Thursday afternoon, over 400 students at Lebanon Valley College held a Unity March in response to recent incidents of intolerance and hatred on their campus. On November 5th, upon leaving the classroom and returning, a black student found a doodle of a lynched figure with a darkened face on her seat. During the same week, two lesbian students found the message, “Be normal,” written on their dorm whiteboard. Recognizing that bigotry has no place on their campus, the students, faculty, and staff of Lebanon Valley College banded together to take action.

A crowd of students and members of faculty gathered on the campus social quad with signs promoting love and acceptance. Eight speakers took the podium to reaffirm the campus community’s commitment to fighting bigotry. The group then left the campus and marched through the town of Annville, chanting slogans such as, “No more hate!”

First year LVC student, Paige Riddle, was one of the community leaders chosen to speak during the event and was at the forefront of the march. Riddle was approached by fellow student activist, Tito Valdes, on Wednesday about speaking during the event in regards to LGBTQ students on campus. Hailing from York, PA, where she was the President of her high school GSA, Riddle describes herself as an advocate for LGBTQ rights on campus. She shared with the Keystone Student Voice that she wants to be someone who helps advance the movement for LGBTQ equality in Pennsylvania.

Riddle found the general mood at the march as being very positive, and said that she heard no negative remarks from anyone in attendance.

Bias incidents are an issue on campuses across the state, and far too often go unsolved or unreported. Lebanon Valley College should be commended for taking such a visible stand against intolerance in their community.

Victoria Martin is a second year student at West Chester University. She is originally from Shippensburg, PA in Cumberland County. She can be reached at vmartin@pennsec.org.