![Nelson Hall Resident Director Kendall Engelke Davis looks over to see what Resident Assistant Chloe Smith paints. For her weekly 8 p.m. staff development meeting in Nelson Shack April 16, Engelke Davis held a watercolor event to relieve stress. “It’s a unique opportunity to get to really invest and be in [RAs’] lives,” Engelke Davis said, “which I consider such a privilege.”](https://thebuclarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/041624_KendallEngelkeDavis_Holland_05-1200x800.jpg)
Graffiti on the rock in Kresge courtyard sparks controversy – and discussion – at Bethel
By Abby Petersen
The Brushaber Commons went silent as Chief Diversity Office Ruben Rivera walked onto the atrium platform.
“I’ve been here 19 years and I’ve never seen this,” Rivera said, gesturing to the crowd that spread up the atrium stairs, around the balcony and out the doors to Kresge courtyard.
Sept. 28 dawned with protests in the courtyard after the rock in the center, typically spray painted for campus activities, was painted during the night with the message “Blue Lives Matter” and “BLM (Black Lives Matter) = racist.” The message covered a Black Lives Matter message another group painted on the rock Sept. 26 in response to recent shootings of unarmed black men by police and an incident at the University of Northwestern, about three miles from Bethel.
A group of students responded the following morning by wearing all black and holding signs protesting the spray-painted message.
“We may have different views and disagree, but you do not get to paint over what I believe,” sophomore biblical and theological studies major Joshua Simms said.
A sign written by protesters next to the rock asked Facilities Management not to paint over what was written.
Former Bethel student Patience Zalanga held a sign next to the rock saying, “How does this make you feel?” Protesters gave bystanders sticky notes and sharpies to write answers and attach them to the bottom of the sign.
“I just wanted to gauge where people are at.” Zalanga said. “The question ‘how did this make you feel?’ was really important to me because you have to think about how you feel in order to answer it. That’s why I’m out here. Also, because students of color are greater than white feelings. I’m not here for white feelings today, I’m here for students of color who have to see this.”
The protest came just before 10:15 a.m. chapel in Benson Great Hall, where campus pastor Laurel Bunker addressed the graffiti and the protest.
“Listen to me very carefully, because I’m saying this to you as your pastor: Black Lives Matter, however you feel about it, does not equal hatred of police officers,” Bunker said. “As a person who is related to over a dozen police officers, as a young woman from the community, and as a Christian, it is our job to stand in the middle sometimes and listen.”
The controversy sparked campus-wide attention from faculty, staff and students. A faculty discussion over email invited everyone who wished to show solidarity against the message on the rock to meet in the atrium at 2:40 p.m. Students supporting the movement passed out flyers encouraging the Bethel community to attend.
By 2:50 p.m., the crowd spilled out the doors to the Kresge courtyard and late-arrivals struggled to find a vantage point from the balcony.
“Black lives, they matter here!” alumni Danny Givens chanted, encouraging the crowd to join.
Supporters holding signs that said “Philando was killed five minutes away” and “Jesus was NOT white” flanked the atrium stairs.
“If I’m in chains, you’re in chains,” senior Will Kah shouted. “This is us for us.”
Additional reporting by Callie Schmidt.
Todd • Sep 29, 2023 at 4:57 pm
I happen to make reference to this incident at Bethel in a blog post that came up on my memories 7 years ago. I have learned so much more since then and would approach this situation very differently. We now know that many incidents like this were a hoax that were meant to be stirred up by activists. Re-read the article and you can see the already embedded activist language that was meant to cause emotional reactions instead of asking real questions, creating real conversations. We have seen the same scripted language for years upon years from the social justice movement. You can look back and see this was part of the very beginnings of the intellectual, spiritual a and biblical capture by activists at BU. Perhaps its time to revisit this issue with wisdom, some actual journalism and ask what was really happening here.
Matt • Oct 6, 2016 at 11:16 am
It is not a Jesus issue. It is a systemic racism issue. I believe prayer changes things, but to call an issue a “Jesus” issue oversimplifies the problem and the steps we need to take to make the solution.
josiahmacrae • Oct 6, 2016 at 3:46 pm
exactly right Matt
Tim S • Oct 4, 2016 at 11:25 am
As a Christian, this is a Jesus issue. He is the way out of this, He is the truth in this, and He is the life outside of this. If we align ourselves with truth, as Dr King did, He will be on that side always. If we shout from our highest voices the best of lies, He will be no where to be found. Find Jesus, and then we’ll be able to “that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Jesus
Leon R • Sep 30, 2016 at 7:26 am
There is a disconnect between facilities staff and student self-expression. This needs to be addressed.
Philip Hannam ('80, '89) • Sep 29, 2016 at 11:13 pm
Red, white and blue. A flag. An Anthem.
A rock. Spray paint.
Symbols. Words. Idols.
Wounds. Division. Stories.
What would it take for the places of pain to raise up within us a heart-longing for the Gospel to live? Or do we prefer the terms of battle be defined by the world because we’d rather the Gospel not have its way in our lives?
