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

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

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One man's opinion | 9:18 a.m. March 26, 2008

If the young man wants to sing let him sing! The world would be much better off if we all did a little less jeering and little more singing! This is a no big news deal. It sounds to me from the bloggers comments here that a. people didn't read the article very closely, b. people are trying to stir up controversy where there is none and c. Some people apparently don't have enough to do. The stupidity of "Crathes" comments are only surpassed by the inaccuracy of his facts. Instead of making fun of others, or trying to make something out of nothing, go outside, take a couple of deep breathes and make this a great day by doing something positive and constuctive, I'm going to now....

to; the "Cloak 800" | 9:19 a.m. March 26, 2008

with a facebook site: you go! way to speak truth to power! Injustice flees! If all men had this kind of courage the Gates of Hell would Quake! (and singing in front of the JS Building was a nice touch, too bad you can't always find a lunch counter when you need one)

however once this injustice is righted please do get back to the urgent task of GETTING A LIFE and GETTING A CLUE

thank you

Go Nathan! | 9:24 a.m. March 26, 2008

This is nothing like the behavior concerns or issues of the shooters and the schools we have heard lately. He is finding a positive way to be himself. Not planning in anger or hate to go after someone! Keep teasing him bullying him, thinking your better than him and running him down THEN maybe then it will be the same!!
Frodo never got married because he wears a cloak? Oh I guess its better to look and act like a movie star and get married and divorced multiple times.

Comments continue below

Frank | 9:30 a.m. March 26, 2008

Only at BYU???? If your saying that youve never been out of Utah. Unusual people and college are like PB&J. Go down to Austin and it wont be long till you've been "drive-by tap danced".

Anonymous | 9:26 a.m. March 26, 2008

I don't see what the big deal is about him wearing a cloak. I know a few people who do and sure they're different but they're great people. There's nothing in the Honor Code about not being able to wear a cloak.

Decorus | 9:29 a.m. March 26, 2008

Where can I get a cool cloak like that? I could wear it up here at the University of Utah! A cloak and those great Indiana Jones hats. And a bull whip, and a great Gandalf staff. Maybe a Batman vinyl cape? But nude underneath so I can pose at UVU.

Funny news day in Deseret land. And Obama is related to Brad Pitt? hahaha

Non-beliver | 9:30 a.m. March 26, 2008

It sounds as if we are worried about the cloak. Why? It has been cold.

It is time we recognized that there is theBYU way or the highway. I am not saying that is right or wrong. It is just the way it is. Either conform or leave. (That includes beards, etc.)

Frankly I think he should be allowed to sing, but trust the BYU police to lay down the law. First amendments rights don't bother BYU much. (I think that includes singing.) BYU students are rarely tolerant of people who are different. Why? Because they have been to raised to think they are better than anyone else. You know what? They are not. Just because you don't smoke or drink does not make you better than anyone. There are other qualities that are more importnt.

eTigger | 9:37 a.m. March 26, 2008

SING, Cloak Boy, SING! Music is good for the soul, and even (and possibly especially) BYU can use some more SOUL!

KID | 9:44 a.m. March 26, 2008

CLOAK BOY is a weirdo!ONLY IN FREAKIN PROVO OR UTAH FORthat matter would this happen. But I don't think he should be in trouble for what he's doing. He clearly is doing it for ATTENTION.But he's not hurting anyone but himself. Let him continue being a weird guy. There is NO CRIME for that.

Buckeye Ute | 9:48 a.m. March 26, 2008

Though he maybe a little different from the rest of the students at BYU, he is not doing anything wrong. The cloak is not against the dress code.
The BYU police didn't do anything wrong by talking to the student.
Why is this a story in the newspaper?

Geri | 9:49 a.m. March 26, 2008

Do keep on singing, Cloak Boy. You have made many happy hearing your music.

Joe | 9:50 a.m. March 26, 2008

Sad to say that it happens at the U too. It's a shame that BYU is getting more liberal. Oh well, GO Utes!!!

Chris | 9:55 a.m. March 26, 2008

Does the BYU Math Club still have those funny "Now with 25% more social skills!" t-shirts? If so, they may need to turn them inside out now.

You are all crazy... | 10:02 a.m. March 26, 2008

You know, after reading these comments I think people on this message board have more 'mental problems' than Nathan. Sure he's a little geeky, but most people are a little geeky too. Even if it just comes down to being 'tv geek' it's still a little geeky.

