A guiding light, for times ahead

Ghostlight Project leads WWU students, faculty to seek brave space

Participants in the Ghostlight Project pose for a selfie after the Thursday night event. The picture was shared on the Ghostlight Projects Facebook page, where it was joined by similar pictures from theaters around the United States.
Participants in the Ghostlight Project pose for a selfie after the Thursday night event. The picture was shared on the Ghostlight Projects Facebook page, where it was joined by similar pictures from theaters around the United States.

It was a dark and foggy sunset, the last light of Thursday hidden behind grey clouds and clinging mist.

At 5 p.m., students and faculty started gathering outside of William Woods' Dulany Theater, clutching flashlights.

The Ghostlight Project took place Thursday night in front of theaters across the United States as a mass movement to create a brave space for communities. The organization's website defines a brave space as one where it is safe to be who you are, have a diverse opinion, actively listen to others and engage in collective action or activism.

Each of the night's 32 participants came for a different reason. Some wore their feelings about today's presidential inauguration on their sleeves, sporting T-shirts with explicit, anti-Trump messages. For assistant professor Anthony Cavaiani, his reason for attending was more subtle but still echoed the mood of the crowd.

"I came tonight because I wanted to support a cool cause," Cavaiani said. "They are trying to create an environment of inclusion and participation. I think a lot of people here feel threatened by tomorrow, and the next four years, including myself."

Cavaiani said an event where people actually gather together was much more powerful than one online.

"This is much more helpful; it's not just hiding behind a screen," he said. "It is way more profound than just hitting the 'like' button."

When the WWU clock tower struck 5:30 p.m., Jesters Club President Jeremy Bene opened the event with a prepared speech.

"Tonight, the theatrical community across the country joins in solidarity through our shared commitment to greater inclusion, participation and compassion in our theaters and our communities," he said.

Jessica Fleeman, another member of the Jester's Club, continued by explaining the inspiration for the event's name, a theater's ghostlight.

"When our theaters go dark at the end of the night, we turn on a 'ghostlight,' offering visibility and safety for all who might enter," SHE said. "Like a ghostlight, the light we create tonight will represent our commitment to safeguard. It will symbolize safe harbor for our values and for any among us who find ourselves targeted because of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, disability, age, gender identity, sexual identity or dissident actions in the coming years."

Caitlyn Ney, the Jester's final speaker, then directed the crowd to turn on their flashlights on the steps of the theater. Together, their combined lights created twinkling stars in the dusk.

Heading inside, members of the crowd were handed sheets of paper to fill out which read "I am" and "I fight for,. 

After giving people time to think, individuals were invited to explain what they wrote to the crowd.

"I am a mother, and a grandmother," said Cyndi Koonse, the coordinator for WWU's Office of Multicultural Affairs. "I fight for my children, my grandchildren and a future for all."

Koonse shared several more statements, then concluded by lauding the crowd for their participation in the night's event.

"I am so proud of you young adults for standing up for unity," she said.

One by one, other members of the crowd shared what they "fought for".

"I am a sister," WWU student Elisa Parker said. "I fight for a past filled with memories, and a future filled with opportunities."

"I am nobody, and I am everybody," professor Steve Huenneke said. "I fight for truth and wisdom."

Huenneke further explained that in today's world, you can't take things you see on the internet at face value.

"You know, people are saying we live in a 'post fact' world," he said. "If you want to find the truth, you have to check other sources, not just ones you like."

People continued to share, expressing their fears about the future and their hope that the unity created that night would endure.

The final "I am" came from Professor Bob Elliott.

"This is a wake up call," he said. "[Tomorrow] seems like something to be sad about, but this feels like a great awakening. You have got to wake up, get energized, and move forward."

Elliott continued by admonishing those who did not attend the event, and issuing a challenge to those who did.

"This place should be filled," he said. "Lots of people are impacted, but they are not here. Those of you who are here, you have to continue to talk about what happened. Keep talking about it, because it's the subtle messages that change people's hearts."

As the event came to a close, Bene asked the crowd to once again pull out their flashlights. Speaking for the Jesters Club, he expressed their commitment to unity and friendship.

"We pledge from this night forward to fight for acceptance and inclusion for all, despite differences, on campus and in the community," he said. "And we pledge to promote kindness, empathy, and compassion for all with the end goal of unity.

Bene directed the crowds attention to a bare lamp standing on stage.

"To honor this commitment and to share our light for others to see, we've chosen this single light which will remain lit in the Dulany Theater lobby, until no longer necessary," he said.

The lights in the theater fell. The audience directed their lights on the lamp. 

\With a click, the lamp's light began to shine, a beacon in the dark.