Kevin Rotich • Sep 29, 2016 at 6:49 pm
In Response to “R” comment, I would like to say that human value can never be gained or lost through achievement. The individuals involved with this protest are expressing exactly that and in reality, this is what the Bible declares in Psalms 139. Historically speaking police have been known to treat black people as second class citizens primarily due to social standing as well as other reasons. Therefore the individuals who have a voice are compelled to speak and if you listen to their message, they don’t aim to diminish others. They are pointing out injustice and taking a stand on it.
Willis Krumholz • Sep 29, 2016 at 12:42 pm
The most racist thing about Bethel is that students of color disproportionately receive relatively worthless social justice degrees, then graduate and have a hard time finding a job in “social justice.” Bethel should release the employment, underemployment, and income stats for “reconciliation studies” majors relative to the rest of Bethel’s undergraduate degrees.
Willis Krumholz • Sep 29, 2016 at 12:32 pm
The most racist thing about Bethel is that students of color disproportionately receive worthless social justice degrees, are told the world around them is out to get them, then graduate and have a hard time finding a job. Bethel should release the employment stats for those receiving “reconciliation studies” degrees vs the employment stats for all Bethel undergraduate students.
Authentic Leadership? • Sep 28, 2016 at 10:15 pm
Lyrics from Will Kah’s latest song, “Antwone Fisher”:
“We hold it down on my side of town/banana clip, that dirty sound/got a homicide, no body count”
I support the BLM movement. However in fairness, I question how one can advocate for social justice/peace on one hand, and rap those lyrics on the other, without seeming hypocritical.
Chris Lund • Sep 28, 2016 at 9:16 pm
I’m so incredibly proud of and encouraged by the students who chose to demonstrate at my alma mater today. Your voices will lead us to the beloved community.
S Stevens • Sep 28, 2016 at 8:51 pm
Dont ALL lives matter ?!
Eric McIntosh • Sep 28, 2016 at 9:37 pm
Wow. Just wow.
There is really nothing else to say to this insensitive comment.
Eric J. McIntosh, 2004 graduate
H. • Sep 28, 2016 at 10:29 pm
In God’s eyes, yes. But to a lot of people in our society? No.
H. • Sep 28, 2016 at 10:30 pm
In God’s eyes, yes. In our society today, no.
mellaneous • Sep 29, 2016 at 12:10 am
Of course theydo? But this can’t be an honest question because anyone living in the US understands that the protest and slogan came about because of the mistreatment of Black people at the hands of the police. The point is that Black Lives Matter too. This is only difficult to understand by those who willfully dont want to understand it. If someone says the Stevens family mattered because they have been mistreated it doesn’t imply that the Johnson’s don’t matter its a cry for recognition saying I/we matter too. And if ALL LiVES MATTER then Black Lives Matter is a subset keep in mind that All would include Blacks as well. I hope you are not a Christian because surely you are familiar with the idea of suffering with those who suffer.
RJF • Sep 29, 2016 at 6:21 am
Don’t ALL jobs matter, not just police? What about firefighters? What about veterans? #alljobsmatter
Wilder Freed • Sep 29, 2016 at 8:02 am
S Stevens- You would think so. And if that’s what we believe, we should have no problem agreeing that black lives matter, too. The message that black lives matter isn’t a statement to negate the value of other lives- it’s a call to notice the pain of a people group that feels disproportionately oppressed, devalued, and ignored.
Saying ‘ALL lives matter’ in response, is to say, “We are all on the same footing; I do not believe the inequality you’re trying to identify is real.”
R • Sep 29, 2016 at 12:38 pm
I agree. Don’t all lives matter? This whole movement isn’t asking for equality, it’s people of color asking for superiority. If you want superiority, go earn it, don’t paint a rock. Don’t stand and hold a sign. Don’t sit and cry about something some one else painted on a rock. I have no problem with some one of color having superiority if they earned it. Look at our president; he worked his butt off to get where he is. You had the freeedom to paint on the rock what you wanted, why can’t some one else paint what they want and believe on the rock?
Kevin • Sep 29, 2016 at 3:18 pm
Sir or maam, human value is not gained or lost based on achievement. That’s what the protestors wish to affirm in the message and and your argument really tries to dimish the fact that police sometimes treat black people as second class citizens because of your premise. This was a gathering of affirmation and unity. You have a choice to participate or abstain without backlash on your part. You should respect the same for the protestors as they do the same.
Kevin • Sep 29, 2016 at 4:02 pm
Sir or maam, human value is not gained or lost due to achievement. Understand that these individuals are conveying thus message because police have been known to treat black people as second class citizens due to that very premise. Indeed all lives do truly matter and the very fact police officers sometimes ignore this, it necessary for people to speak up.
Kevin R • Sep 29, 2016 at 4:14 pm
Sir or maam, human value is not gained or lost due to achievement. Understand that these individuals are conveying thus message because police have been known to treat black people as second class citizens due to that very premise. Indeed all lives do truly matter and the very fact police officers sometimes ignore this, it necessary for people to speak up.
Kip Rotich • Sep 29, 2016 at 6:54 pm
Human value cannot be gained or lost due to achievement. This is the very message these students aim to convey. Historically speaking, officers have been known to abuse the rights of those who are under-privileged and so when a case like this comes up where injustice has occurred and or continues to occur, they must be addressed. This is what these students are doing. And just like you choose to speak out against their actions, they equally have the right and freely choose their right to speak on this matter.