As for the whole If you're different than mormons won't like you blah blah blah, that's just stereotyping. I'm LDS and have nothing wrong with this guy. He might not be my best friend (don't know, never met him) but he doesn't bother me at all. If you don't like the constraints of BYU, go to college somewhere else. I did.

John Robert Mallernee | 9:57 a.m. March 26, 2008

So, someone thinks that wearing a cloak violates BYU's Honor Code?

Does the BYU Honor Code forbid wearing a tartan kilt and plaid?

Here at the Ol' Soldiers' Home, I frequently have occasion to proudly sport my clan's tartan kilt and plaid at patriotic events or on special days.

It's the "weird" students like Nathan Langford who usually end up being the exceptional celebrities in their field.

Normal folks do okay, but they don't stand out.

Nathan Langford stands out.

I like that.

I wonder what surprises our Lord has in store for His oddball, Nathan Langford?

I'll bet Nathan Langford will be a FANTASTIC missionary!!!

Go, Nathan!

Hey, is this a scheme by Deseret News to get this boy married?

How many wedding proposals has this story generated?

Fashion and Societal Norms | 10:05 a.m. March 26, 2008

What's so weird about a cloak? If someone showed up in their North Face a few hundred years ago, that would have been weird, too. Fashion is silly anyway. We listen to a bunch of fashionistas in other places who tell us what to wear each season (and consequently pay a lot of money for wearing their designs). And he's weird for wearing a cloak?

sffilk | 10:02 a.m. March 26, 2008

Just had a thought - perhaps the next time I'm invited to BYU, I'll bring *MY* cloak and remember to sing!

Another Alum | 10:02 a.m. March 26, 2008

BYU teaches AGAINST academic slavery. They teach it often - in speeches, in seminars, in publications.

It's too bad that the culture has to be so monolithic.

jallielj | 10:12 a.m. March 26, 2008

Watch out Cloak Boy, the BY got the CONTEST CLUB, they'll get you too.

Only in Utah???? | 10:19 a.m. March 26, 2008

The only difference from growing up in L.A, was the cloak guy singing to himself was also naked and had smiley faces in marker all over him.... this kid is conseravtive!! you "only in Utah" clowns need to leave Utah and see the rest of the world!

2 bits | 10:18 a.m. March 26, 2008

I doubt the school is anti-singing. I think they were just concerned about setting a precident that could be used by other (more offensive) groups to assert their right to stand on campus and assault people with vulgarity.

If you let this guy do it, you sort of have to let the other guys do it too.

Mark | 10:27 a.m. March 26, 2008

BYu would be nothing without eccentrics. Any of you ever meet Hugh Nibley? The guy bought his clothes at the DI, really believed that Mormons should live the Law of consecration (definitely not a core conservative value!) and practiced his many languages by talking to himself. But he was the most brilliant teacher I ever had.

The Rock | 10:32 a.m. March 26, 2008

I love BYU. I graduated from there in 1982.
BYU Security does have a problem. I know of one person who got a ticket for running a stop sign ON FOOT!
I got a ticket for not having my bicycle licensed. The city of Provo apparently requires it; however, they don't enforce that law. BYU does. I ignored the ticket and security eventually put a lock on my bicycle. I used my bolt cutters and returned their lock (in pieces) to them via campas mail. I also quite riding my bike to school for a while.

Unrighteous dominion. That is what BYU security is best at.

it's not the singing | 10:25 a.m. March 26, 2008

that is the problem here;

it is the quality of the singing.

As DN readers know, Mormons have a reputation as the "best singers in all of Christendom" to uphold, and frankly, Cloak Boy was dragging down the average.

Have you noticed | 10:26 a.m. March 26, 2008

A vast majoprity of BYU students dress the same with their Hollister or OR bleach blonde hair do's. Give me a break, bunch of California Wannabees if you aks me, What's up with that. And then you have the TOOLS" who try to be different just to be different and cool but in reality not themselves. When will BYU and Utah people wake up and say it's okay to be me and to be happy with yourself,church and everything else. WHen??

Eye witness | 10:26 a.m. March 26, 2008

The facts are these: we live in a world where unstable people do unthinkable things. We've seen it happen on college campuses, in a local shopping mall, in fast food restaurants and in public schools. Everyone should be on guard for extremely unusual behavior and if they feel inclined to get involved, they should. I witnessed the cloak boy on campus and passed by him singing at least a dozen times. The first episode was in January. It was 10 degrees outside and snowing. I had never seen the clock boy before and there he was singing in the extreme cold. I couldn't see his hands. I couldn't see what he had under his cloak (if anything.) I had a gut feeling that something was wrong, so I called the University police and asked them to check it out. I didn't know if the cloak boy was a student or not and it didn't matter. His behavior was out of place and very strange for the temperature and surroundings. The point is this - what if he had done something to harm innocent people? Would we then be asking ourselves - why didn't someone do something?

