Suspects Sought In BSU Attack

Hate Crime On Bridgewater State University Campus

Campus Journalist Attacked

Police in Bridgewater are seeking a male and female suspect following a Hate Crime assault on a campus journalist.

Destinie Mogg-Barkalow, who writes for the Bridgewater State University newspaper (the Comment) had written an article supportive of same sex marriage, called "Prop 8 Generates More Hate." True to her word, she was assaulted on campus last Thursday night.

A man and a woman walked up to DMB, noticed her school newspaper sweatshirt, and asked her if she wrote the Prop 8 article. When she said that she did write it, the woman punched her in the face. I'm not sure if the man punched her as well.

The BSU campus has DMB's back, and is planning both a march and a rally in support of her. The march will kick off Tuesday at 11 AM, at the Moakley Center. It will conclude with a rally behind the Rondileau Campus Center.

Police issued two composite sketches of the suspects, which I'll get into this article in a minute. Anyone with information should contact the campus police at 508-531-1212.

Below is the txt of her article:

Proposition 8 was banned on February 7, causing celebrations all over the U.S. Excitement spread across the country when the law was signed, giving same-sex couples the right to marry again. There was never an ounce of equality or respect in mind when the right was taken away in the first place. In fact, the support of the law was supposedly said to be for educational purposes. It was never specified what education. In other words, this was a load of religious bigotry.

It has come to my attention that Prop 8 is not even common knowledge. Everyone knows that gay marriage is illegal in states across the U.S., but what about the California situation? Same-sex marriage was okay one moment and a few months later, illegal again. Here is the catch: the 18,000 couples married between the five months it was legal still kept their marriage status. However, the couples married elsewhere who then came to live in California, lost their marriage rights. How can we break a contract if nothing is wrong or illegal about it?

Sam Dillon, a New York Times journalist states there is "a gap in most states' education standards," in reference to our civil rights. Why is equality still an issue? Religions are advertised by Joe Fuiten, senior pastor at Cedar Park Church, as a way to "preserve marriage." In D.C. this was the first time same-sex couples were being told they could not be wed.

Why is everyone trying to revoke a right when it is not against the law? This question goes unanswered. Gay marriage is not seen as a deadly sin by every church. I am a Protestant and feel that Mr. Fuiten is close-minded and a little bit judgmental. When I grew up in a Baptist church, I was taught that every sin was equal and to practice acceptance. My pastor never told me to "pray away gays" as Sarah Palin did, or that "being gay is not the way", like Rick Santorum stated.

How would you feel if politicians and religious leaders told you not to feel a certain way? It would kind of feel like your parents were telling you to do something. I know how to run my life and I can love whomever I want.I would never want my rights to be forgotten just so people could walk all over me. If you believe legalizing gay marriage is unconstitutional, I think it is time you moved to another country. If you think it is wrong because of procreation, think again. Not even all straight couples have children. When it comes down to it, all I can say is leave us alone. Why are people so concerned about my soul and not their own?

If same-sex couples are going to hell, at least I would be in peace and could finally stop worrying about hypocritical judgment.The beautiful ban on Prop 8 knocked our socks off. I am one of those who thought the Prop 8 ban would never have swept us off our feet as fast as it was devised. If we recognized it was unconstitutional, what will we do if the Supreme Court disagrees? The Supreme Court is at the command of the people and I am confident if the ban does go by the wayside, they would be taking off more than they could chew this time. It is time to come back to the 21^st century.