Western Courier| November 14th, 2018

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Opinions: Students prepare for Rally of Love.

Sports: Jimmy Butler traded to Philadelphia.

Sports: Volleyball wins final game of season.

Wednesday, November 14, 2018 - Vol. 119 Issue 36

AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY. SERVING MACOMB SINCE 1905.

SGA discusses ways to combat hate

felcicia selmon/courier staff

Professor Robert Hirmonimus-Wendt (right) spoke to the Student Government Association Tuesday to discuss ways to combat the actions that will take place at Saturday's game. Aaron Steele (left) fielded discussion on bills in during business.

By Marc Ramirez news editor

Sociology professor Robert Hironimus-Wendt opened up Tuesday’s Student Government Association meeting speaking in regards to the events that will be taking place Saturday.  “As most of us know, this Saturday a group called the Westboro Baptist Church will be arriving on our cam-

pus,” he said. “They’re coming here specifically to speak their hatred of homosexuality and that is their constitutional right.”  Having served in the military, Hirmonimus-Wendt is a fan of the Constitution as he’s sworn to defend it. However, he brought forth ways that the student body could exercise their rights to respond to this act. As a fan of Martin Luther King Jr., he also refer-

ences that we will never conquer hate with hate only love can do that.   “Another group will be organizing a session on Saturday, there’s a Facebook page that you can go to and it’s the ‘WIU Rally for Love’,” he said. “This group is organized by adult members of the community and faculty members and they plan to have a counter protest. They are planning to meet at 11

a.m. in Q-Lot and are planning to have a celebration of diversity.”  He explains the message intended by this group is to spread diversity, acceptance and tolerance for those who are different. This is something he believes isn’t new to the Macomb community, just as the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church is nothing new either.   “One thing you should

know about Westboro Baptist Church, which is not Baptist nor a church, is that they peruse publicity and attention at every moment,” Hirmonimus-Wendt said. “The reason they are coming here is because there is a football player on the other team who is openly gay.”

SGA page 2

Macomb Police seek new saftey technology at City Council meeting By Steven Barnum assistant news editor

macombpolice.com

felicia selmon/ courier staff

Police Chief Curt barker (left) and Alderman Gayle Carper (right) disagree over new technology's potential.

Macomb Police Chief, Curt Barker, may have trouble convincing the city council that a license plate reader system would be beneficial.   Barker hopes to crack down on drunk driving in Macomb with a more efficient DUI-prevention system. The system is able to automatically read hundreds of license plates at once, which eliminates the risk and time it takes police officers to read and record license plates while they are driving.  “It’s a real benefit,” Barker said, “because instead of an officer having to look at those

vehicles, he can concentrate on the road.”   Alderman Gayle Carper says she is completely against the system. She is concerned that since the camera takes a picture of every car in its proximity, it will also capture faces of Macomb residents.   “People try to keep their kids off Facebook,” Carper said, “but you can’t keep them off these cameras.”  Alderman Don Wynn found research that backs up Carper, but Barker assured the council that the system only reads and stores license plates.

City Council page 3


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