2013-14 Issue 22

Page 1

WashburnUniversity University Washburn

Volume 140, Issue 22

March 26, 2014

WASHBURN

www.washburnreview.com washburnreview.org

REVIEW

PHELPS LEAVES BEHIND INFAMOUS LEGACY IN TOPEKA

INSIDE

Future of Westboro Church in question following leader’s death

WU News

Patrick Barry

WASHBURN REVIEW

Page 2: Chartwells, Washburn campus dining service, received a record number of healthcode violations.

Sports

Page 5: Ichabod men and women’s tennis compete in Florida. The Women’s team won two of their three matches, while the Men’s finished the week ranking No. 31.

Arts and Entertainment

Pages 6 and 7: Over spring break, Washburn students traveled to South Padre Island, Texas, to help better sea turtles’ environment.

Fred Phelps, founder of the Westboro Baptist Church, died of natural causes at 11:15 p.m., March 15 in hospice care. He was 84 years old. According to his son, Nathan Phelps, his father had been excommunicated from the church, he founded prior to his death. Phelps was one of the most wellknown residents of Topeka and has left an infamous legacy for his crusade against the LGBTQ community. Some argued that his crusade, while negative, brought positive outcomes to Topeka. “I think that they [Westboro Baptist Church] forced Topeka first to look seriously at our intolerances and our prejudices and confront them and for some people to act and to change.” Phelps was born in Meridian, Miss., and originally planned to attend West Point before a sermon at a Methodist revival ceremony caused him to devote his life to religion. He founded the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan. in 1955. His first major campaigns against homosexuals were aimed at Gage Park, where homosexuals allegedly gathered. Phelps and his followers gained national attention in 1998 for their protests of Matthew Shepard’s funeral. Shepard, a student, was tortured and beaten to death outside of Laramie, Wyo., for being homosexual. Phelps’ protest gained media attention and sparked counter protests. Phelps also protested outside the trial of the two young men who murdered Shepard. Phelps and his followers started to protest military funerals in the wake of September 11, 2001. The church claimed that God killed the soldiers for supporting a nation that condoned homosexuality. In 2001 the U.S.

Supreme Court upheld Phelps and his followers’ constitutional right to picket the funerals of soldiers on free speech grounds. Phelps’ policy of protesting military funerals created solidarity in opposition to his cause between different groups. “At some level the Phelps have been the best thing for gay activists and gay rights in terms of allowing the solidification of the unification of partners in rejection to what the Phelps stood for,” said John Paul, professor of sociology. The Westboro Baptist Church became famous for protests that shocked and offended many. There were numerous negative responses from Americans who were hurt by the Phelps’ crusade. Although Phelps’ methods and methodology were seen as appalling to many, he and his church operated within the law. Phelps and his family had extensive legal experience.

Phelps earned a law degree from Washburn University School of Law in 1964. He became known for his work in civil rights cases in Kansas. He represented black clients in discrimination lawsuits. For years he was recognized for his contributions in the struggle for civil rights in Kansas. The Kansas Board of Law Examiners filed a complaint November 8, 1977 against Phelps for his conduct in a lawsuit against

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Legacy of Hate: The Westboro Baptist Church is the legacy of Fred Phelps. He founded the church in 1955. a court reporter named Carolene him of being the antichrist and focus Brady. He declared her a hostile heavily on his African heritage. This witness, accused her of sexual new content appears contradictory, perversions and of being a “slut.” given Phelps’ past activism for Phelps was disbarred July 20, African American civil rights. 1979, the result of his breach in Such evidence sparked professional ethics. speculations about a change in In 1989 Phelps surrendered his the church’s leadership. Nathan license to practice law in federal Phelps’ claim that his father was courts as the result of additional excommunicated prior to his death disciplinary complaints from U.S. fits with the question of who now District Court judges. controls the church? In recent years Phelps was not Steve Drain, a documentary often seen at the protests, thought by filmmaker who is one of the few not many to be due to his age; however, descended from Phelps, has acted as many critics and academics noted a the spokesperson of the church in change in the church’s agenda. What the wake of Phelps’ death. was once a myopic and focused “Westboro Baptist is going to campaign against the LGBTQ continue; what they do and how community seemed to devolve they do it remains to be seen,” said into a less unified crusade against Morse. “No matter what, there is a anyone outside the Westboro Baptist family that is in mourning and we Church. The group’s website, www. have to honor and respect that.” godhatesfags.com, branched out to Phelps’ death has brought target new groups. renewed interest in his life, which Some individuals speculated that is as complicated as it is infamous. Phelps was no longer in control of his His legacy can be seen as spreading church based on the deviation from hate, uniting various groups against his original crusade. His daughter his message or in the future of the Shirley Phelps-Roper appeared to be church he founded. Regardless of the head of the church as the most how he is remembered it is unlikely outspoken member in their recent he will be forgotten. campaigns. The church’s campaigns against Patrick Barry, patrick.barry@ Obama contain passages that accuse washburn.edu, is a senior anthropology major.

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