TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Many on the Texas State University campus this week were enraged by a group of demonstrators, coined the Official Street Preachers, holding signs wielding hateful messages that disparaged members of the LGBTQIA+ community and calling women property that can be owned.
‘I will not glorify the men or amplify their disgusting messages by sharing them here,” Texas State President Kelly Damphousse said. “Suffice it to say, any reasonable person would be disturbed by their words. I know I was.”
Students and faculty members alike took to social media to make it clear that they were vehemently opposed to the hate speech.
Damphousse released a statement on Facebook and a longer form via email to students and staff about what had occurred.
“I condemn the hateful words these two men wrote and spoke while they were on our campus,” Damphousse said. “That kind of hate is not welcome here.”
He stated that the TXST expressive activity team learned about the demonstration and immediately went to the Stallions area with University Police Department officers and monitored the men that had drawn a crowd of students and employees. An hour later, the demonstrators left and no arrests were made. He added that TXST is exploring potential legal responses as they learn more about the incident.
“I know how unsettling this must have been for our students, their friends/ family, our employees, and our alumni who were in the quad at the time, or who later saw the pictures that I saw after the fact. Because it was unsettling to me,” Damphousse stated. “This was particularly disturbing to me because nothing is more important to me than the health and safety of our faculty, staff, and students.”
Damphousse stated that he remains committed to keeping the campus safe.
“I am very sad that this type of behavior came to our campus because it runs so contrary to the values that we hold at TXST - in particular, that we respect and value others and that we believe that all Bobcats belong here. Messages like the ones expressed by those outsiders on Wednesday sow confusion, anger, distrust, bitterness, fear, and anxiety (none of which belong on our campus),” Damphousse stated. “If you see anything on our campus that makes you feel unsafe, please reach out to UPD to let them know about it.”
Damphousse explained the legalities of these types of activities on campus.
“As a public university, TXST is required by law to make public outdoor campus spaces open to what are known as ‘expressive activities,’ even by external groups with whom none of us agree. These groups are not required to seek permission or give prior notice, so we do not always know when they plan to come to our campuses,” Damphousse said. “We cannot restrict lawful access to our campus, nor may we limit what people say verbally or in writing so long as that speech falls within the legal bounds of the freedom of speech and assembly that is guaranteed by the First Amendment.”
Damphousse stated that the procedures for handling such events include the deployment of a trained expressive activity team, which is composed of professionals and includes officers from the University Police Department. The team monitors these events and works to keep everyone safe.
Texas State University posted links on facebook for students or staff that need to report activities on campus at txst.edu/ report-it.html or needed emotional support and resources healthcenter.txst. edu.
