Several flags were ripped up and thrown in trash cans
Junior Rowan Jolkowski poses with banner where the damaged flags were reused.
Doane is Love concluded on Feb. 16 after a week of celebrating love held by People for the Rights of Individuals of Sexual Minorities (PRISM). Overall, this week was a success, both in raising money and spreading love. However, despite the successes, there were a few incidents of destruction that occurred over the week.
According to PRISM President and junior Rowan Jolkowski, there were a few isolated incidents of people destroying the pride flags that PRISM members had set up around campus in celebration of the week-long event.
“This happens every year, we know it shouldn’t and that it’s not okay but it’s better to be resilient and to keep our heads up than let it impact us too much,” Jolkowski said. Despite this happening every year, there was a more severe instance where the various pride flags were all pulled from outside of the Communications Building and half of them pulled from Cassel Open Air Theater. Those pulled flags were then thrown into a trash can outside of Perry Campus Center.
Jolkowski and another PRISM member found them in the trash after a Doane is Love event that week.
Such a display of hate created a mix of emotions for Jolkowski.
“Initially I was really scared. There have been so many instances of violence toward the community recently because of target political actions and religious misunderstanding. I was scared that this was the first sign of something bigger happening. Then I got angry because we have worked so hard to put on this week,” Jolkowski said.
In response, PRISM had an emergency meeting with the executive members and then emailed PRISM advisors and DEI staff. In response, PRISM created a garland of the bent flags from the trash.
On the garland read a poster that said, “Bent but never broken, love will prevail” and hung it in Nyrop Hall.
Pride flags were in the ground all over campus to celebrate Doane is Love week.
Since then Jolkowski has received several anonymous apology letters from some of the people that were caught destroying the flags.
Jolkowski shares a message for those students who damaged the flags.
“I hope you learn from your mistakes in a way that helps you realize that the LGBTQ+ community is not trying to exclude anyone or make anyone feel like they are being silenced. We are doing the opposite and our values align much more than I think you realize,” Jolkowski said.
Despite this happening, this did not damage their spirits to carry on the rest of the week. The potluck with Alpha Pi Epsilon Fraternity made around $150 for the Trevor Project, the trivia night went well and there was a great turnout for the Drag show, according to Jolkowski.
He is overall proud of PRISM for the entire week and has not personally reached the point of forgiveness to those people who damaged the flags, but feels that forgiveness is not far off.
