IUP Rapid Response protests Chick-Fil-A

During the Aramark Food Show Thursday, students were able to take pictures with Tony the Tiger, the Quiznos Cup and the Chick-Fil-A cow.

IUP Rapid Response, a student activist group on campus, took full advantage of this. Using a sign with cow spots that said "Love Mor People," group members used this as an opportunity to educate the masses.

"We're always working to raise awareness, but at the core of it this was a resistance action," said Peter Roquemore (senior, political science). "We've been passive in the past with our effort but the message needs to be sent to the Administration that Chick-Fil-A's presence is unacceptable on this campus."

Chick-Fil-A is allegedly funding organizations that represent anti-gay views and influence public policy laws concerning gay rights. IUP Rapid Response feels that such an organization goes against the anti-discriminatory policy on campus.

IUP Rapid Response members took photos with the Chick-Fil-A cow while holding either cow masks or the sign.

"We're trying to promote equal rights for everyone," said Ayanda Masilela, an IUP alum and an IUP Rapid Response member. "Taking the photo ‘love mor people' is a statement to not discriminate against anyone for any reason."

Members filtered one by one to take pictures with the cow as soon as the event started. That morning, members also printed out quarter-sheet flyers to pass out to all who entered the Crimson Event Center. They also placed flyers on the tables in Folger.