WAUPUN — A large crowd gathered at the Waupun Library Board meeting February 19, 2025 to express their opinions on the library materials and display policy, particularly in how it relates to the depiction of same-sex relationships and other lifestyles.
The conversation was sparked by a letter submitted to the Library Board at the January meeting by Pastor Forsell Gappa, who urged the Waupun Library Board to reconsider their materials and display policy to cease promoting what he described as “harmful” content. The letter Gappa read from was circulated online by activist groups, urging people to attend the meeting to express their opinions on Gappa’s message.
A total of 29 people addressed the board, including four current and former employees of the Waupun Public Library. An additional 66 people were also in attendance but did not take to the podium to give comments, an unknown number of which were from out of town.
Watch the recording here:
Persons addressing the Board were:
0:00 Opening
0:14 Dan Sanders,
3:32 Stephen Chene,
6:34 Dylan Stein,
9:39 Christina Neumann,
11:32 Peg Spindler,
14:50 Elizabeth Cook,
17:22 MaryBeth Cole,
17:46 Rev. Jerry Molitor,
20:22 Sandra Champion,
22:18 Harrison Champion,
24:25 Julie Nickel,
27:27 Rev. Jim Coakley,
29:16 Ashlie Hoeft,
32:15 Heather Mulder,
34:29 Maria Richards,
36:59 Jacob Nault,
38:58 Justin Hull,
40:54 Colin Eckerstorfer,
44:26 Forsell Gappa,
47:49 Benjamin Pickart,
51:05 Jeff Champion,
53:15 Kristi Thurk,
55:27 Heather VanBuren,
58:21 Jaedon Buchholz,
1:00:00 Winston Grimes,
1:03:32 Sandy Oestreich,
1:07:30 Jess Kiehl,
1:10:50 Chris Van Buren,
1:12:46 Kristin Lueck,
1:14:06 Library Board discusses material policy
