Monday, January 13, 1997
By Carol McKay
Daily Bruin Contributor
There has been a lot of yelling on Bruin Walk lately.
Speakers from Campus Ministries USA caught the attention of
students on their way to class late last week, spreading their
"word of God" and criticism of homosexuality and masturbation. And
students have been telling them just what they can do with their
message.
"I used to be like you. I used to listen to the Beastie Boys. I
used to ‘fight for my right to party,’" said speaker Giampaolo
Ladomato. "If you don’t believe in Jesus Christ, you are condemned.
You are a liar. You are going to hell."
Ladomato was one of two speakers Friday who were met with much
opposition from students who crowded Bruin Walk.
Student reaction ranged from silly to serious to obscene. "Do
you do parties?" one student shouted, throwing pennies at the
sign-toting speaker. Most students clearly disagreed with what the
men were saying, many confronting them one-on-one.
Students who spoke out called the men "ridiculous," "crazy" and
mere entertainers, dismissing their message entirely.
"These preachers rule out all other beliefs as illegitimate. You
can never win; their minds are set. It’s not a two-way dialogue
with these people. That’s why what they’re doing is so
ineffective," said Ray Fernandez, a third-year women’s studies and
dance student. Fernandez was one student who took part in debate
with Ladomato.
Tom Carlisle, who took turns addressing the crowd with Ladomato,
said the type of student reaction they received at UCLA is typical
of other campuses, and that in his speaking experiences, violent
confrontation has not been unusual.
"We’ve had people attack us, (and) the opposition spit on me,"
Carlisle said. "Most people aren’t believers. But God is looking
for the few. Most people don’t want to give up control of their
lives, but the Lord Jesus makes this possible."
Because of speech codes common on many private universities
across the nation, speakers from the Campus Ministries USA tour are
often limited in where they can spread their word.
"I don’t feel we fall in the category of hate speech. But the
Lord opens the doors of the colleges he wants us to speak to,"
Carlisle said.
As a public school, UCLA is confined to the First Amendment, and
free speech must be protected until it becomes a potential for
danger.
Carlisle said the goal of their tours is not to serve as
membership drives. "We’re looking for people to repent," he
said.
In addition to criticizing drunkeness and masturbation, Ladomato
and Carlisle attacked homosexuality.
"I don’t need to repent," Fernandez said. "If people like this
only knew how much damage they do to gays and lesbians. (Ladomato)
says God is love, but then he turns around and preaches hate. This
message can’t include me."
According to Ladomato, the speakers focus on homosexuality
"because it is a sin that is rampant." He pointed to UCLA’s number
of gay and lesbian support groups and its newsmagazine as proof to
him that homosexuality is too accepted among young people.
The sign which Ladomato carried while speaking to the crowd read
"Being homo is nothing to be proud of; it is abomination." Ladomato
said the sign’s straightforward phrasing is aimed at what students
"can relate to," as opposed to a biblical passage.
However, some students didn’t think the signs were relevant to
them at all.
"It seems like with this method, you’re turning away more
people," Peter Liu, a fourth-year biology student, said to the
speakers. "You’re driving away the population rather than embracing
them."
Liu talked at length with Ladomato on an individual level after
the crowd of approximately 75 students cleared Friday
afternoon.
"We’re not forcing anyone to stop and listen," Ladomato said.
"We’re overall successful in doing what pleases God. We know it’s
not going to please most people."
One man found himself in debate with Ladomato as well.
"You should focus on drawing them to Christ," he called out.
"And you need to draw by love."
Other students stressed similar concerns. "I am a very devout
Christian, but I feel he’s emphasizing too much that God condemns,"
said Joanna Laird, a first-year English student.
However, despite differences in opinion, most students present
concurred that the men had the right to be there.
"I think this is a great thing. The purpose of the university is
for discourse," said Mark Levin, a fifth-year art student. "(But) I
don’t agree with them. They’re taking the words of God and turning
them upside down."
Fernandez agreed, saying "They have the right to be here, but
their condemnation is disturbing."
Ladomato, who has been traveling and preaching for almost four
months, says that they will continue doing what they must to
"please God. There’s a lot of opposition out there, but Jesus had
opposition, too."
According to Carlisle, the two may return to UCLA today or may
continue on to another university in the Los Angeles area.
"It all depends on how the Lord directs us."
AARON TOUT
Tom Carlisle holds a sign while preaching on Bruin Walk
Friday.