Students hold rally despite Westboro Baptist Church's absence

The absence of the Westboro Baptist Church did not stop hundreds of students, staff and community members from crowding into the Julian Auditorium tonight to counter the church's anti-homosexual agenda.The church, located in Topeka, Kan., had mentioned on its Web site that it intended to picket the university's production of "The Laramie Project." The play is based on the murder of homosexual college student Matthew Shepard, and the Westboro Baptist Church frequently travels the country to engage in "peaceful sidewalk demonstrations opposing the homosexual lifestyle of soul-damning, nation destroying filth" according to its Web site.

With the church's anticipated arrival, seniors Caitlin Neal and Brandon Monson organized a counter rally called "Love Rally for DePauw." During the event, many students held posters or wore pins expressing tolerance for homosexuality, which were available from tables setup throughout the auditorium.

"I was incredibly happy with the turnout," Neal said. "In fact, I feel like we got the best of both worlds. The threat of [the church] arriving brought us together, but the fact that the group did not show up really allowed the event to be focused on us."

The rally featured several speakers from staff members, as well as members from the community, who spoke out against the values of the Westboro Baptist Church.

P.T. Wilson, senior pastor at Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church said the high turnout for the event really says a lot about the student's at the university.

"It speaks highly of this campus, and speaks highly about the values we share," Wilson said.

Adam Cohen, interim director of spiritual life, told those in attendance Westboro Baptist Church does not represent mainstream Christianity.

"They do not speak for Christians," Cohen said. "Frankly, they do not even speak for fundamentalist Christians."

After the rally, many attendees walked together from the auditorium to the Green Center for Performing Arts, where "The Laramie Project" was being performed. The pathway was lined with luminaries in honor of Shepard and many students walked in silence to protest bigotry against homosexuals.

Sophomore Sajel Tremblay, an intern at the Compton Center, came to the rally to support some of her co-workers at the Compton Center who helped stage the event.

"I was touched by the sincerity of the speakers," Tremblay said. "I was also really happy to see such a big turnout for something that was only organized within the last three days."

Angie Nally, director of Public Safety, said that the chances of the Westboro Baptist Church showing were small, because it did not give local law enformcement any notification of its intentions to appear on campus like it typically does. Still, Nally's department took necessary precautions, just in case church members did arrive.

"Although we were about 30 percent sure that the Westboro Baptist Church was going to show up, our office was 100 percent prepared," Nally said. "We always have to be prepared for problems to occur and to have a plan to keep everything under control."

From a non-law enforcement standpoint, Nally could not have been more pleased with the event.

"It was really a highlight to watch the rally walk across the street," she said. "Overall, it was great to see the community come together.