Passions ran high when an Evangelist man staked out a place near the UMC fountain and witnessed his religion in front of a heated crowd of students.
“He’s here once or twice a year, and every time it’s the same thing,” said Sean Van Portfliet, a UMC campus security guard and senior history major.
As the Evangelist, Brother Jed Smock, began his speech around noon, the number of students who gathered to listen or take part in the debate grew upward of about 60 people.
After about a half hour, Van Portfliet said he thought he was going to have to restrain one student from entering into a physical fight with Smock.
“The kid was this far away from him,” Van Portfliet said, holding his hands roughly one foot apart. Van Portfliet said that the student was screaming and arguing with the evangelist about Judaism and the Bible and how it should be interpreted.
About ten minutes later, Van Portfliet said, “The kid just left. He mutters, ‘You’re ignorant,’ and slumps away.”
The man always appears near the fountain because it is considered a “free speech zone.” The CU police department confirms that his right to preach on campus is legal.
“I’m Christian, so I would probably agree with most of his theories,” said Kristen Eddy, a junior Spanish major. “He must be brave to be encountering all of these people, but does he know he is in the most liberal place in Colorado?”
John Franquemont, a 17-year-old freshman environmental design major, said he did not necessarily think that the man should be preaching on CU’s campus, but that “people shouldn’t be mean to him for saying what he believes in.”
Other students said they agree.
“My personal belief in God is that he taught love. And what this man is doing here is essentially hate speech,” said Sarah Derosier, a freshman art major. “I’m a little disgusted. Okay, more than a little.”
Van Portfliet says that when students take the opportunity to speak out to Smock with their own opinions, more people are drawn to the crowd.
“It annoys the hell out of me, because it means that I have to sit out here and listen,” Van Portfliet said.
For more information on Bro. Jed Smock and his ministry visit his Web site.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Ana Romano at Ana.Romano@colorado.edu.
