University of South Carolina Libraries
GAME COCK LXXLV, No. 87 University of South Carolina Wednesday February 24, 1982 Universi By FORREST BROWN ^nd c JULIE JAMESON Staff Writers University officials, hall directors, and campus chaplains recently met to discuss the problems of sirong-arm witnessing , ? and high-pressure tactics by religious groups not I associated with cults. 1 Strong-arm witnessing is a i tactic used by religious I groups to influence people to r the group's beliefs. H Rich Levy, Columbia Hall resident hall director, relates a problem he faced j last semester. | "In Columbia Hall last ; semester, there was a big problem, especially on one floor," he said. "There was this sign of someone sponsoring a Bible study, but they didn't say who they were on the sign." Other RHD's agreed with Levy at the meeting. They complained of posters similar to thp nnps in Columbia Hall, and they also resented some of the door-todoor solicitation religious groups practice in the dorms. Dr. Lauren Brubaker, university chaplain, emphasized at the meeting that stuHpnts Ho not havp tn licfpn to people who witness to them. "We should be sure that the students know where they stand," Brubaker said. "Their room is a private domain. A student has the right to say 'I am busy, go away.' Students should do this if they do not want to listen to the person, but most often they do not." Brubaker said, "The only person a student can't do this to is an official on university business." University policy states that solicitation is illegal in ircp ?n v?t t U OV> UUlIIld 111 dll UUl IWU cases: university officials may go door-to-door on official university business, and students may solicit newspaper subscriptions door-to-door. The policy makes no exceptions for ^lurlpi KJ I/UU.V1 ByTOM COYNE News Edilor A "Learn to Lobby" day will be held by Student Government Feb. 27 to prepare students for the March 3 Lobby Day at the State House. Glory B. Gault, Student Government vice president said the learn to lobby day would help students in their lobbying attempts for more i. ~ A ~ i l:.,U ? suiie support 01 ingiiei education and keep them from making careless mistakes. "If people argue the wrong I ty Official )ther types of solicitation, ncluding door-to-door vitnessing. n ? I : J ic ? J nruuaKer saiu n a uunn esident is continually larassed by someone from a *eligious group, they should contact their hall adviser and register a complaint. Jane Young, a chaplain at :he Baptist Student Union, earned those attending of additional problems of which to be wary. iif M? T Many religious grc it Governi points or argue lnenecuveiy the legislators will not take them seriously," Gault said. The "Learn to Lobby" seminar will be held in Russell House Room332 from 2-4 p.m. and professional InhKiricfc ac wroll ac ctato KKJKJKT J lOtO UO TT VII M?J U VV? VV legislatorswill be on hand to give students hints on successful lobbying. Gault said information sheets on dwindling state support would be made available to students to better educate them on the problems which they could face while meeting with legislators. s Discuss 1 VniinO cqiH "Qnmotimoc A. UUU^ OUlUt UV/illV/tll klVO, people wander through the halls identifying themselves as chaplains, when in actuality they are not. If someone approaches you identifying themselves as chaplains, you should ask for their staff ID card." All recognized chaplains at USC carry staff ID cards and have full staff privileges at the university. Young mentioned another wmm. L. wIl\ ; >ups use high pressure tj ment To t rianH coirJ ctnHnntc chnnli VJUUIV OMIU OtUUV/lltO OI1VUI' begin now by making ap pointments with thei legislators. She also said a the lobbying semina organizers would try t group people together s thpv ran mppf with thpi legislators at the same tim and hopefully have a greate impact. Gault said the lobbying seminar and student lot bying day at the State Hous were just two projects whic Student Government ha worked on. Over Christma break Student Governmer ui a wi 1 ic in Ldii Religious Pi problem even harder to deal with: religious solicitation in halls on which the solicitor already resides. Young said not much could be done unless people on the hall complained about the sol' ntor, and that is highly unlikely. unnu' i* tins suoue summation is hard to deal with," Young said. "We are dealing in some touchy religious areas, and jctics to influence people to I (old 'Learn rl Daitm to Daoers across the >- state. Gault said the camr paign was successful and t many students said their r letters had made various o papers' editorial pages, o Gault said another r possible project could be a e reception for state legislators r but that is not definite yet. "Our slogan is an investment in higher >- education is an investment e in the future of South U Pn^nKnn ?? .1* ^?IA <?Tf ii vaiuuna, uauu aaiu. 11 s our state schools can not s produce qualified people it then we won't have quality l- people leading this state in ressure Ta we want people to realize that we are not trying to censor religious centers. If we try to tell people, 'No, you can't do this, this, and this,' soon other people will be tellinP us thp same thine Wo just want the problem of blatant religious harassment to be dealt with." Despite wide-spread cnnnprn nhnut wif npsi^ino there vvasa reluctance on the part ol many students to talk I I ipS I Stall Art by MIKt FISHEK their beliefs. To Lobby' the future." Gault said the whole project was student run and would need a lot of student input to be successful. "We need students to hely us get in touch with branch campuses and organize them and to work with othei state universities," Gaul said. "i ieei 11 s ume we sioix up for our rights," Gaul said. The $25 surcharge ii one thing but when th< quality of education is beinj i?~4 ;.an uui i Muuciiui iiiuat IIUI jus stand still for it." ictics openly on the subject, especially on the part of students who felt that some Christians may be using high-pressure tactics when they witness. I I /m i r a ? r n f Knr a nmr o IIUVVUVCI , IIILI C WL1 ^ others who were willing to talk about their views on witnessing and their experiences with it. Ronnie Anderson, a media arts sophomore, said, "The whole thing started when Campus Crusade was taking n enrvoxr Thn\; 'ic 1/ \if\\i if i;nti a out V V. Y . & 1 IV j aoi\ JWU II J\IU believe in Jesus, and I said yes. They got my telephone number, and that's when it all started." Anderson explained that a Campus Crusade member later went to his room and witnessed to him for about 2 1 /O Iiai ire A / *4 IIV7UI O . "When he first came in, I didn't know what he was there for," Anderson said. "He was real nice at first, then, bingo, he asked me if I ^wanted to join his faith." Anderson said he did not want to listen to what the man had to say. "I didn't care at all. I r\ If r\ f urVl'ii mm l t uoicii vi; ncwi vi wuai he said. I think it should be your own choice." Anderson said that while he didn't care to listen to the man, he never actually asked the man to leave. Anderson said he told the man he had to study for a test, but the man did not take the hint and kept on witnessing anyway. "They are so pushy that you can't get rid of them once they are in the door. They are just too pushy." Campus Crusade is not the only organization that has tried to influence Anderson. "These two guys from Shandon Church iShandon Church of Christ) kept coming by my room asking ? ? ~ ^.,1:,w. tUm. inc lu iu diuic siuuiin iiivtv had. They kept knocking on my door all the time. I went to one of their Bible studies just to get them to leave me alone They came by my room right before their studies, and IIAItANSKI) |?;?nr > 'Day k) ' '4$r ES , I ' * * Glory R. Gault