Northwest College's LDS recruiting sparks questions

POWELL, Wyo. — A Northwest College recruitment letter targeting prospective students who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has sparked a campus debate about whether the public school should be focusing on members of a specific religion.

Northwest College President Paul Prestwich, an LDS Church member, wrote the letter on college letterhead. The college sent the letter this month to about 1,000 Wyoming high school students who are LDS.

The envelope also included a letter on church letterhead from Fred Hopkin, president of the Cody Wyoming Stake, describing the student congregation's offerings.

Prestwich has defended the letters, saying it is appropriate for a public school to let prospective students with a religious background know about faith-based organizations available in the school and community.

"Clearly, the goal of the letter is to recruit students to Northwest College and let them know that if they come, there is support beyond just the college," Prestwich said.

"Whether a student is LDS or another faith or nonreligious, our hope is that we can share enough information to help them choose what college is best for them," he said.

But some members of the college community have objected to the letters.

Charlotte Patrick, an adjunct communications professor who has worked at the college for 44 years, said it's inappropriate for a public institution to target one group at the exclusion of others.

"We are using taxpayer dollars to promote the recruitment of students affiliated with one particular religion," she said.

Barmak Nassirian, associate executive director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, said the letter raises questions about separation of church and state.

"There's nothing odd, noteworthy or irregular with a private school targeting students based on religious affiliations," Nassirian said. "When it comes to public institutions, the issue becomes more vexing."

College sophomore Joseph Hanson filed a complaint with the Wyoming office of the American Civil Liberties Union over the letters.

"I don't think they should be using them (LDS students) as a resource pool," said Hanson, of Greybull, Wyo.

College registrar Brad Hammond said this isn't the first time Northwest College has recruited students based on their religious affiliation. The college has had good relationships with religious organizations such as the LDS Student Institute and the Catholic-based Newman Center, he said.

The LDS Church has supplied the college with a list of potential students in the past.

"We would send out general packets, and (LDS ward leaders) would follow up with letters," Hammond said.

Prestwich, the college president, said he plans to hold open forums for students, faculty and staff to discuss the matter.

The college's board of trustees also is likely to discuss the recruitment letters, said Jim Vogt, board president. Vogt said the use of college letterhead raised some questions, but added that he "didn't read into it as much as other people have."

"It's one of those things that happened, and now we have to deal with it," he said.