A preacher known for vocalizing his views on topics often controversial among N.C. State students clashed with UNC-Chapel Hill officials earlier this month.

Gary Birdsong, a long-time preacher in the Brickyard and on other college campuses, has been banned from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill’s Pit per a letter from UNC-CH Department of Public Safety officials, according to a March 19 article in UNC-CH’s student newspaper.

Initially, UNC-CH trespassed Birdsong from the campus for two years, according to a March 8 article. But, he received the letter Friday which said he cannot preach in the Pit or the ramps and steps that lead to it, the March 19 article wrote.

The article said police asked Birdsong to move as he preached in a zone of UNC-CH’s Pit that an organization had reserved to promote programs. When he did not comply, police issued him the warning.

Birdsong appealed the initial decision and said he wanted proof of the organization’s reservation, according to the March 19 article.

Sgt. Jon Barnwell of Campus Police said Birdsong has frequented N.C. State’s Brickyard for many years.

“He was preaching here when I was a student in the early 1990s,” Barnwell said.

Barnwell said Birdsong has been “fairly cooperative” with Campus Police in the past.

“There have been times when he has been on campus without a permit and has been asked to leave,” he said.

According to Deborah Felder, assistant director for Talley Student Center activities, Birdsong usually acquires a permit when he wants to preach on campus. However, she said he does not find the permits necessary.

“Gary’s position is that he shouldn’t need a permit, and on most campuses, he says he doesn’t need one,” she said.

She said he is within his rights to preach in the Brickyard, as long as he does not “cross the line.”

“Unless he gets one on one with someone, if he’s speaking to the crowd in general, he’s exercising his first amendment rights,” Felder said.

If Birdsong were to aggressively confront an individual on campus, Felder said that student could contact police to take care of the situation.

Although he has been known to preach on controversial topics, James Sherrer, a freshman in engineering, said he admires Birdsong’s dedication.

“Gary is very passionate about what he does,” Sherrer said. “I respect that.”

David Rojas-Holmquist, a sophomore in chemical engineering and wood and paper science, said he does not agree with Birdsong’s teachings but said he is “fun to listen to.”

Rojas-Holmquist said he does not take Birdsong’s statements personally.

He said he generally did not mind Brickyard preachers’ presence on campus, and would not mind if representatives from the Buddhist, Islamic and Hindu faiths came to speak on campus as well.

“I think it’s fine [for people to preach] as long as they’re not condemning people,” he said.

Jonathan Neal said he has been preaching in the Brickyard for almost seven years.

He said he acquires permits when he wants to preach and has not been banned from campus in the past.

“I love the student and the professors and I’m thankful I have the blessing to come here,” Neal said.

Sherrer said there is value in the effect the preachers’ words have on students.

“It provokes thought,” he said. “That’s something college students need to do,” he said.

Felder said her office has received complaints about various Brickyard preachers over the years.

“The typical complaints we get concerning brickyard preachers are noise and ridicule of certain groups,” she said.

Despite the complaints, Felder said it is impossible to select who should and should not have free speech.

“We tread lightly,” she said. “We really try to make sure that we are granting the first amendment rights for anyone.”

Rojas-Holmquist also noted the importance of the first amendment.

“A college campus is all about freedom of speech,” he said.

Barnwell said is only able to recollect one incident in which Brickyard preacher was banned from campus.

“[The preacher] refused to follow the rules and guidelines allowed by the permit at which time we escorted them off campus,” he said.

According to Barnwell, failure to comply with these guidelines is considered trespassing. The penalty for trespassing is a one-year ban.