Y. students praised for positive image

PROVO — Brigham Young University spokeswoman Carri Jenkins believes the school's 30,000 students are effective assistants in her intimidating job — dealing with local, state and national news reporters who often seem hungry for stories about missteps by BYU or its students.

The university's strict Honor Code — and every student's and employee's agreement to live by it — creates an expectation on and off campus that BYU students will act with integrity. "A violation of that integrity," Jenkins said, "has the potential of becoming front-page news."

Nearly a year ago, for example, a Utah County judge questioned the amount of coverage given a court case involving two BYU football players accused of assault.

"In certain ways you've been crucified by the media," 4th District Judge Lynn Davis told one player at sentencing. "There's been more media attention to this misdemeanor case than some double-murder trials, for whatever reason."

Jenkins didn't discuss that case but had a strong response to a similar sentiment as she spoke Tuesday to an unusually engaged audience at a BYU devotional in the Marriott Center.

"People often ask me, 'Don't you think it's unfair BYU students live in such a fish bowl?' " Jenkins said. "No, I don't think it's unfair. I think it is reality, and I think it is a reality that each of us will live with for the rest of our lives. Wherever you reside, work and serve, you will be watched — simply because you are an alumnus of Brigham Young University."

She opened her speech with a story about her first difficult press conference.

"I faced the reporters and all went well until the final question, when they asked if they could interview BYU students about the Honor Code," she said. "I knew I could not say no, even though I really wanted to just handpick a few students who I knew would respond in a predictable and positive way. Instead I responded, 'Absolutely. Talk to anyone you like.' "

Her heart raced that night as she watched Utah's television news broadcasts. It swelled with pride as reporters interviewed students.

"I realized that while in this instance I had been asked to be the official spokesperson for BYU, the most important spokespeople were you — the students," Jenkins said. "It was your voice people would remember; it was your voices that turned a rather negative news story into a positive one."

Jenkins also told stories about two national reporters impressed by their visits to campus who wrote glowing pieces about BYU. One, David Lamb of the Los Angeles Times, lauded BYU and Provo during the 2002 Winter Olympics for a friendly atmosphere, "which isn't by accident, darn it."