Editor’s Note: All opinion section content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by The Collegian or its editorial board. Letters to the Editor reflect the view of a member of the campus community and are submitted to the publication for approval.
To the Editor,
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As a young woman on Colorado State University’s campus, I was made to feel unsafe when I attended Turning Point USA’s “Culture War” on Tuesday. For years, I have kept my mouth shut when questioned about my political beliefs because I did not want to be threatened by your liberal students for simply having a different opinion.
I did not want to be discriminated against for my beliefs.
For the first time, I decided to go to a conservative event on campus, despite knowing that others would disapprove. I wanted to go so that I could expand my knowledge and to hear other opinions in order to formulate my own opinions. It was an experience that I will never forget.
Despite the fact that it was so clearly not a CSU-sanctioned event, I expected that there would have been enough seats for any students that wished to go. There were not.
“Have you ever had obscenities screamed at you simply for trying to go listen to a guest speaker? Now I have — it’s not something I ever expected to have to endure here at CSU.”
Why is that? What made this so horrible that you wouldn’t give us a location with enough seats? Had Bernie Sanders or Michelle Obama come, you wouldn’t have forced them to squeeze into a 600 person auditorium.
Part of attending a university is exploring new ideas and learning new perspectives. How can you expect to maintain diversity if everyone agrees on the same things?
Are you aware that by attempting to censor this event, you made it so much worse for people like me? All I wanted was to go hear someone talk, someone whose ideas I was curious about. I’m already afraid to voice my opinions, and this has only reinforced my reasons for not speaking.
Have you ever had obscenities screamed at you simply for trying to go listen to a guest speaker? Now I have — it’s not something I ever expected to have to endure here at CSU.
So, thank you for that, CSU. Thank you for making me feel unsafe because of my beliefs. Thank you for discriminating against me for my opinions. Thank you for educating me on what it means to be a conservative woman on your campus.
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You should be ashamed of yourself.
Most sincerely,
Sidney Bashaw
CSU anthropology student
The Collegian’s opinion desk can be reached at letters@collegian.com. To submit a letter to the editor, please follow the guidelines at collegian.com.
