Opinion

THEIR view

Pagan religion misunderstood

Dear editor,

The Pagans celebrating the holiday of Samhain on November 1st would like to correct some factual errors in Mr. Dingess and Mr. Andrick's columns.

We would first like to address the public nature of our celebration. If you are not familiar with Wicca or Paganism, we are celebrants of a nature religion who prefer to hold our rituals outdoors where we can be closer to the Earth.

Marshall's campus was believed to be a safe and convenient place for an outdoor gathering of Marshall students. We reserved the area through Student Activities to ensure both physical and political safety during our religious ceremony. The fliers announcing the event were to inform Marshall's Pagans that there are others who share their beliefs on campus and not to draw publicity or media. Indeed, the coordinators of the ritual never contacted the media and would have preferred their absence.

An anthropology major, and former Parthenon reporter, requesting to study our beliefs, sent a correspondence from the coordinators to The Parthenon thinking they would be interested in the story. From this correspondence, Mr. Dingess mistakenly concluded that the 19 celebrants were a "working group", and later stated that the "working group is fully public about their beliefs." Most of those who congregated on Buskirk Field had never met each other before that night. The term working group, as used in the email, referred only to the coordinators, who are in fact public.

We would also like to address the reasons for asking Ms. Blair, the reporter for MU Report, to not videotape the event. This is not because we are "fashionites in fishnets out for attention," as Mr. Andrick states. Rather, it is simply a fear of discrimination. Wicca and Paganism are often misunderstood or confused with Satanism. Because of this, many pagans have lost their jobs, been disowned by family, or lost custody of their children after being outed (problems similar to those faced by the LGBT community).

Several people present were being very courageous by participating at all. Several days before the rite, Ms. Blair asked to cover the ritual. When we learned she would be videotaping, we asked her not to attend for the above reasons. When she appeared at the ceremony, she was told that we would be happy to let her interview those willing to appear on camera before or after the rite, an arrangement suitable with the other press present. She rudely refused, insisting on videotaping our ritual.

At this point she was asked to leave; instead she went to the perimeter of the reserved area and began filming. Throughout the rite, her actions caused tension and distracted the celebrants. Spectators decided to blockade her efforts to film the event, an action encouraged by the event coordinators and participants.

We would also note that Mr. Hughes's quotes in the article were assembled in a manner that made the organizers seem self righteous. Additionally, Mr. Hughes is not clergy and does not claim the title of Priest. As for Mr. Capetina's unfortunate "stomach eating" comment, despite the implications made in the article, this represents only his own views. Mr. Capetina was neither a coordinator nor participant in the event.

We would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused because of our ritual. We ask only that our religion be treated with the same respect given to all, and that we be allowed to worship without harassment or ridicule from the press.

Samhain Ritual Coordinators

-- Amber Turrill Oak Hill senior

-- Mike Stanley, Huntington senior

-- Joseph Hughes, Ona senior

-- Stephanie Holcomb, Bomont graduate

-- Jenny Harbert, Huntington junior

-- J.T. Hurley, Williamson junior