With the lights dimmed on Wednesday, Sept. 28, students fell silent as guest speaker Calvin Terrell held up a T-shirt with a gang’s slogan, “Support your local white boy” across the front. He acquired the shirt when a former member quit and donated it to help influence the decrease in prejudice. He described the violent acts they committed as students grew uncomfortable.

JagPRIDE sponsored two speakers that coincided with the Kansas anti-bullying campaign, including Terrell. He delivered a powerful message to students dealing with issues of prejudice, violence and hatred.

“Calvin showed that if we stop and consider what is going on around us, we can make a change,” junior Autumn Rodriguez said.

Terrell reached the audience with personal experiences, including how witnessing the death of his friend affected him. After that moment, he made a change for the better. He used engaging activities with trigger words to demonstrate how easily people can be conditioned everyday.

“The atmosphere when Calvin came was indescribable,” Rodriguez said. “I felt like he wasn’t talking to us, but with us.”

Terrell not only embodied an inspiring message, but reached students through his presentation.

“I thought he was cool by easing into it and then addressing the topic,” sophomore Dakota Rogers said.

To address binge drinking and alcohol poisoning, jagPRIDE invited Debbie Allen as its second speaker on Monday, Nov. 28 to share the story of her 17-year-old daughter’s death that resulted from alcohol poisoning. Although her story earned sympathy from many, students felt she lacked in presentation.

“I understood the topic and the bad situation,” Rogers said. “But, she didn’t do a very good job of presenting [the information].”

Both speakers left a lasting impression. Terrell reinforced his message by providing all students with rubber bracelets engraved with the motto, “Every choice you make will either help or haunt you.”

“Calvin’s presentation was truly moving,” Rodriguez said. “[It] brought tears to my eyes.”