JK | 10:30 a.m. March 26, 2008

Looking at the pictures of Cloak Boy, I'm surprised his hair is so long. Doesn't that violate some kind of code?

My first year at the University of Utah, I wore a Batman Utility Belt every day. But I didn't sing. Who's the freak now?

Y student | 10:31 a.m. March 26, 2008

I saw the "cloak boy" a few times, it really didn't bother me, I remember thinking, "wow, there is a guy standing in a cloak singing." I am glad that BYU did look into the complaints. The most important thing is the safety of the school and the students. I don't think his singing or his cloak was going to harm anyone but it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Why doesn't he go and study in between classes like other students?

If he continues, I think he should get a multi colored cloak, or a cloak with a big Y on the back of it, or maybe a Darth Maul cloak. Ya, that would be much cooler. (I bet he is a Political Science major)

Cloak Boy adds ambience | 10:36 a.m. March 26, 2008

Cloak boy is similar to going to a large city and seeing someone playing Sax, except cloak boy doesn't ask for coins.

The people playing instruments add spice and ambience to any city.

Cloak boy adds spice to BYU, but BYU is supposed to be a boring place, so I say out with cloak boy.

Mike | 10:47 a.m. March 26, 2008

Go for it Nathan, I think that any tweaking that can happen at BYU needs to happen. Everyone down there just needs to lighten up.

That having been said, I support BYU and their misson. They just need to get out of the draconian Ernest Wilkinson era. Remember even some 20 century Prophets had beards.

I went down to the Y a few months ago to visit my son at the Library. I had a beard at the time and one of the campus kiddie cops had the gall to come up to me and ask me if I had a beard card. The way he said it sounded like BEER CARD. I told him that I didn't drink beer. He got all upset with me. Since I knew what he was talking about and couldn't resist I continued to kid him about the BEER CARD. I eventually told him that I wasn't a student and was on campus visiting my son. I very nearly had to pull out my temple recommend and show him.

BLAH | 10:49 a.m. March 26, 2008

Has anyone checked the cloak for a dagger?

Matthew | 10:53 a.m. March 26, 2008

First, mustaches are OK.
Second, the fact that his hair is out of compliance with the dress and grooming standards is proof that BYU doesn't have the equivalent of the Stasi etc. I hope that he has just been too busy to get a hair cut recently.
Third, apparently a significant number of BYU students support and appreciate the diversity that Nathan represents. There is more genuine diversity at BYU than most appreciate.
Last, the rude intolerance expressed by many of those posting just shows that there are ignorant people in all walks of life.

Salwa Williams | 10:54 a.m. March 26, 2008

Nathan is awesome, very talented and very creative. Comes from an extremely intelligent and creative family. You are all lucky to have him at BYU, enjoy the diversity on that great campus! We need more students who aern't afraid to explore creative hobbies that stimulate the mind and promote interaction rather than waste all their time on video games. I enjoyed the slideshow Nathan,it was so fun to see you again since the good old days in Wisconsin!

judge not | 11:09 a.m. March 26, 2008

Some people in the church, unfortunately, have severe problems with anyone that does not fit the Mary Poppins practically perfect in every way mold. My daughter was oxygen deprived during pregnancy resulting in a very damaged brain. It took 8 years to figure everything out which was just a few weeks ago. My former ward treated my family like we were a piece of trash not worthy for them to even look at. I was considered a terrible mother, the RS president refused to speak to me and everyone else followed her example. I would go to church feeling great and come out feeling awful.

My daughter is destined for great things. She makes 100% grade averages on her report card even though she refuses to study and her artistic ability is phenomenal. She is different and she is the type of person that makes history. We need these differences people. These kind of people are what makes the great works we have in this world. Stop judging my daughter because she's sees and does things differently. Don't judge this man. He's obviously very smart.

Think for a change | 11:03 a.m. March 26, 2008

"If you let this guy do it, you sort of have to let the other guys do it too."

No, you don't. 2 Bits, that's a lame argument that people use to get out of making real decisions. Why is it all or nothing? How about letting a kid who is singing inoffensive songs be, and shutting down someone who comes along with something truly offensive?

