Watch out, partiers, sex freaks and feminists -- judgment is coming.
At least that's what a group of preachers gathered outside the HUB said Wednesday, holding an impromptu rally to spread their religious and moral beliefs to the campus community.
Among those present was Vincent Piater, who said he traveled the world and met a preacher in Scotland who awakened his religious dedication.
"I felt God had called me to preach in the open air," Piater said. "Only after God revealed himself to me -- that's what healed me of my sin."
Aside from the signs some preachers were holding -- reading "Trust Jesus" and "Evolution is a Lie," among other slogans -- students representing various on-campus organizations displayed their opposition with a rainbow flag representing the LGBTA community and a sign which read: "Atheist Agnostic Association."
Corey Kurz (sophomore-mathematics) was one of the students holding the LGBTA flag. He said he was amused by the commotion caused by the preachers but not at all surprised.
"Usually, I see them and chuckle to myself," Kurz said. "I'm all for discussion. I don't think they change anybody's mind."
Several of the preachers said they travel around the country, stopping at college campuses to spread their beliefs and engage students in debate and discussion. Piater said he has previously been to schools in Arizona, Texas, Wisconsin and Michigan, and students are usually extremely opinionated in their responses.
Hannah Sams (senior-music) spoke with the group of students from the Atheist and Agnostic Association because she wanted more information about their organization.
She recalled a time last year in an Osmond Laboratory class when the professor was forced to close the windows because a group of preachers across the street was disrupting the class.
"It's really offensive," Sams said. "Even if I was a Christian, I would see these people giving religion a bad name."
Traveling preachers have a history of inciting odd behavior from bystanders.
Last year, a student came dressed in a Soviet military uniform and waved a Soviet Union flag as a preacher spoke to students. On Wednesday, one student suddenly stood on a bench and began singing the theme song from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the middle of one preacher's speech.
But no matter how strange or out-of-hand the situation may become, Piater said reactions to his message rarely surprise him.
"People have come with knives and cut our mics," Piater said. "The message convicts them of their sin."
