Reader comments
Tech cases critical, Roberts says at Y.

Anonymous | 5:42 a.m. Oct. 24, 2007

wow this is interesting

Patricia Reid | 8:00 a.m. Oct. 24, 2007

Thank you for such a wonderful article ... my husband and I have just read it and look forward to watching it in its' entirity on Sunday.

BYU fan | 9:11 a.m. Oct. 24, 2007

It's disappointing that attendance at this devotional was so low. Latter-day Saints should have a keen interest in government and politics! It is critical that we value our freedoms enough to understand them and exercise them. This really was a "wow" event. We will be watching the rebroadcast as a family, and will take his advice to read the Constitution. It's been a few years since I read it last, and I'd forgotten what a miracle it is. (This written as I sign and seal my absentee ballot...)

Comments continue below

JB | 9:29 a.m. Oct. 24, 2007

One get's a better sense of what a great choice John Roberts was for the Supreme Court. I would suggest the reading of Alexis De Toqueville's Democracy in America, in addition to the above mentioned material.

Politically Active | 9:46 a.m. Oct. 24, 2007

Only 7,000 in attendance? Come on BYU, it's the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of The United States of America! Isn't the campus shut down for the tuesday devotional? We as LDS tout that we are a law abiding people and what a jewel BYU is, and we can't even fill the Marriot Center for one of the most influential men in America. Where are our values? We will stand up to protest Michael Moore, but won't turn out to support a good humble man who does so much for our country? It's time we take a look in the mirror.In a few short years most of you BYU students will have children, homes, jobs, and then you better care about the political landscape. Have some foresight to become active and care now.

Great Speaker | 10:22 a.m. Oct. 24, 2007

John Roberts is a great man. I am grateful that we have a man such as this leading the Supreme Court.

Wow, what a refreshing thought to think a man such as this will lead that noble institution for the next several decades! Hopefully he can help limit some of the liberal agenda items that will invariably come before the court.

I think I'll go get me a copy of the Constitution and the Federalist Papers today!

BYU grad | 10:46 a.m. Oct. 24, 2007

That's really disappointing that so few BYU students attended the speech. It should have been a standing-room only event.

BYU STUDENT | 11:50 a.m. Oct. 24, 2007

"Politically Active,"
Just as many or more watched the event on campus. Working about 35 hours a week, taking 14 credits, and participating in intercollegiate athletics means I can't go to every forum or devotional at the Marriot Center, but I still listen. Assuming every BYU student that couldn't physically make it to the Marriot center doesn't care about the political landscape is an unfair and offensive generalization. My values right now include feeding my wife and keeping my grades up to get into law school. I thoroughly enjoyed Justice Roberts comments and so did thousands of students who couldn't make it to the Marriot Center.

Attendance: from a BYU student | 12:07 p.m. Oct. 24, 2007

Keep in mind that there are many other places to watch speeches on campus. The school makes it possible for students who have classes all across campus to view this with out risk of missing the following class. I viewed this in a 900 seat auditorium that was standing room only. This scene was repeated through out campus. So don't get to down on attendance because there were more students watching this at other venues on campus than the article pointed out and that were not counted in the total number.

Ken | 12:41 p.m. Oct. 24, 2007

Unfortunately there aren't as many eggheads like us as there should be out there.

Seeing the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court at college should be a highly memorable moment of one's education, and yet just 7,000 cared to show up. Not surprising, but disappointing nonetheless.

Chief Justice Roberts is one of the shining entries on Pres. Bush's increasingly short list of accomplishments (as sad as that is to say).

Attendance | 12:51 p.m. Oct. 24, 2007

Compared to the typical forum and even devotional, I thought there was quite a few people there. By the way, where were all you people? How come you didn't show up? Come on, it's the chief justice of the Supreme Court!

Mark | 12:52 p.m. Oct. 24, 2007

Politically Active,

Thanks for your response. I hope people realize that forum attendance does not demonstrate apathy. The Chief Justice, Senator Reid and others are important speakers to listen to and add so much to the BYU experience...

ignorance | 1:24 p.m. Oct. 24, 2007

you people who complain about only 7000 people showing up are typical of people who rush to judgement with little if any facts. before you so roundly criticize the students and faculty of BYU, please take a moment to gather all of the facts, take a moment to use your brain, and don't just make some knee-jerk comment. you only end up looking very very foolish.

Idahoan | 4:38 p.m. Oct. 24, 2007

I am pleased to read that more people turned out at the Marriott Center to hear Chief Justice Roberts than Senator Reid.

The JSB | 4:47 p.m. Oct. 24, 2007

I wasn't at the devotional. I was in the Joseph Smith Building watching it. I happened to look around during it and thought, "Wow, what a great turnout. Some religious devotionals don't get this many people." The JSB was packed.

I think it was attended just fine. Sure more people could have come, but why go at a potentially inconvenient time when you can watch it be broadcast on line at your convenience.

Oh Idaho | 5:09 p.m. Oct. 24, 2007

Idahoan--I'm so glad you are pleased. You couldn't possibly be surprised. We would all be better citizens if we listened to both Senator Reid and Chief Justice Roberts. You may or may not agree with their political persuasion, but not showing up is a sad excuse.

Oh, and give my regard to your boy Larry Craig.

Biblionerd | 6:06 p.m. Oct. 24, 2007

Interesting that he feels we should not be influenced by other countries judicial thinking but we should regale in the fact that England is being influenced by ours.

re: Politically Active | 6:26 p.m. Oct. 24, 2007

7,000? That is about how many show up at Rice-Eccles for a football game.

Anonymous | 6:58 p.m. Oct. 24, 2007

Too all those complaining- sorry we couldn't all make it. We're students. We have classes. I had a massive midterm exactly 1 hour following the forum address. Hello, that's why it's rebroadcast.

student | 9:28 p.m. Oct. 24, 2007

like many others have previously stated there are numerous ways to view a devotional or forum on campus. I watched it from my apartment with several others and i know of plenty others who did the same. Sure there could have been more people physically at the forum but from my experience there are more politically concious students here at BYU than most other universities. What should be most interesting is the content of the address not how many students were or were not present.

SRS | 12:22 a.m. Oct. 25, 2007

I am a BYU student and certainly wished to have been in attendance. I was able to watch on TV, but my schedule did not permit me to make it to the forum. I regret not personally being there, and wish that somehow I could have shown my support in a way that Chief Justice Roberts will know that I appreciate his coming to campus.

Disgusted | 10:31 a.m. Oct. 25, 2007

Disgusted that Idahoan is glad a Bush political appointee is more important than the Senate Majority Leader elected by neighbors in Nevada.

Anonymous | 6:16 p.m. Oct. 29, 2007

Those of us with part-time CAMPUS jobs couldn't get off work to attend...

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