A group of 100 individuals assembled for a candlelight vigil on the patio of Brossman Student Commons last Friday night. The group consisted of a diverse mixture of students, faculty and community members. Their efforts displayed solidarity and love for the individuals affected by the recent series of hate crimes on campus.
“The purpose of this event was some students started telling me what they have been going through, and I know that’s not Etown,” junior Stacey Catigano said. “I want them to know that they are not alone, that they are valued and respected.”
As twilight faded into the shades of night, their illuminated candles sent a unified message of peace and interconnectedness. It was clear that this event was not a protest. It was a test of love and understanding on campus. Overall, it affirmed the Blue Jay Way, and the commitment to education for service.
Furthermore, the event displayed various ways in which individuals could reconcile incidents of hatred. Some solutions included conducting peaceful dialogues, and affirming the commonalities of our experiences.
“One of the ways that abusive and hateful people work their evil work is by making us feel isolated and alone. I just want everyone for a moment to look around and know that you are not alone, and that everyone that has come here tonight is with you,” Professor of Religious Studies Dr. Jeffery Long said. “Whatever experience you are having, whatever abuse you might experience, you have this whole crowd of people that are with you. You are not alone, ever.”
Community leaders also displayed their support during the vigil. Blanding Watson, President of the Lancaster Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), expressed his feelings about incidents of hatred.
“I am saddened to be here tonight in the year 2013, nearly 13 decades after the Emancipation Proclamation, and nearly 50 years after the passage of the Civil Rights Acts,” Watson said. “By now, I thought that all of us would have accepted the fact that we are all Americans. We are all equal under the law, and we are created equal by our creator.”
Watson also offered empathy for the victims of the crimes. In addition, he offered the services of the NAACP in resolving issues of hatred and discrimination.
“I have had the opportunity to speak with some of the alleged victims in the case, and I understand how you feel, because I too have been mistreated in my lifetime,” Watson said. “We at the NAACP will try to determine if there are policies in place to guard against these kinds of things. If not, we will try to work to establish policies and procedures to protect all ethnic, racial and gender groups. We are also here to be a resource to the administrators of Etown College because we care about all forms of racial discrimination.”
Several students also voiced their steadfast desire to resolve these issues in the open forum portion of the program. These students expressed a strong desire to respect the humanity of all people, and foster unity in the college community.
“I am concerned about this because I am a human being. I am concerned that there are other human beings on this campus who don’t feel safe, who don’t feel protected by this community,” senior Kelsey Walck said.” I just want to say as a human being, this is a problem and this is something that needs to change on campus.”
Students also identified the core values that the vigil embodied. These values are the keystone principles of an Etown education. Through the nurturing environment at the vigil, students had an interactive opportunity to build their ideal community. They showed their commitment to building this foundation one loving word at a time.
“This right here and right now is who we are as Blue Jays. We stand united saying we believe in social justice, we believe in freedom,” sophomore Joanna Loewenstein said. “As Blue Jays, we are united in spirit and join in solidarity, promising to pursue peace. I encourage us to dialog with one another, letting our light fill the darkness.”