What seems to be to the dismay of many administrators and students, Bakersfield College’s Free Speech Area has been the hosting ground to an often-bombastic religious activist once again this semester. Nathaniel Runels, a past BC student, has been revisiting the campus weekly since the spring of 2014 to spread the message of what he believes to be salvation. The preaching youth normally arrives on campus during bustling lunch hours in a bright orange shirt that reads, “Jesus rebukes …” on the front, and “Jesus hates …” on the back. Not all students have been very welcoming of Runels’ preaching style, but they have appeared to be receptive, although not always in a positive manner.

Students began complaining of Runels early on during his first semester on campus. However, Public Safety was unsuccessful in removing the zealot even after indicating they would call the Bakersfield City Police department for cause of trespassing and disturbing the peace. Fully aware of the First Amendment, Runels’ continued his weekly preaching in the Free Speech Area and began recording his visits.

Perhaps most students have been unsympathetic with Runels’ because he has the misfortune of standing for a cause that has lent itself to the position of the oppressor throughout history – religion, particularly Christianity – but his weekly presence is a testament to the infallible freedom of speech that this country protects.

The matter is interesting and indeed tense, especially as of late when a female student, Sara Daniel, 18, and a criminal justice major, attempted getting physical in an aggressive manner, according to Public Safety. When Runels returned on Oct. 1, another disturbance was incited when a different student appeared to attempt to physically assault him.

It would seem he slicked back his hair and wore a brand-new cardboard sign that read “God hates …,” with the purpose of gaining attention. The stunt understandably upset students who belong to the Christian faith, such as Nanette Riley, a 23-year-old psychology major, who has said Christians believe in a God that is only all-loving and non-judgmental.

Nonetheless, Runel’s is legally protected to express his beliefs in BC’s Free Speech Area as different or alike as his god may be. The Rip is a news organization, and therefore by default an advocator of the First Amendment, but enough stories providing his background, purpose, and shenanigans (mainly just yelling at students), as well as multiple staff editorials (counting this one) and opinions have already presented and established who he is and what has been occurring.

The weekly altercations of undignified students versus the evangelist are no longer a newfangled experience on campus. The duty to inform BC’s student body has been fulfilled and will continue to be a priority should an extreme circumstance of actual news value present itself.