Senior Laife Janovyak stopped people walking past the Scramble Light Monday and asked them to exercise their first amendment right to freedom of speech.
Students and community members stood on a soapbox and shared their views on issues ranging from the negative stereotypes MTV enforces to the importance of turning anti-war sentiments into pro-peace.
"We've had incredible diversity of topics," Janovyak, organizer of the event, said. "We had mostly impromptu speakers just jump up here and speak about stuff.
Janovyak said a high school speech teacher brought her class to the event and each student had to speak. One student told dirty jokes for 10 minutes. Rob Hanson with Mezzaluna spoke about how people would be better off if they turned their televisions off for one day a week and stopped eating McDonalds.
Janovyak said exercising your first amendment rights is important and that the soapbox speaking event is a good way to exercise them.
"It's a really simple public service announcement," she said. "It's a simple and fun way to remind people that we have this first amendment right, which is really essential."
Senior Sarah Aldridge, a member of Panhellenic Council, spoke about the misunderstandings surrounding the greek community.
"I feel like there's a lot of dissension between greek students and non-greek students," Aldridge said. "As a member of Panhellenic council, I want to try to eliminate misconceptions and get everyone cooperating and getting along."
Aldridge's speech was unplanned.
"It was a little impromptu, so I was just coming up with stuff as I went along," Aldridge said.
To end the day, Barry Banks, founder and director of Red-Tail Conservancy, an organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and restoring natural areas and farmland in East Central Indiana, spoke about two topics - passion and preservation.
"Students have to care about something," he said. "People in general, if they don't care, if they have no passion, if they go through life lollygagging, will not help our community, will not be successful."
Another Soapbox Speaker session will be held on Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mayor Dan Canan will be speaking at 11:15 a.m. and SGA president Steve Geraci will be speaking at 2 p.m.
Janovyak stressed the importance of freedom of speech and encouraged people to come give impromptu speeches on Friday.
"We need to be aware of [our right], exercise it and then, if the circumstances demand it, defend it," she said. "That's all there is to it."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
