BETA BRIDGE is an icon of the University. Repainted at least once a day, sometimes more, it has become a window into the busy social lives and group events of the student body. It serves as a public advertisement of the comings and goings of the University. Everything from wedding proposals to Take Back the Night and frat formals to sports championships are advertised. It is in itself a representation of the University and everything the students stand for or believe in.
Unfortunately, that representation was tarnished this summer after an unknown group marred the work of a Christian organization that had painted an evangelical message on the bridge. The work of the mysterious vandal, or vandals, was not only disrespectful to the organization that painted the original message, but also disrespectful to every student, teacher and person affiliated with this school.
Religiously affiliated messages -- and not just those representing Christian views -- are not uncommon on Beta Bridge. Seders are advertised by campus Jewish organizations and Ramadan is celebrated in bold colors on the bridge.
What is uncommon is for a message by any organization to be so scarred by vandals. The original message on the bridge read "Jesus is the way," enclosed in a border of Bible verses and inspirational messages. A few hours after its completion the phrase "the way" was replaced with dark gray paint and the phrase "dead: RIP." Thus, the new bridge read "Jesus is dead: RIP."
Obviously, this was an affront to the Christian religion; the whole basis of the belief is that Jesus in fact died and then rose again to live forever. But the debate between faith versus fact is not even the real issue in the tarnishing of the message on the bridge.
The most offensive thing is that someone would be so aggrieved by another's show of belief that they would feel the need to mar it. It's not surprising that someone would not believe the statement on the bridge -- it goes without saying that the world population shares different religious beliefs and doctrines with sometimes intense results. It is surprising, however, that the unknown vandals would feel the need to criticize and destroy the beliefs of others.
In a country that prides itself on its freedom of speech, one would hope that everyone, including non-Christians, would celebrate the painters' ability and liberty to spread their message. The bridge itself is a testimony to the very ideal of freedom of speech. Right to life-themed messages have been painted directly across from right to choose messages. Student government candidates flaunt their merits in a showdown crossing Rugby Road. That really is what makes the bridge wonderful -- it's a public platform for anyone in the University to express themselves and their ideals.
The vandals not only tarnished another's message but also the whole principle of the bridge. Now will every group that decides to partake in the publicity that is the bridge have to worry about their own messages being marred? In a University that prides itself on self-governance, will we have to set up some system to guard the rights of the bridge and protect the messages conveyed there?
The whole idea is disturbing but necessary in light of recent events. If one group can't paint a message of encouragement and faith, who's to say others' messages won't be destroyed?
For that very reason the whole University should be up in arms. Beta Bridge is without a doubt an advertisement for the school. It is a representation to the rest of the world displaying proudly in many colors what the University is and who its students are.
The vandalism on the bridge served only to send the message that we are a student body that does not respect the beliefs of others or tolerate any expression of values or faith that might be contrary to our own. What a sad, sad message to be sending out. After a year where diversity was the buzzword on Grounds, this one act has set the whole school back a few steps. For if we can't allow a harmless message of devotion on a piece of cement, how can we ever as a school allow people of divergent backgrounds, beliefs and convictions to all flourish, grow, live and learn openly with one another?
Perhaps the saddest aspect of the whole incident is the fact that the vandals felt the need to do what they did in the first place. Maybe it was simply a harmless joke. Doubtful, but even if it was, the sense of humor is not appreciated or funny. Maybe the vandals felt intimidated by the message and the idea that -- gasp -- it could actually lead someone to Jesus and thus Christianity. Oh, no, what a tragedy. All sarcasm aside, if the vandals painted because of fear of a Christian influence on their peers, they have bigger problems than just bad bridge etiquette.
Most likely, though, the bridge was painted over because of someone's outrage that a message contrary to their own views would be so prominently displayed in such a public fashion. Too bad they couldn't see the glory in it -- the confidence of the people who knew what they believe in and the country that gives them an opportunity to express said beliefs.
Beta Bride was painted three times the day of the vandalism: First with its original message, then with its second coating of resentment and ignorance and then finally with the original words on top of the demeaning, uninvited ones. Hopefully in the future it won't take three coats to say one thing.
(Maggie Bowden is a Cavalier Daily associate editor. She can be reached at mbowden@cavalierdaily.com.)
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