Despite the efforts of community leaders from Iowa State to the nation’s capital, it seems some Americans still don’t have a clue as far as tolerance is concerned.

Yesterday, people walking around Campustown had a chance to see several examples of this ignorance displayed in our community. All it took was a little magic marker and a few noticeable corners around campus.

“Muslims,” circled in red, a line drawn through it.

As unimpressive as the lack of creativity is in this public display, it is surpassed by the lack of accountability on the part of the vandals. Anyone can write on a trash can in the middle of the night; it takes no guts.

But you won’t see these people at any of the open forums on campus. They wouldn’t want to own up to their prejudices.

Displays like these can’t make people comfortable, but we hope members of the Muslim community remember the support they have on campus and in the Ames community – especially in the form of open forums and supportive of efforts around campus.

Beliefs are a lot more powerful when people are willing to own up to them.

editorialboard: Andrea Hauser, Tim Paluch, Michelle Kann, Zach Calef, Omar Tesdell