Sarah | 11:13 a.m. March 26, 2008

I can understand what happened here. As a Wildlife/Wildlands student, my husband was questioned by BYU police often for birdwatching at the botany pond and surrounding gardens. Of course they'd call out to him and approach loudly and when my husband explained he was birdwatching they'd look around and say what birds? "The ones you just scared away." Needless to say he started hiking Y-mountain to prevent BYU police from disturbing his studying. Best of luck to Nathan and all of BYU's other gifted and eccentric students.

Sing | 11:09 a.m. March 26, 2008

Sure this kid is a nerd, but as long its not a safety issue, let him sing!

Common Courtesy | 11:13 a.m. March 26, 2008

If I'm studying between classes, the last thing I want to hear is "cloak boy" singing.

Frank | 11:15 a.m. March 26, 2008

As a college student who has spent time at more out of Utah(and country) campuses than Utah campuses I can easily say a sight like Cloak boy is not unusual at all.

But on the other hand it is obvious to me how a cloak, like a trenchcoat can cause people to be nervous, good thing people are acting on their nervousness and that police are responding. Turns out this is a totally harmless situation but many a life will be saved when something dangerous happens and people think to warn the authorities and the authorities take it seriously. Its unfortunate he had to be bothered but its a reflection of the time and evironment we live in now.

AG | 11:17 a.m. March 26, 2008

I knew his family when we were in his ward afew years ago. His dad was the best music director we had, always having us sing every verse of every hymn. He said singing was his way of bearing his testimony. I could see him singing at home all the time. As far as the longer hair goes, just the way he was brought up, with both parents working, and extremely intelligent, their appearances weren't always a priority. It will get done sooner or later, but it is definitely not a rebellion. They are very mentally stable people, having known them, including Nathan, whom I taught in Primary, for 7 years. They are just more intelligently prioitized than worrying about what other think. His mother is a University Math professor, and father is an author, English Professor.

Liberal in sheep's cloak | 11:21 a.m. March 26, 2008

I say no more verbal stonethrowing at my man Cloak Boy. Blessed are they that push the conservative envelope.

I Wonder | 11:23 a.m. March 26, 2008

I wonder if Heaven is like BYU, cookie cutter people wearing cookie cutter clothes leading a cookie cutter life style and a cookie cutter honor code everyone is forced to abide by if they want to stay there?

Some dude | 11:26 a.m. March 26, 2008

I went to BYU and I would see people from time to time randomly singing, which was weird. However, this is over the top.

Amy | 11:35 a.m. March 26, 2008

No need to personally attack this apparently good-natured, well-intentioned young man. He appears to be more emotionally healthy and well-adjusted than any other BYU students I've met.

re Matthew | 10:53 a.m. | 11:46 a.m. March 26, 2008

You defend the situation by saying that mustaches are okay.

It doesn't seem out of place that beards are not? This in a place of higher learning. Why the bias towards making everyone cookie cutter?

It doesn't seem odd to you that Brigham Young himself and also Jesus would not be allowed to attend BYU unless they shaved?

Neato | 11:46 a.m. March 26, 2008

All Cloak Boy has to do now is find Cloak Girl. Then they can have Cloak Kids and bring fame and fortune to Provo.

RE: Think for a change | 11:50 a.m. March 26, 2008

I dont want to defend the other guy, but in your argument who decides what is inoffensive, or offensive? Who? If its the police then thats what happened, and they decided it was harmless, but they couldnt make that decision without confronting him.

Pather | 11:57 a.m. March 26, 2008

I agree with Stephanie Lee's perceptive comment. Singing, any singing, cloaked or uncloaked, is a great way to relieve the stress after an Econ class. Sing on cloak boy, sing on.

Keep Singin'! | 11:53 a.m. March 26, 2008

Keep it going, Cloak Boy. The gyrations through which BYU puts its students is really amusing to the outside world. Reminds me of the woman who took off her jeans (when jeans on females were banned on campus), put on her long coat, and THEN entered the Testing Center so she could sit for a test. Nice.

Get a job Cloak-Man | 11:57 a.m. March 26, 2008

Cloak-Man should get a job and quit bothering people. If I was a BYU student and I saw a 40 year old man hanging out in a claok singing church songs, I would be a bit concerned as well.

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2 photos

Jason Olson, Deseret News

BYU student Nathan Langford talks about his former habit of singing outside the Joseph Smith Building on campus.

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

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