Sederburg says Moore dispute could aid UVSC
He thinks the school's ongoing efforts to become a four-year university will be helped by the political discourse resulting from the ruckus over Moore.
"We need civil discourse," Sederburg said during a panel discussion Tuesday about the controversy. "We need civil discourse. We need to learn to deal with uncomfortable issues. And we need to respect a variety of different opinions and points of views that might not necessarily agree with us all the time."
Sederburg knows the school will suffer some financial repercussions as a result of Moore's visit to campus.
The president is busy dealing with disgruntled donors and legislators who aren't pleased with a decision by student government leaders to pay Moore $40,000 to speak on Oct. 20.
But he said the lively debate created by the controversy will increase UVSC's profile.
"I remember sitting in student government last year and hearing that 40 percent of people in the state didn't know what UVSC was" said Joe Vogel, UVSC's student government vice president. "I think they know now."
On Tuesday, students, professors and people who live in the community packed a large classroom to discuss the issues that have turned the college into a philosophical battleground.
Based on applause and the comments shared by the audience, most in attendance supported UVSC's decision to bring the "Fahrenheit 9/11" director to UVSC, even if they disagreed with Moore's personal politics.
But Kay Anderson, who lives across the street from the Orem campus, isn't happy about a decision that he said will "redefine the perimeter" of acceptable events at UVSC.
"I don't think I should have to send my child to a private university in order to get a conservative education when I live in a conservative community and I have a state college in my back yard that is paid for with conservative taxpayer dollars and funding," Anderson said.
As an incentive to get UVSC to cancel Moore's appearance, Anderson brought along a cashier's check for $25,000 enough to reimburse the school for all general admission tickets sold to the event.
No one took Anderson up on his offer, and students booed his suggestion.
"Maybe it's a good thing that it took Michael Moore to wake us up from this coma we've been in," UVSC sophomore Brian Maier said.
"And the next time they raise tuition . . . maybe we can all do the same thing and everyone will be up in arms about something that is more about us graduating and less about our points of view."
E-mail: lwarner@desnews.com
Comments
- Bull kills runner at Pamplona 10:05 p.m.
- Free after 14 years for contempt 9:56 p.m.
- Photo: Missing a sister 9:55 p.m.
- 'Hope' poster artist guilty of vandalism 9:51 p.m.
- Report disputes wiretapping 9:51 p.m.
- Tax rich for health care, Demos say 9:50 p.m.
- Parks nominee is in hot water 9:30 p.m.
- Burris bows out of 2010 race 9:30 p.m.
- Regulators close Wyoming bank 9:17 p.m.
- Bailout $ may aid small business 9:16 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Letters: Palin mistreated
142 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
138 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - LDS seminary principal arrested
133 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
73
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
Whereas many of the "faith-promoting" stories that circulate in Mormon...
Thanks for the clarification. (For the record, I knew you weren't a full-time...
REgardless if anyone lied, if in actuality there were any lies, Obama,...
The BCS is accused, fairly, of at least two things: 1. Keeping the title...
The federal government has stolen most Utah's lands, shouldn't Utah get...
For those of you that favor immigration, there are six and a half billion...
"U of U Student | 11:24 a.m. July 10, 2009 How about this current modern...
This was a very accurate article. We ought to know. Credit was fairly given...
It's NOT about what the people want, it's about what makes the media money.
The whole business of retiring a flag by burning it is superstitiousness at...


You can be the first to comment on this story.