NIC: Applauding policy of protest

The administration at NIC could never have anticipated a group of extreme protesters like the Westboro Baptist Church would pay the quite little campus by the lake a visit. While everyone knew this play was controversial in nature, national recognition from these protesters opened the administration's eyes to what can happen when there is no current policy recognizing protest.

In my opinion the door was left wide open for the protesters to come and communicate their ideas of hate and intolerance. In America these extremists as well as each and everyone of us has the freedom to speak our mind regardless of what that may be.

North Idaho College will never again be subject to an unwelcome protest. While I saw the signs and the messages of hate firsthand, this event opened the eyes of everyone and ultimately led to the uniting of NIC students and brought everyone together against this group of cowardly protesters who only seek media attention to further spread their message of hate and intolerance. As a united campus we should feel proud of our performance and the end result of this incident.

DANTE SWALLOW

Coeur d'Alene