Hi all, thanks for reading!
I am writing to see if anyone has any information about laws or rules related to religious proselytizing inside the buildings of a community college. There is an older middle aged man who is almost daily inside the buildings on campus where I have classes who spends the day instigating conversations with students about the Christian god and asking such questions as "Have [we] accepted Jesus Christ as our lord and savior?" and "Do [we] believe in [the Christian] God?" and "Do [we] believe we will go to heaven?" I have seen many students respond positively and many students ask him to leave, but the question is is it legal for a non-student to be inside a publicly funded community college proselytizing and initiating private conversations with students? I believe that the situation would be different if he were with the schools permission and had a table or booth set up offering information. For me, I really do not want to be harassed by people of any religion while I eat my lunch or walk from class to class and feel very uncomfortable that this non-student older man is walking around inside the campus. I have been searching for what the law dictates in these situations but have had no luck and do not want to complain to the school until I know that it is legally reasonable for me to do so. The first time I saw him continually approaching students I told the on campus police, just on the basis that he was a suspicious seeming old man who I've seen continue to try and talk with students inside the building. I never heard back on what happened, but he continues to show up daily. Any information about the related laws or help finding this information would be hugely appreciated!! Not so much opinions about whether you personally would be comfortable with this man being there and doing this.
Thanks!!!
-Tom
I am writing to see if anyone has any information about laws or rules related to religious proselytizing inside the buildings of a community college. There is an older middle aged man who is almost daily inside the buildings on campus where I have classes who spends the day instigating conversations with students about the Christian god and asking such questions as "Have [we] accepted Jesus Christ as our lord and savior?" and "Do [we] believe in [the Christian] God?" and "Do [we] believe we will go to heaven?" I have seen many students respond positively and many students ask him to leave, but the question is is it legal for a non-student to be inside a publicly funded community college proselytizing and initiating private conversations with students? I believe that the situation would be different if he were with the schools permission and had a table or booth set up offering information. For me, I really do not want to be harassed by people of any religion while I eat my lunch or walk from class to class and feel very uncomfortable that this non-student older man is walking around inside the campus. I have been searching for what the law dictates in these situations but have had no luck and do not want to complain to the school until I know that it is legally reasonable for me to do so. The first time I saw him continually approaching students I told the on campus police, just on the basis that he was a suspicious seeming old man who I've seen continue to try and talk with students inside the building. I never heard back on what happened, but he continues to show up daily. Any information about the related laws or help finding this information would be hugely appreciated!! Not so much opinions about whether you personally would be comfortable with this man being there and doing this.
Thanks!!!
-Tom