TO THE EDITOR:
Last week, the Daily Tar Heel reported on the Pit Preacher heckler and why he was recently given a warning for his actions. While I can’t say I support the Pit Preacher and his views, I really didn’t like what the heckler did in response and actually found it very disappointing. However, what I found more disappointing was the actual article written about the heckler.
I personally witnessed the heckling that took place, so after seeing the article, I naturally expected that it would reprimand the heckler and explain to the readers why this person’s actions were unacceptable. It did neither. As the campus’s main print medium for news, I believe it is the Daily Tar Heel’s job to make sure people know that this heckler’s actions aren’t at all representative of the Carolina Way. I may be a first-year who is still learning about the Carolina Way, but I know one thing — it isn’t publicly shaming and harassing someone simply because you disagree with their views.
Visiting parents, future Tar Heels and I watched as the heckler’s freedom of speech and expression quickly turned into just plain sexual harassment. It was disgusting, and, to any outside visitor, made our University look bad. As a community, we must speak out to ensure that incidents like this never repeat themselves, and the best place to start is through the news.
Theo Onigbinde ‘17
Economics
Busines
