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BYU's 'Cloak Boy' — Student surprised by support after some objections to his folk singing

I heard about cloak boy, and it made me laugh, then I realized that I knew him and it made me laugh even harder. I wasn't surprised at all when I put the two together. Props to cloak boy for asserting his right to be himself, regardless of how unusual or different it may seem!

BYU needs to lighten up on this guy. This guy is just being himself. We should all take a lesson.

As one who actually sees "cloak boy" on a regular basis, I think he's creepy and I'm glad he's not singing anymore. It was disturbing the peace.

Nathan is one of the coolest kids ever. I still remember in FHE when he told us about the letter that he wrote to BYU.

BYU is a unique place--and Cloak Boy is typical of some of the students who make it so unique. I remember the medieval club battling with wooden swords that I passed each night as I went to the H-FAC. Cloak Boy appears to be the musical version of the medieval club.

I hope the Church sends this kid on a mission where he can use his talent.

I really like this kid!

He reminds me of myself, when I was younger.

Before I learned to accompany myself on guitar, I spontaneously sang acapello, all the time, everyplace I went.

I grew up imitating what I heard on the radio.

I hope the Church will send him on a special mission where he can use his talent, and I hope BYU will also help him further enhance his talent.

Years ago, I was a volunteer at Ricks College (since renamed BYU-Idaho), reading to the blind over the campus radio.

I would sit out on the lawn, strumming my guitar, and singing all sorts of songs, as I solicited students to also volunteer to read to the blind.

I was questioned by police a couple of times, but they didn't stop me from singing, and yes, there were some students who protested the police bothering me.

I found it all to be rather amusing.

Today, I'm the official bard of my Scottish clan, living in the Ol' Soldiers' Home in Washington, D.C.

If anyone's interested, there are a few amateur videos on the Internet of me performing my original compositions.

BYU didn't come down hard on Cloak Boy. The Campus Police merely warned him that IF his singing disrupted classes or disturbed students trying to study, he COULD be cited for disturbing the peace. The police were responding to calls from students concerned about the young man's mental state, and were probably relieved that he was "normal." Cloak Boy was not cited, and as the police spokesman stated, he is free to sing whenever he wants as long as it does not disrupt in the manner described above. So where is the story here? This incident is the equivalent of being told "sssh! Or you'll be asked to leave the library" by a librarian. The police warned him because the police are responsible for enforcing an environment conducive to studying and safety. Nobody was harsh with the Cloak Boy and no one infringed his freedom of expression, so again, where is the story here? What an immature overreaction by fellow students and the news media for making him into a martyr/hero when nothing was done to him by anyone.

The guy can sing all he wants, but that doesn't mean his behavior isn't looney. It's great he can be himself, but when this guy is 40 and he shows up at church in his cloak, I don't see many people coming to his defense.

With the terrible shooting tragedies that have occurred across this nation, I'm glad that the police take time to investigate complaints. While I have no problem with his singing (as long is it is not derogatory or disruptive), I think it was appropriate by the police to see if there was a potential safety concern on campus.

Yeah I agree. It seems that the recent shootings have everyone worried about small things. Let's all take a breath and let the man sing.

Nothing to see here, move along.

Did you read the article? The police got some complaints, they checked it out for safety reasons, then said that the guy could keep singing, as long as it didn't cross the line into causing problems for other students. BYU did everything right.

At first I thought it was silly and over-the-top for the police to talk to Cloak Boy, but the officer is right. What if the man had ended up going on a shooting spree in the JSB and there had been a record of students getting in touch because they were concerned about his mental health? It's a bit odd, but it's been established as just odd, and that's that.

Another example that BYU is a good place to get an education, so long as you can put up with the scrutiny and pettiness of toeing the line and fitting in. Keep it up, Cloak Boy!

Part of the 13th LDS Article of Faith is reprinted below:

If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Cloak Boy's singing appears to me to be all of the things described above, so I cannot understand why the administration at BYU does not 'seek after these things' and encourage this brave young man to continue his singing.

This kid is destined for American Idol.

Go Cloak Boy! It can be difficult to find ways to express yourself within the parameters that the Church sets up, whether at BYU or on a mission. I'm glad he found a way to do it, and I'm glad he hasn't been hauled in for re-assimilation.

Go to UVU. You can be yourself and still have the good LDS atmoshpere.

What a loser.

What would the Savior do? Well I'm pretty certain He would have acknowledged the young man's talents, expressed His love and sat down and listened to the music for a while. Even IF the person were unstable, the Savior would have difused him with positive recognition. What happened to Jesus when He "disturbed the peace"? Oh yes, he was accosted by the local police...