You Don't Have to Agree with Adam

Who is Adam?

For those of you who haven't been overwhelmed by yellow adam t-shirts in the last few days, here's the scoop. All last week, there appeared this huge campaign for someone named adam. Do you agree with adam? signs were all over the place, plastered over bullietin boards, scribbled all over chalkboards across campus, and people dressed up like monkeys in bright yellow t-shirts that said "I agree with adam." However, no where on any of this propaganda did it ever explain who adam was, or what he was about. Naturally, everyone began to wonder what it was all about. Then at the end of the week, signs began appearing saying "Who's adam, find out on monday!" "Monday's the day!" So, yesterday, we all found out what adam is all about. He is a christian student that took out a half-page ad on the back page of the collegian telling his story of how he "asked Christ into his life," and "now has a personal relationship with the one true god." He called out to all penn state students to "come hear about the love God has for you." He is holding rallies on the steps of Patee, and seminars of other similar adam stories on campus all this week. This is a joint effort of all the christian groups on campus it seems. They are selling bright yellow t-shirts on campus to those who have accepted Christ into their life. So, now the campus is swarming with these bright yellow shirts, as well as a multitude of balloons and posters, that say "I agree with adam." Teachers had to spend class time erasing the slogans from all of the chalkboards. Also, I think a "do you agree with adam?" flier was placed in every mailbox on campus. (that's a lot of paper!!)

What We Think

Personally, I've had mixed feelings on the subject. my first reaction was anger, and probably disappointment. Yet, I couldn't quite what grasp why it bothered me so much. At first I thought it was because it was a blatant expression of religion. But, then I thought, a muslim wearing\par their veil would be the same thing, and that doesn't bother me at all. Plus, I wear a chalice (thanks brandi), which is also an expression of faith. To go against this campaign for that reason would be hypocritical. They have the right to profess their faith. My next thought was that it was the excessive propaganda, balloons and the posters and the tshirts. But then, I thought, when it was coming out day, and there were rainbow balloons all over the place, I didn't mind. So what's the difference between coming out day and the adam campaign? I think it's because the rainbow campaign wasn't asking me to become gay. The adam campaign, it seems, is directed toward convincing people to join their christian groups, which is why I feel somewhat threatened by it. Now that I've thought about it, I know exactly why I don't agree with adam, and I'm ready to defend that. So, they can paint their skin yellow and parachute out of big yellow planes in ape costumes for all I care. I know what I believe.

— information by Robin Hoeker, 2/9/00

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