Those racist flyers at USC were meant to divide us. We won’t let them.

I have received a number of questions from family, friends and alumni about the disgusting signs that were posted on our campus last week. To even suggest that these exhibits of hatred and bigotry represent the beliefs of a large portion of the USC community is flat-out foolish.

This campus is not fueled by hatred; nor does it thrive on discord. We do not bow down to cowards or tolerate discrimination.

USC’s students, faculty and administration are strongly united in protest against bigotry in all its forms. We must stand together and work together to fight injustice. Every time.

This act was meant to divide our university, to tear at the very root of why we are so proud to call ourselves Carolinians. Above all, It was meant to spark fear and anger.

This is a zero-tolerance issue. Let’s stifle any voice of prejudice, move forward and meet this act with our acts of swift and powerful unity.

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USC students vent at school officials after racist flyers posted on campus

Christians cannot tolerate racist hate speech at USC, or anywhere

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I am vice president of the USC chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, an organization that across the country, sadly, has experienced racial problems in recent years. I believe I speak for the majority of Greek life students on our campus when I say that our organizations will help, will fight and will stand with all students to eliminate hatred. We are glad to be part of the future of USC, where we honor our fellow students. All of them. Where we build personal connections and human relationships that last well beyond four years of college.

I want this campus to become a community where an act meant to divide us only makes us closer and stronger. Where those filled with hate discover that we respond as a community united by love, laughter, acceptance, inclusion and compassion.

It starts with me, and each individual, speaking with those we may never have thought to speak with, building relationships we may never have thought would be built, reaching out to and engaging in forward-thinking with others. We must become the spark of change we all desperately wish to see. Change is not an overnight event. It is a movement. And it is possible. We are not all that far away.

The State publishes a cross section of the letters we receive from South Carolinians in order to provide a forum for our community and also to allow our community to get a good look at itself, for good or bad. The letters represent the views of the letter writers, not necessarily of The State.

This story was originally published January 29, 2018 at 11:47 AM with the headline "Those racist flyers at USC were meant to divide us. We won’t let them.."