Photo Credit: Devyn Byers. Cliffe (left of theater screen) and Stuart Knechtle (right of theater screen) engage in Christian discourse with UGA students in the Tate Student Theatre.
Kennesaw State’s campus has experienced unrest as external religious groups have taken advantage of open campus policies.
The presence of non-student religious groups at KSU, particularly of Christian affiliations, has grown tremendously over the past several months. Student opinion on these groups varies widely, with many students approaching the groups for aggressive debate, while others engage in calm conversation.
College Free Speech Rankings gave Georgia colleges an average score of 61.1 out of 100 for free speech in 2025, meaning that the average campus in Georgia has a very poor speech climate. Therefore, students may feel uncomfortable sharing their views or even hearing others’ views.
Moreover, an average of 75% of college students in Georgia reported that shouting at a speaker until they stop is acceptable, and 36% claimed that using violence to stop someone from speaking is also acceptable, according to College Free Speech Rankings.
This data has manifested itself in real time as more religious groups have expanded their presence at KSU – and many students are not happy about it.
Religious campaign conflict at KSU
At KSU, religious demonstrators gather on campus frequently, often creating conflict with students. One particular Christian group stands with signs that warn students to “repent of their sins” and to “fear God.”
The Sentinel shared an Instagram reel displaying one of the many hostile exchanges between these demonstrators and KSU students in August. Like the conflict captured by this video, these religious campaigns often end in yelling and aggressive disagreement.
“Utterly Disgraceful”
Tori McDuffie, a biology major at KSU, believes that religious groups should be able to peacefully spread their faith on campus, but that the group of religious demonstrators often present on campus are a disturbance to students’ education, create “a hostile environment” and are a source of hate speech.
“The Christian protestors should be banned for the hate speech they spew,” McDuffie said. “They are utterly disgraceful and should not be allowed to do what they do. They yell at students and make students who don’t respond feel uncomfortable as they tell them they’re going to die and go to hell.”
McDuffie grew up in a very religious household but said she has never heard the “hateful language” that’s common on campus.
“KSU should be more concerned that there is an extremist group frequenting our campus with hate speech and yelling at their students,” McDuffie said. “Nobody should be allowed to do that, no matter the religious affiliation.”
Not the message, but the manner
McDuffie said that she has no issue with religious groups sharing their faith in a mindful manner. She believes that the groups should be required to reserve space on the Campus Green for campaigns, and they must not disturb the academic environment or “verbally accost” students.
McDuffie is not alone.
Grant Munson, a sports management major at KSU, also believes that religious demonstrators must have a reservation to honor the school’s policy for on-campus campaigns. He added that religious groups should not become “extremely rude” while professing their faith to students.
Otherwise, Munson said he has no problem with religious groups spreading their faith on college campuses. In fact, he believes that learning about other religions is important to remain “intellectually honest” by challenging students’ faith.
“We’re at university to exchange ideas with people we don’t agree with and agree with,” Munson said. “If you don’t interact with other religious groups, then you really don’t get tested for what you believe, and you’re blindly believing it.”
Pastors Cliffe and Stuart Knechtle: Prominent figures of Christian campus campaigns
Munson attended a religious demonstration at the University of Georgia on Oct. 6 to listen to Christian evangelists Cliffe and Stuart Knechtle.
Cliffe Knechtle is the senior pastor at Grace Community Church in New Canaan, Conn. He travels the nation with his son Stuart Knechtle, who also serves as the church’s assistant pastor, to spread the Christian faith on college campuses.
While the pastors still face hostile students at times, they are generally known for their peaceful and understanding approach to religious debate.
Munson said he established a friendship with Cliffe and Stuart Knechtle. He has also interacted with the hostile religious demonstrators at KSU, or the “sign people,” as he referred to them. He noted the stark difference in the approach of the two groups while sharing their faith on college campuses.
“There’s been a couple of times when the ‘sign people’ have been rude, but if you get somebody like Cliffe or Stuart… I think they’re fine,” Munson said. “If [religious demonstrators] are being respectful, I don’t care what religion you are. I have no problem with it.”
According to Munson, Cliffe and Stuart are likely to visit KSU’s campus in April 2026.
Religion and Respect
For many KSU students, it seems as though the presence of any religious group is welcome, given that they share their faith with respect. According to students, a religious campaign should not become hostile, disturb the learning environment or be held against a school’s code of conduct for protests or gatherings.
It is when religious demonstrators, regardless of affiliation, become hostile that their presence becomes an issue on campus.
While it is nearly impossible for all religious campaigns to be entirely devoid of hostility, it is possible for them to be conducted in a peaceful manner. Seemingly, this is all students truly ask for when religious groups gather on their campus.
