From Deseret News archives:

BYU to review 'die-in'

5 students at gay-awareness march may face expulsion

Published: Tuesday, May 9, 2006 11:33 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
PROVO — The Honor Code Office at Brigham Young University is conducting a review of the actions of five students who participated in a gay-awareness demonstration on campus last month.

Meanwhile, a deal appears imminent in the court case surrounding 29 people arrested during the two-day visit to BYU by the Soulforce Equality Riders.

A local attorney representing Soulforce told a 4th District judge in Provo on Tuesday that he has a tentative agreement with a Provo city prosecutor to have his clients plead guilty to an infraction and each pay a $200 fine.

Three of the Riders were arrested on April 10, along with the parents of the Riders' co-director, for attempting to make speeches on campus.

The other 24 arrested included four BYU students and two former students, BYU Police Capt. Mike Harroun said. They were arrested April 11 when they staged a campus die-in, a protest that consists of falling to the ground as if dead.

"The trick now will be getting ahold of all 29 and getting them to agree (to the plea arrangement)," attorney Scott Williams told Judge Claudia Laycock.

The 29 are charged with violation of a university rule for failing to leave campus as directed, a class C misdemeanor.

Story continues below
Laycock ordered Williams to provide the defendants with a statement of their rights and required a form be created for each to agree to the deal.

The Honor Code Office review, confirmed by BYU spokeswoman Carri Jenkins, could clear the students or result in punishments that possibly could include expulsions.

"We were supposed to find out (Tuesday)," said Lauren Jackson, a freshman from Baxter, Tenn., "but none of us heard."

Jackson is taking spring classes while she awaits the decision. The other students arrested were Alexander Liberato, 22, Matthew Kulisch, 24, and Timothy Burt, 18. Kulisch told media he is gay and Jackson worried that could lead to a more severe punishment.

"I'm mainly just nervous for Matt, the individual who came out," she said. "He's at the highest risk, I think."

Jackson and Liberato participated in the demonstration to urge other students and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns BYU, to avoid treating gays harshly.

"I feel like (the Honor Code Office reviewers) were very receptive to my message," Jackson said. "I participated to raise awareness or increased understanding for individuals who suffer from problems because individuals isolate or mistreat them."

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Deseret Morning News graphic

previousnext

Latest comments

BYU football: 5 keys to victory

Yes, that is true. And the 5th-year QB will learn how to be a good QB from...

@Bro Chuck's Rant's n Rave's: "If all citizens are to be treated equal,...

Which coach will take the 5th?

This article is about Kyle and Bronco. Lavell

I just intercepted Maxi Hall Sean Smith

I just intercepted Maxi again Paul Kruger

# of times a school went to BCS: Utah - 2 BYU - 0 (zero/zip/nil)

Every team wants to win every game..not possible A.D.

Running game key to BYU offense

And remember, the broncos lost last year to the 2nd best team in the MWC -...

Nobody here in the state truthfully cares if BSU wins or loses. It's an...

Letters: Reckless imbalance

To Hypocriy: Labor costs in Japan are higher than they are here, yet Japan...

Advertisements