Fliers litter campus grounds every day as students toss aside materials handed to them.
But the Alliance of Lesbian-Bi-Gay-Transgendered and Straight Ally Students didn’t want their educational material to become trash.
The group sent representatives to 11 areas across campus Monday with faces painted with gashes and bruises while wearing shirts emblazoned with derogatory statements.
The wounds were symbols of the hate crimes and violence committed against minority groups. Campus groups, including several women’s organizations and the Council of Students with Disabilities, participated in the event, sending out nearly 40 people.
The Stand Out seemed to have an impact on students, alliance Chairperson Natalie Furrow said. The group handed out educational materials while on campus - distributing nearly 5,000 fliers before they ran out and were left wishing more had been printed.
“It got people’s attention,” Furrow said. “It definitely drives home that these words do lead to violence.”
The event also helped build coalitions among the groups, Furrow said.
“It is really gutsy to come out here,” she said. “I’m really impressed with how courageous people are. They understand that this needs to be done.”
Furrow stood painting a cheek gash and bloody lip on Sam Letvin, an art education freshman.
After Furrow finished the face makeup, she used masking tape to write the word “kike” across Letvin’s chest. Letvin is Jewish and wanted to represent discrimination against religious groups.
As she left the Wells Hall area - a high traffic spot on campus where the alliance based the event - Furrow reminded Letvin not to speak if possible since the event was a silent protest.
Women’s Council member Keely Knopp said students were receptive to the Stand Out.
“We’ve gotten pretty good support,” she said. “A lot of people want to stop and talk or take a flyer.”
Knopp, a journalism sophomore, stood in front of the Union all afternoon, her green shirt reading “pussy” on the front.
“A lot of people don’t realize that these words are oppressive,” Knopp said. “You need to think before you say something.”
But Knopp said all students need to come together to fight discrimination.
“All the groups together are oppressed. It’s not just a woman thing. It’s not a homosexual thing. It’s a human thing,” she said. “If you’re oppressing a group, you’re oppressing people. It needs to stop.”
Tara May can be reached at maytara@msu.edu
