Deseret News | BYU-Idaho dissolves student political parties

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BYU-Idaho dissolves student political parties

Blake | 7:18 p.m. May 19, 2009

This is somewhat typical of the bizarre extremism found on the campus at BYU-Idaho. If political neutrality was really an issue, then the move should come from Church's Board of Education, removing political groups completely from all church schools. It is silly to have one school remove them while they continue to thrive on other church campus'. Besides this move is the only thing that brought any attention to the lopsided affiliation with the Republican Party, if it would have been left alone, it would have been no problem.

Lowell | 8:01 p.m. May 19, 2009

I, for one, think this is a great idea. But then again, I do not vote along party lines. For me, a change like this emphasizes that to be politically *active* does not necessarily have anything to do with party affiliation. Do we really think that all serious political thinkers can be pigeonholed into two camps of thought? (Never mind that both parties are practically indistinguishable these days!)

Maybe the school's move is a condemnation of this "two-party tyranny." Maybe it's an encouragement for students to actually engage their minds in the political process rather than simply signing up with a club. If those were among their motivations for the change, the bravo... may the other LDS schools follow suit!

Anonymous | 8:44 p.m. May 19, 2009

I was a member of republican club knew some people on democrat club. I think they should keep them. First they get rid of intercollegiate athletics and now the political clubs.

Though forr a time when I wass there the club membership dwindled. I didn't even know when meetings were. People would tell me and nothing would happen there.

Comments continue below

Mike | 7:44 a.m. May 20, 2009

I disagreed with the change of the name from Ricks to BYU-I. I disagree with this decision. Both are not well thought out. My favorite question about Ricks College was "Who's Rick".

Anonymous | 8:21 a.m. May 20, 2009

Despite official disavowals, the reality is that culturally, LDS = GOP. The Church needs to address this problem because it is hurting the Church and its missionary work both in the U.S. and around the world. Its identity is Republican. That's the reality. I wonder if the BYU-I action is more of a stick-our-heads-in-the-sand approach.

enoughsenough | 8:31 a.m. May 20, 2009

This is all show and no substance. Free agency, remember?

John Pack Lambert | 10:08 a.m. May 20, 2009

I think most people are speaking from ignorance. I am sure that the administration at BYU-Idaho had reasons to do this, and I am very positive that they were good reasons.
To the 8:21 person, your statements do not work. The highest ranking Mormon in government is a Democrat.
However, As I have said 100 times before, until the Utah Democrat Party realizes that campaigning by telling people that they should not care about the death of the innocents will not win votes, they will continue to be trounced in most elections.
Lastly, to the 8:31 commentator, the disolving of campus political parties does not prevent students form affiliating with the local branches of any party they choose. Students do not have to maintain 100% of their affiliations through the campus.

Anonymous | 10:49 a.m. May 20, 2009

No student with any real potential would ever attend BYU-I. Heres an idea- lets dissolve religions to ensure religious neutrality as well.

Anonymous | 11:58 a.m. May 20, 2009

The LDS Church has a double standard when it comes to religion and politics. They have an infamous history of running away from the law, fleeing out of the United States to avoid the laws forbidding polygamy, and hiding their practice of polygamy while they applied for Statehood. They have a distrust and anomosity for the government built into their doctrine and culture, and are even today fighting for their own "religious freedom", all of which culminates in a message saying "Keep politics out of our religion!"

And yet they claim the privilege of their leaders directing members to vote specific ways on specific political/civil issues (e.g., Prop 8), and the Republican party is all but an appendage to the LDS higher priesthood - a Mormon more frequently than not, opens legislative sessions with an LDS prayer to the LDS god.

But then they effectively render partisan political clubs impotent and meaningless on their BYU-Idaho campus, sending the message loud and clear that politics is meaningless compared to ecclesiastical authority.

Hmm | 2:50 p.m. May 20, 2009

I find it interesting how some believe the LDS church is so prominent in politics when the total church membership in the world equals a mere 35% of the total population of California.

Church membership worldwide:
13,508,509 (Source: www.lds.org from Conference Talks April 2009)

Population of California:
36,756,666 (Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division via Google.com)

As to the rest of the stuff being said, you may want to search for the facts yourself instead of relying on the old rumors that continue to get recirculated.

Cecil D. | 5:25 p.m. May 20, 2009

I think it was silly to disolve the groups, but the students can still have their college R&D groups. They just won't be acknowledged by the school. They'll have to meet in a private facility rather than school property and maybe even pay their own way... Oh, never mind. They only want the groups if someone else pays for their meeting space.
Really, Can't anyone think outside the "college" down there? There must be other ways to have your political club. Grow up. That's one of the things you're supposed to do at college.

JC | 7:13 a.m. May 21, 2009

Political parties are evil combinations that exist for the sole purpose of commandeering the entire ship of state, which is in and of itself a regional monopoly on the use of force (force in the form of compliance and taxation/theft). Captain Moroni sought not for power but to tear it down. Parties help eachother do what Gadiantons did: kill and steal without facing punishment. People should consider what it really means to be 'party' to something. The school is right to disband the clubs. The other BYU campuses should follow suit. Do church schools want to appear as if they are being 'party' to the evils committed by both parties who are alternately and jointly in control of our country?

Anonymous | 8:47 a.m. May 21, 2009

JC,

Spoken like a true, fanatic, conspiracy-theorist, Glenn Beck freak!

Thank you for showing your true, sickening colors.

the honest truth | 2:56 p.m. May 22, 2009

" ricks college was a wonderful, contributing part of the rexburg community, byu-idaho is not: it has made sure that it doesn't do ANYTHING substantial to boost rexburg. and the fawning over byu-idaho by the rexburg chamber of commerce, the city of rexburg and even this newspaper shows not a devotion to Jesus Christ but a devotion to money.

there is NO economy here in rexburg without byu-idaho. that's what these urban-rexburg leaders like shawn larsen say about the school. the truth is a lot simpler: rexburg, idaho is a farming community.

and i'll say this again about kim b. clark: he is a failed leader and needs to be removed as the head of byu-idaho. this is not a legitimate 4 year institution, it's just that way on paper. and what clark has set up at byu-idaho is deplorable: students sent here by their parents for the low tuition, then when they get here they are told what to think, how to act, how to believe and what to say. this is not education, it is BRAINWASHING. byu-idaho is the FURTHEST thing from JESUS CHRIST. "

Anonymous | 6:03 a.m. May 24, 2009

it's really a sad day when an instituion that purports to be a University eliminates political clubs designed to enhance the students' world view. I am no longer a proud alum of BYU-Idaho. It sickens me with the direction it has gone. Have you read the alumni magazine recently? It's a joke. It's reads like a seminary manual and doesn't discuss at all the accomplishments of the students or the faculty. Pathetic.

Anonymous | 11:05 a.m. June 29, 2009

Ditto to what was said directly above. Aren't most universities characterized by a "free and open forum?"
Isn't that how we learn and become "open minded." I am a Democrat, but I am appalled by this. The fact that Republicans have triple the number in its organization there has nothing to do with it. . .It is a free agency and freedom of speech issue. Shame on BYU Idaho!

Paul | 11:36 a.m. June 29, 2009

What ridiculous comments. BYU-Idaho is the BEST place in the world to get an education and become a disciple of Jesus Christ. President Clark is a wonderful, inspired leader.

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