UVSC student officers not backing down

OREM — For someone who lit a firecracker of controversy that has sparked across Utah Valley and Utah at large, Joe Vogel is surprisingly demure.

He comes across as the wholesome boy next door with his cropped blond hair, gentle voice and courteous manners.

Rumors of his secret agenda in inviting "Fahrenheit 9/11" director Michael Moore to Utah Valley State College seem to dissipate as he speaks openly about his decision as student vice president of academics to bring in the controversial filmmaker.

It's a decision he and student body President Jim Bassi have thought about a lot.

They've lost sleep over it. They've faced the possibility of losing their offices. They've received death threats.

But if they had to do it all over again, they'd do it the same.

It's a realization that causes an earnest Vogel to break out in a huge grin.

"It's been cool to be involved with something this meaningful," Vogel says. "We've made a decision that's impacted the whole state. A lot of people are upset, but a lot of people are getting involved."

Indeed, nothing has awakened UVSC students like the ruckus that erupted last month when the state school announced the student government would pay $40,000 from student fees, in addition to $10,500 for travel and security expenses, to bring the Oscar winner to campus on Oct. 20.

Hallways once lined with posters for upcoming social activities are now plastered with fliers debating Moore's "Slacker Uprising Tour."

Classrooms of sleepy students are now home to lively ethics discussions.

Rallies have been held to support Vogel's decision and to protest the student fees used to pay Moore.

Students even put on a mock demonstration objecting to Monday's scheduled appearance of conservative talk show Sean Hannity, who personally offered to waive his $100,000 speaking fee after learning of UVSC's desire to balance out Moore's liberal views with a conservative voice before the Nov. 2 general election.

But most important to the two student leaders is that campus voter registration booths have registered a record 3,000 students since the controversy broke less than a month ago.

"I love it," UVSC senior Jared Sumsion said. "To have this much enthusiasm on campus is awesome."

All of this reaction caused by two students who never wanted to be politicians and don't plan to pursue political careers.

Vogel wants to be an English professor. Bassi hopes to attend law school.

If it hadn't been for Vogel's older brother, Ryan, neither would be in office today. The elder Vogel implored Bassi, his former LDS mission companion, to be his running mate when he ran for student body president two years ago.