by The Cowl Editor on October 25, 2018
Campus
by Micaela Freeman ’20
“A Day To End Hate” was held in McPhail’s on Monday, October 22 at 8 p.m. to help end hate towards marginalized communities.
The event was sponsored by Board of Multicultiral Student Affairs (BMSA) and was a collaboration of Providence College’s Stopping Homophobia Eliminating Prejudice and Restoring Dignity (SHEPARD), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Motherland Dance Group, Believers of Words (BOW), and A capella.
Throughout the years, October has been known as Bullying Prevention Month. Last Thursday, many celebrities and peers wore purple to commemorate the stop of hate and bullying.
This event allowed students who have been the victims of hate or know someone who has been a victim of hate and bullying, to come together and have a safe and enjoyable time. The event brought awareness to rights, love, and the importance of equality of not just the LGBTQ+ community, but for all those who have been hurt in the past.
Throughout the event, attendee’s were able to write love letters that helped inspire love and care to the marginalized communities. These notes will be hung in the SHEPARD club offices.
Attendee’s were presented three big questions that were posted on the wall and could respond privately or publicly on their own notecard that hung on the windows. The theme of the event was love and hate, and how important it is to end hate and inspire love.
The questions presented to the attendees helped stir the conversation about love and ending hate.
The questons incuded:
“How do we spread love or END HATE?”
“How can we achieve world peace or peace at PC?”
“What is your definition of LOVE?”
Christina Roca ’21 said that it is important to show support and alliance to her friends as well as the LGBTQ+ community.
“I’m here to support my friends and be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community,” said Roca.
Many groups on campus helped the event be a hit. BOW, Footprints Gospel Choir, Motherland, and PC’s all male A capella group, Special Guest, all performed, as well as Alexa Jerome ’20, who got major applause from the crowd.
Fartun Abdulle ’19 said the A capella group helped make the night with their voices.
“They sound angelic!” Abdulle said.
From BOW, Karisneyca Gutierrez ’18 performed her poem “Forgive and Forget,” Kincaid McLaren ’20 performed “Black Man,” and Grace Higgins ’22 performed “Waiting Game.”
For Jerome’s performance, students had their phone flashlights in the air as she performed Paramore’s “Only Exception.”
Emily Lucas ’19 also attended the event and said, “I loved the cover of ‘Only Exception.’ I think she did a really good job!” Overall, the night was enjoyable for everyone.
The event’s goals were to create a night where love was celebrated and hate was not in the hopes of making the entire world and the PC community more welcoming. “A Day to End Hate” became an integral part of many people’s days and gave them the feeling of acceptance they need in order to succeed and be themselves.