A preacher was asked to leave campus after trespassing on the quad.
A preacher showed up on campus about 2 p.m. Sept. 27, and began preaching anti-Semitic, anti-homosexual and anti-atheist ideals.
Dr. Charles Neff, vice president for university-church relations, was called to the scene.
Neff said he received a phone call from Dr. Ayres, Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students, about the preacher.
Neff told the preacher he did not have permission to be on campus, and OCU Police Chief Jennifer Rodgers escorted him from the premises.
Addison Saviers, religion sophomore, called Oklahoma City University Police Department to inform them about the preacher.
“They said there weren’t any officers on duty, so they were going to send the OKCPD,” Saviers said. “But then Chief Rodgers showed up and talked to him.”
Saviers said he was preaching conservative ideals on hell, salvation and judgment day.
Neff said the preacher had been on other campuses and had been asked to leave the Southern Nazarene University campus in the past. He told Neff and Rodgers he was unaware that OCU was a private university.
Sydney Epstein, acting junior, was present at the time of the incident.
“He basically said that the logic we learn here is sinful, and the only logic we need is from the Bible,” Epstein said. “Also, that our teachers have sinful intentions and are getting paychecks to teach us sinful things.”
Zach Prall, acting sophomore, was on the way to his Bible and culture class when the preacher appeared. Dr. Sharon Betsworth, professor of religion and director of the Wimberly School of Religion, who teaches the class, had her students stop and listen to the preacher so they could discuss it in class.
“The guy was saying the university was made to distract us from God and that all of us who worked for the university were becoming rich because of the devil,” Prall said. “He said our professors and teachers will be living in mansions while we are all in hell.”
Neff said he was very proud of the students’ response to the man, some of whom asked him to stop and to address the campus in a better way.
This man should be arrested. He is dangerous and the school and the police must protect the students!
Correction: The man’s choice for coming on campus today is unknown. He gave no indication of his motivation when questioned. It may or may not have been related to Sukkot. He did not say.
Correction: I did not have students stop and listen to the man, but rather I asked the students who were present to disperse so as not to encourage the man.