Bro. Rick uses campus free speech zone
Robin Phelps
Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: News
| |
|
|
All the telltale signs of spring, except for one not as well-received as the others.
Monday through Thursday Rick Bradley, also known as Bro. Rick, exercised his rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.
Bro. Rick preached to passersby as he stood between the Curris Center and Carr Health Building.
"It's interesting because it's so stressful right now with finals week," Caleb Campbell, sophomore from Gideon, Mo., said. "It's making more people angry than giving them a revelation."
Shouting Bible verses and condemning students to the underworld, Bro. Rick continued his campus ministry, which he said he began in 1985.
In November 2007, the Board of Regents approved establishment of an on-campus free speech zone for individuals to voice their opinions. This policy on free speech was revisited after evangelist James Gilles, better known as Bro. Jim, made frequent visits to the University and requested a policy allowing people without sponsorship to speak on campus.
Jim Baurer, director of the Curris Center, said he met with Bro. Rick to register him to use the free speech area earlier this week.
"We set up a free speech zone for individuals to express their opinion," Baurer said. "Anyone can register to use that space."
From morning to midday, Bro. Rick preached and verbalized his views about faith, God and the Bible.
"I'm a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ," Bro. Rick said. "I teach repentance of sin and faith in Christ as the only way to true biblical salvation and the only way to get to heaven."
Attracting a large crowd throughout the day, few said they felt compelled to follow Bro. Rick.
"When I?first saw him, I was mad," Dean Abner, freshman from Centertown, Ky., said. "I thought, I can't believe he would say some of the things that he did. Maybe he's trying to rile people up to get them to think about what they really believe. I'm glad he's trying to minister, but I don't think he's going about it the right way. He said some really mean ... and hurtful things to people."
Ranging from accusing students of being fornicators, drug addicts and sinners to calling all college students alcoholics doomed to hell, Bro. Rick had a comment for just about everyone who crossed his path.
"He has a right to be here and say whatever he wants," Mecha Coon, sophomore from Kalamazoo, Mich., said. "He's just calling people out."
Robin Phelps can be reached at robinj.phelps@murraystate.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 10
Jack
posted 5/02/08 @ 11:03 AM CST
I was there some of the time when Bro. Rick was preaching. I do not agree with many of the things he said, but I also did not agree with what most of what the students were saying either. (Continued…)
Steven Dudley
posted 5/02/08 @ 5:21 PM CST
This man spends his time trolling those that do not live like him. I do not condone the way some treat him but he is pretty much putting himself in that position so I do not feel sorry for him at all. (Continued…)
BrotherRick
posted 5/03/08 @ 4:49 PM CST
For the most part, Robin you did a decent article.
The caption under the photo should read Bro. Rick, not Bro. Jim. Bro. Jim did not make it this time. (Continued…)
Robin
posted 5/04/08 @ 1:37 AM CST
I apologize Bro. Rick, I made a mistake...we get very busy in the news room, sometimes minor mistakes slip through :)
Jim Burch
posted 5/27/08 @ 1:10 AM CST
Not really about this article. Just wanted to say how stoked I am that you guys are putting video on the website. Really cool stuff.
Rachel
posted 6/15/08 @ 4:19 PM CST
I watched several of Brother Rick's sermons throughout the 2008 spring semester. I do not agree with his theology. Quite frankly, I think he takes conservative religion to far, but the interesting thing about watching him isn't in watching his sermon, but in
watching the people who watch him. (Continued…)
Post a Comment