Filled with hurtful words, NSU's controversial "Wall of Hate" comes down
MIAMI - Anti-Semitic messages of hate were scrawled on a wall at NSU's Davie Campus. Many students thought that it was hate-laced graffiti.
"You see all those things being written on a wall and don't get explained, you're like 'This isn't what NSU stands for, this isn't what I want to be associated with,'" said student Erika Carrasco.
But when you look closer you also see the message, "You'll never fit in" and "Stop trying." This is what NSU calls a "Wall of Hate." And there's a reason behind it.
"A wall is constructed and students, faculty and staff are encouraged to write on the wall any sort of hurtful words or phrases that have caused them or loved one's anxiety, made them feel uncomfortable or hurtful," explained NSU Spokesman Joe Donzelli.
The next step is to knock it down.
"It's a way to metaphorically tear down the hate. That's what we want to do, we want to break through that cycle of hate. That's the purpose of the hate wall," Donzelli said.
The problem is that the message didn't make its way to students until after many were stunned. The University sent out an email explaining.
"It's supposed to be intended as a safe place for students to write down what hurt them and those they love and tear it down," a student read from the email.
A bulldozer knocked it down, earlier than planned, after the controversy.
Students got a whack at it too, using ten-pound sledge hammers. The concept, a cathartic way to knock out hate.
"The concept of it was a good concept, write words, break it down. I think it got a little muddled, especially with everything going on right now," another student said.
After this, there's an idea floating around campus to replace the "Wall of Hate" with a "Wall of Love."
"Let people write messages of love, support and encouragement because all of us are fighting battles that no one knows about," Donzelli said.
