Editor,
Over the weekend the UNM Humanist Society chalked a series of quotes throughout campus. There were advertisements prior to the event announcing the occasion for anyone interested in speaking their minds to their peers through "quotes of reason, rationality and questioning." On the flier, students were also encouraged to "bring their own appropriate ideas" to chalk.
At the time of the event, about 10 people broke up into smaller groups to cover parts of campus. The group I was with spread philosophical words over the ground with the intention of provoking thoughts and questions from our peers.
I felt the event was highly successful until the next day when, as I walked to my dorm room, I came across some blatantly hateful quotes in front of Hokona. I was appalled. I don't even know if these statements were quotes or just offensive thoughts stated in public.
The statements demonstrated satire, crude humor and a blatant disregard for the beliefs of others, instead of the in-depth, philosophical and thought-provoking quotes our group hoped to present to UNM. As secretary of the UNM Humanist Society, I offer a sincere apology on behalf of the members of the group who do not support this disrespectful action.
Our organization is not meant to be one of intolerance or hate. Instead, we are an advocate of rationality, free thought and questioning. All of the hateful writing around campus has since been erased to my knowledge. In spite of this, we fully stand by any chalk that encourages thoughtful discourse on the nature of religion and the supernatural and their roles in our lives as humans.
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Kristen Woodruff
UNM student
