A petition to prevent conservative Breitbart journalist Milo Yiannopoulos from speaking at the University of Maryland has garnered 208 signatures as of Tuesday.

University officials have not yet confirmed the event, but the speech, sponsored by Terps for Trump, will take place Oct. 26 if it is confirmed. The event is also listed on Yiannopoulos’ website.

Started by freshman psychology major Jacob Penrod, the petition calls Yiannopoulos a “hate-mongering, right wing extremist,” as well as “sexist, racist, Islamophobic, and generally hateful.”

Yiannopoulos was banned from Twitter, according to a July New York Times article, for inciting hate-speech directed toward comedian Leslie Jones and her Ghostbusters cast mates.

Penrod said circulating the petition, which he created Friday, Sept. 23, is the first step to bring awareness to the event.

“People are not okay with this,” Penrod said, noting he believes this university will allow Yiannopoulos to speak. “We’re currently working on various ideas to [ensure] First Amendment rights are protected, and also that people know that hate is not [what] the students at the University of Maryland stand for.”

University Vice President for Student Affairs Linda Clement said that details such as security and insurance must be settled before confirming the event, but Terps for Trump is making “reasonable progress” on these details.

Chief Diversity Officer Kumea Shorter-Gooden said she is concerned about students, faculty and staff at this university being able to navigate this event in a way that’s not “traumatizing” for them. Yiannopoulos’ speech may also create fear on the campus, she added.

“Because we are a public institution and uphold the First Amendment, Terps for Trump have a right to bring in a speaker,” Shorter-Gooden said. “That said, I think his racism, sexism, homophobia, nativism, Islamophobia which is what he is known for … is going to be very troubling for many on our campus.”

If Yiannopoulos does come to the campus, neither Penrod nor sophomore Connie Yu, who has helped Penrod spread the petition, supports the idea of a protest. Penrod said he would like to see a different event organized promoting open debate and open conversation.

Yu, an elementary education and film studies major, said she believes it’s best to “just ignore [Yiannopoulos], because he’s the type of person who thrives on attention.”

“If you don’t give him attention, then he’ll just go away,” she said.

Penrod said he is not trying to silence Yiannopoulos, but instead students “want to show that love is greater than hate.”

Yiannopoulos couldn’t be reached for comment. Terps For Trump declined to comment until the event is confirmed.