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Emory University Pro-Donald Trump Chalk Messages Cause Students ‘Pain’ And Prompt Calls For Emergency Counseling

By Tara Dodrill
Published on: 03:11 PST, Mar 24, 2016

Pro-Donald Trump chalk drawings at Emory University so frightened and upset the college students, they claimed they were in pain and needed counseling because their safe space had been violated.

The Donald Trump Emory University chalk drawings were short and simple, and did not include an foul language, political rhetoric, or crude images. The pro-Donald Trump slogans simply bore the Republican front runner’s name or urged the young adults, “Vote Trump,” and said “Trump 2016.”

Emory University school officials said the Atlanta-area students claimed that “messages of hate” had suddenly appeared on the sidewalks, public benches, and building steps at their school, the Daily Mail reports.

University president Jim Wagner stated in a release that Emory students deemed the pro-Donald Trump chalk drawings as “intimidation,” and said the students claimed they felt “genuine concern and pain” after viewing the words, Reason magazine reports.

Wagner launched an investigation into the chalk political slogans after student government leaders sent him a letter about the matter and lambasted Emory University over their lack of response to the issue. A meeting was held to discuss the Donald Trump chalk drawings — student protesters quickly erupted into chants after the event began.

“You are not listening! Come speak to us, we are in pain,” student chanted on campus before Wagner agreed to host the meeting.

The Emory Latino Student Organization was but one of the campus groups who was aghast over the Trump chalk messages. The group called the political slogans an act of cowardice by vandals.

“Yesterday, the Emory community was witness to an act of cowardice. They did not do this merely to support the presidential candidate, but to promote the hate and discrimination that goes along with him. While some students only see the name of a potential nominee, others see hostility and venom which promises to destroy lives.”

School officials have since stated the Trump chalk messages do not coincide with Emory’s “values regarding diversity,” and are attempting to track down the culprits. Free speech supporters are incensed that simply writing a message to encourage students to vote for a Republican presidential candidate has been declared an infringement upon diversity standards.

“Some Emory students are so fragile, and terrified of innocuous political speech they dislike, that they immediately sought comfort from campus authority figures. These figures, of course, were more than willing to coddle them,” an excerpt from the Reason editorial on the free speech issued, read.

Not all of the Emory University students support the idea of pain being caused by the viewing of Donald Trump chalk messages — even those who say they would never vote for the GOP front runner. Campus student organizations began offering free counseling sessions to any student who happened across a “Vote Trump” chalk message and felt traumatized by what their eyes had seen.

Wagner has since stated the university will create “structured opportunities for difficult dialogues” in an effort to address diversity matters at Emory. He also said he understands there is a need to address “social justice opportunities” and committed to hold an annual retreat to “renew” such efforts.

The pro-Donald Trump chalk messages have since been wiped off of Emory University property. Trump won the Georgia primary by a wide margin.

What do you think about the Trump chalk messages at the school and the response by both the administration and the students who claimed they were in pain and felt intimidated after seeing them?

[Image via Shutterstock.com]

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