With warm weather comes sunshine, birds singing, longboarders, outdoor seating at The Peanut Barrel and more people visiting campus — but they’re not always here just to take a stroll along the Red Cedar River.

Last week’s slew of demonstrators, protesters and Bible-slingers are evidence that as soon as the snow melts, this campus becomes a forum for discussing opinions and beliefs.

With about 49,000 students, it makes sense for student groups as well as outside organizations to want to spread their ideas to students who are forming their own political and social beliefs.

This is the United States.­­ Everyone is entitled to their opinions, and we believe that it is a privilege to be exposed to viewpoints that might not necessarily be our own.

Living in a place where people actually care about issues enough to stand up for them and attempt to educate others is great because we get exposed to things we might not otherwise consider.

This is the time in our lives to expand our minds and gain new perspectives. The amount of stimuli available on MSU’s campus, both from academia and social interaction, is wonderful. Seeing and evaluating others’ beliefs is how we form our own beliefs.

One group that demonstrated their beliefs on MSU’s campus, MSU Students for Life, stirred up controversy by using graphic images of aborted fetuses to promote discussion on their legality, which later motivated a counter-protest from students in support of the right to choose.

Unpleasant images of aborted fetuses were boldly posted outside of the Fairchild Auditorium for all students to see, although signs were posted on the perimeters warning of the graphic content.

Some students protested the demonstration because they believed the images were inappropriate for a public area, especially since tour groups and visitors were passing by what is one of the most frequented areas on campus. They also said the images might be triggering to some individuals.

We aren’t here to say who’s right and who’s wrong. No, we doubt most people wanted to see posters of mutilated fetuses on the way to class, but it made people talk and sparked a campus debate.

The fact that people are even able to speak their minds and try to share what they’re passionate about is something that we often take for granted. It’s important to appreciate that we have these opportunities to educate ourselves, form our own opinions and become informed individuals.

Another group that was soliciting students last week was Gideon’s International, a sect of Christianity known for passing out Bibles. You know how every hotel room in the U.S. has a Bible in it? That was because of the Gideons. They believe that everyone should have access to their doctrine.

Last Wednesday, they were swarming campus at what seemed like every street corner bright and early to offer a pocket-sized copy of The New Testament to people who walked by. Even though they left campus by noon, their presence was noted on social media.

Students Tweeted their annoyance that everywhere they went, someone was offering them the same thing multiple times on the way to class.

Although being offered the same little book eight times over while going to an 8 a.m. class probably became frustrating, it’s important to remember to be tolerant of other’s beliefs and their rights to express opinions.

Secular groups that try to convert others, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons and Gideons are perhaps irritating to some, but most of the representatives promoting the causes are polite.

The moment someone hands you a Bible and then says “That’ll be $15,” or starts chucking Bibles at you with a T-shirt launcher, go ahead and scorn them. But those who are just trying to share their beliefs likely have the best intentions.

Think about it. Their beliefs affect their lives as much as, for example, cell phones affect some of ours. And if you knew someone who hadn’t ever had a cell phone, you might say, “Hey, try this, it’s great and it’s going to change your life.”

Take one Bible, say, “Thank you,” and use it as a pseudo-shield against the other people handing them out. A simple “No, thanks, I already have one,” is all you need.

How are the Gideons supposed to know you’ve already been offered one several times? They’re just doing their jobs because they love their faith.

Respect those who are passionate enough to put themselves out there and try to spread their beliefs and their passion to others, like the Gideons and MSU Students for Life did. Whether their strategies were effective or not is another debate entirely, but it’s common courtesy to tolerate their beliefs, whatever yours might be.

You never know what could come from considering others’ beliefs, and you might even find that you agree with them.