 "Photo: Evan Andrews")
Since 2004, H. Keith Sterzing, Class of 1961, has been voicing his political views at Texas A&M home football games. Fans can find him near Kyle Field with a bullhorn touting his support for Democratic candidates like Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
"I've been doing this for about four years now at every home game; through it all, I always had some right wing extremists yelling and cursing at me and some people have disagreed politely," Sterzing said.
At least one student sides with Sterzing, even though he is not a professed supporter of Sterzing's politics.
"I would say to that person [who asked him to be quiet] you have no right telling him what he cannot preach about; he has the freedom of speech," said freshman aerospace engineering major Scott Little.
Over time, Sterzing has overcome several obstacles to be able to retain the right to free speech. Three times he was approached by University police. The first time, Sterzing was told he had to relocate to a free speech zone by Northgate, the second he was told he could not use his bullhorn, and a third time when an officer told him that if he cursed on campus one more time he would be escorted off and not allowed back for two years. He said the incidents were corrected to ensure the right to free speech was not curtailed.
"The police and I are now on equal terms, they understand the concept of free speech and will be offering me more protection at the next game," Sterzing said.
The settlement of the free speech issue was not the end of Sterzing's problems.
"About every other game I am assaulted by angry fans; I am shoved and have my sign knocked down repeatedly [many times stolen]," Sterzing said. "I have to be looking because this past game a fan snuck up behind me and shoved me and took my Obama sign."
Sterzing says that the police have encouraged him multiple times to press charges on such offenders, and on one occasion he did.
The cases of vandalism are shameful for some students like junior visualization major Thomas Clark.
"I'm excited about the fact that people are energized for this election, but Texas A&M has always been about doing things with honor and pride," Clark said. "The pride is there, but the honor is questionable."
"It's not something I would expect from Aggies," Sterzing said. "Personally I think most of them are from the visiting team because I don't think too many Aggies would act like that."
Sterzing's two brothers graduated from A&M, as well as his son, Class of 1994, and daughter, Class of 1992. Another of his sons is a sophomore and he said that he hopes to send another daughter to A&M.
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