My Tires Slashed On The BYU Campus
Posted By Eric Ethington (Author) on February 3, 2011
Update 2/4/11: Just heard back from the BYU police. Apparently there’s no security cameras in the area so there’s nothing they can do. There goes another $300 I didn’t have to spend….sigh.
Provo UT – I spent the evening on the BYU campus after I heard that there was a group of students meeting to discuss the non-discrimination ordinances (that story coming tomorrow). But after I left, I realized both of my front tires had been slashed.
It was actually an amazing experience at BYU tonight and I met a group of absolute heroes who had me in tears by the end of it. But that story will have to wait until tomorrow when I’m in a better mood.
I was parked in the visitor parking lot just north of the student center for 4 hours. My car has nothing on it that would identify me personally, but I do have both an HRC equality sticker and a Utah ACLU sticker on my back bumper.
When I got back to my car, I noticed that my front left tire was flat. Wasn’t overly concerned about it as that tire is a year old, so I changed it out for the spare in my trunk.
However the moment I got onto the freeway the car almost spun out of control as my front right tire went completely flat as well. I spent 30 minutes on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck. Upon closer inspection, I realized both tires had been slashed.
Now it’s entirely possible that someone on the BYU campus picked my car at random to vandalize, but it seems odd that it just happened to be the one car in the parking lot identifiable as belong to someone in the LGBT community or an ally.
The car is now sitting in a parking lot in Lehi and I’m going to have to drive back down at 7am tomorrow to get it to a tire shop and fixed.
Fuck Utah County man, seriously. Everyone remember Pulp Fiction? You know the scene that was going through my head tonight. Totally filing a report with BYU police.
"Eric, trying to have this (civil rights) conversation with you is ultimately like trying to teach a pig to dance, it just annoys the pig. So Eric, sorry to annoy you."
-Paul Mero, The Sutherland Institute.
Stay classy BYU…
As a hate crime? Sorry to hear it.
John Travolta pooping and reading a copy of Modesty Blaise while Bruce Willis makes a PopTart in the kitchen? That’s a weird scene to have in your head after your tires get cut, Eric.
@JM Bell wrong scene dude
Just glad that you are ok, this could of been much worse. Peace
Seriously, let us know if we can do anything beyond just keeping our ears open. I hate that you had a good night, only to have it spoiled by some tosser who probably thinks he’s doing God’s work.
Wow Eric, I can’t believe this. I met you tonight at the meeting and was really glad you were there. You were the lone strategist to our motley crew of Provo misfits. Your tires were sacrificed for a noble cause and I think we should organize a bake sale to get you new ones.
Yes, but mine is funny.
Seriously, though, sorry, brother.
They’re all wired funny down there.
You’re lucky they let you leave alive.
Just be glad, if anything, the knife was used on your tires. Shouldn;t have happened, but…I remember a few months ago in Cincinnati before I moved here a gay couple were stabbed and left in the streets, only to have the attacker make victim the next person to try to help them.
I do not get why people make a big deal about who someone chooses to love.
That really stinks, Eric. Sorry you went through that.
Here’s my scripture use for the day. It stinks when “people draw near unto [Christ] with their mouth, and with their lips do honor [Him], but have removed their hearts far from [Him]. –2 Nephi 27:25
Someone’s actions were far from Him too, unless “drawing unto Christ” means slashing the same tires He would. What a shame!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by DJFLECK, Dennis Veite, Scott Wooledge, Aaron M Hall, Eric Ethington and others. Eric Ethington said: My Tires Slashed On The BYU Campus http://bit.ly/egqjnH #lgbt [...]
are you home safe yet?
tell saintless to give you a brownie
and the bernina store in provo is great, but the rest of the city makes me nervous . . .
Glad you’re ok brother! See you bright and early. Yippee!
Sorry, Eric – it exemplifies the fear that runs through fundamentalists…
Ree and I donated a few bucks here to go toward your new tires. Keep doing the work, man. You’re making a difference!
Hope you are doing okay even while a little shaky
So sorry to hear that this happened! Just threw ya some $ to help pay for new ones.
Hi Eric,
We are very sorry to hear this. We are thinking of you here in Puerto Vallarta.
Brent V. Marrott
Douglas Tollstrup
[...] My Tires Slashed On The BYU Campus [...]
I’m totally sick over this. Next time you are stranded in Lehi, call my ass and wake me up. We would have come to get you, luv. I hope we find out who did this.
That really sucks. I bet it was the ACLU sticker that caught someone’s attention. BYU students wouldn’t know what an equality sticker means.
I think the aclu is usually full of shit. Sorry about the tires though. I would have slapped a Palin 2012 bumper sticker over your sticker.
I’m sorry that happened to you. It was no good.
@Cary: You’re awesome!!! Hang tough
pisses me off. i’d love to put rainbow stickers on every vehicle in SLC and see how they handle it.
Why waste time with BYU police? This is could have been manslaughter.
Does BYU still send its security to the Salt Lake Gay and Lesbian Clubs on Friday and Saturday nights? As I recall they write down the license plate numbers and run them through the student parking records to identify students in violation of the honor code.
Tire slashing may not be a honor code violation if there is a HRC or = sticker on the bumper… Need to replace those with a BYU Cougar sticker..