Last week, someone had the audacity to chalk on the Brickyard that Sept. 10, there would be a Ku Klux Klan meeting there at 8 p.m.

That night came, and I stood in the Brickyard, expecting to see a crowd of protesters or a small group of KKK members.

Yet, surprisingly, I saw almost no one in the Brickyard. Sure, I saw a creepy old man drinking coffee outside the Atrium and a couple of guys that looked suspicious from afar, probably because they were wearing white T-shirts and jorts (jean shorts).

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw how empty the Brickyard was that night, considering this is the same campus that was up in arms over the toilet paper nooses that were found in campus bathrooms.

Later that night, I visited the KKK’s poorly done Web site to see if they had a schedule of meetings and if there was supposed to be an official meeting that night in the Brickyard. As I browsed a little bit more, it took me all of my self control to not hurl the computer screen on the floor because I was disgusted by the ignorance I was reading.

Because their beliefs state that they are not racist (yeah, right) they just have “white pride,” they probably could have obtained a permit to congregate in the Brickyard, and I have no problem with that.

But wait! I just said that the KKK is full of crap. Am I being a hypocrite?

I don’t think so. In fact, I think it would be hypocritical of me to suggest that we infringe on their right to free speech. We shouldn’t just banish everyone with an unpopular set of beliefs.

It’s not up to the University to censor groups of people like this. It’s up to students to let them know that they are not welcome on our campus. I don’t have a problem with the possibility of it getting a solicitation permit. I have a problem with its supremacist attitude, its violent past and its blatant disregard for the truth (AIDS is a racial disease? PLEASE!).

If the KKK brings a group of 10 people, there should be 1,000 students banded together to disagree with them. If it brings brochures, don’t take them. If it tries to recruit new members, walk by and sneer. Just let them know we will not accept their message of hate.

This not only includes the KKK, but also other unpopular people and groups, such as some Brickyard preachers, PETA and yes, even Scientologists. We are all adults. We will have to deal with these people and their ideals when we leave this collegiate haven.

So I say let them come, but if you disagree with them, let them know their messages aren’t welcome on our campus and they are wasting their time.

Let Jane know your thoughts at [email protected].