Fundamentalist Demonstrations on the Liberal Arts Campus: Observations and Recommendations

This article explores the impact on students when non–university-affiliated conservative fundamentalist Christian groups conduct provocative demonstrations on campus. As university administrators work to balance free speech rights with missions of civility and pluralism, there is a need to assess and address potential adverse impacts of these sensational events. Based on a survey of 97 public university students after a controversial demonstration, we found the most adverse impact to be on students’ emotions, followed by disruption to their routines, changes to their feelings of safety, and minor consequences on academic activities. Those closer in proximity to the demonstration reported more adverse effects, and there were small differences in effects as a function of student gender, sexual orientation, and Christian identity. Counter to the ostensibly conservative aims of the demonstration, students typically reported it had little affect on their attitudes or that the demonstration made them more in favor of abortion rights, more supportive of homosexuality, and more anti-Christian. In addition, the demonstration caused many to question free speech and First Amendment rights. Results are discussed with regard to minimizing negative effects on our campus communities through the intentional involvement of faculty, campus police, and mental health service providers.