This is in regard to Shane Krouse's "Sidewalk preachers can easily be avoided" (SN 2/16).

It is not the question of whether or not people have the legal right to peaceably assemble. I, myself, have no problem with people who stand outside with nothing better to do than to attempt to open up people's minds to new ideas.

Depending on the subject, I might stop and listen to what the person has got to say. Instead, it is a matter of the person's techniques of how they speak to passersby.

And as to Krouse's comment about how some people might be interested in what they are saying, it is irrelevant. If they were merely there offering information about their cause, then it would be fine. But instead they stand out there, day after day, verbally assaulting whosoever crosses by at a pivotal part of their sermon.

For instance, on Feb. 9 as I was making my way into Wells Hall, the man that was currently "peaceably assembling" followed a girl to the door, pointing her out while bellowing "your American clothes won't save you." He then proceeded to exclaim that we were all going to hell.

I might be mistaken, but the last I knew this was called harassment. My question for you, Krouse, and the rest of the readers, is this: If this country is built on the ideals of equality and tolerance, why do we allow people such as this to clog our streets and public centers with what is the equivalent to hate crimes?

Mike Burke
interdisciplinary humanities freshman