This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

PROVO - "Cheney = Lies, War, Torture, Corruption."

"Dick Cheney: The best reason not to impeach Bush!"

"Subversive liberal anti-establishment anarchists? But I'm a Republican!"

"Cheney and Voldemort 2008."

While signs screamed such bold statements Wednesday at Brigham Young University, students maintained a conversational tone as they congregated outside the school's library to protest BYU's decision to invite Vice President Dick Cheney to deliver the school's commencement address on April 26.

More than 200 students attended the College Democrats' sit-in demonstration.

"I've never seen a protest so big on the BYU campus," said Diane Bailey, president of the College Democrats.

BYU isn't known for student activism, especially when it's aimed at a Republican administration. Owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the university is one of the nation's most conservative schools in one of the nation's reddest states, so administrators have faced an unusual challenge in welcoming Cheney while also accommodating student dissension.

It was a day of dueling rallies. About 75 students gathered on the opposite side of the school library at a separate event organized by the College Republicans, who support BYU and Cheney.

BYU spokeswoman Carri Jenkins said the last politically motivated student demonstrations were before the U.S. entered the first Gulf War in 1990.

"These occurrences are rare," she said, adding she was impressed by the maturity and responsibility demonstrators exhibited Wednesday.

Students' demeanor reflected well on BYU, Bailey said.

"This shows you can be a faithful BYU student and oppose the policies of our leaders."

Fellow College Democrat Philip Erickson agreed.

"As much as I'm opposed to Cheney and enjoy demonstrating against his politics, this is a really good chance to show the political diversity of BYU," the sophomore said.

Not everyone at the anti-Cheney demonstration was a Democrat. Heather Marsh, a freshman studying neuroscience, held a sign stating, "Republican against Cheney."

"He made some horribly misleading arguments linking Iraq to attacks on 9/11," she said. "We are Mormons and are subject to kings, rulers and magistrates, but we're also upholding the right of popular sovereignty."

In response to critics who say Cheney doesn't represent the values of BYU, Cali Nicoll simply says, "It's what politicians do."

She joined the students in the pro-Cheney rally. The College Republicans' stated goal in an e-mail to students was to outnumber the Democrats. While they had less than half as many attendees, they did collect several hundred student signatures on a letter supporting Cheney's campus visit.

"It's always easier to protest than to support," said Tim Taylor, vice chairman of the College Republicans. "It shows tacit approval of our cause that more students aren't out protesting."

Those who rallied with the Republicans emphasized the office of the vice president should be respected.

"To have such an influential leader come to campus is at worst inconsequential and at best a benefit to the university," said McKay Young, a junior who described himself as politically independent.

Nicoll agreed.

"It's a great honor to have him even consider coming, let alone speaking," she said.

However, Jeannine Plamondon, a senior who is debating whether to attend the graduation ceremony, argues politicians should be judged on their moral character, not the office held.

"Hitler was the president of Germany, and he was democratically elected," she said.

The dueling events grew from online petition drives initiated by both groups.

A petition opposing Cheney's visit launched last week at cheneyspeech.blogspot.com. BYU alumni drafted the petition, and it has garnered support from some students, faculty and staff.

Then this week, College Republicans created a petition to support Cheney and BYU administrators. Found at http://www.isupportBYU.com, it is described as "powerful declaration of support for the current BYU administration and board of trustees, including their decision to invite the vice president of the United States to speak at spring commencement ceremonies."

BYU has said it has no plan to renege its invitation to the vice president to speak on April 26.

Administrators still are considering whether to allow a protest on campus the day of his visit.

---

* SHEENA MCFARLAND can be contacted at smcfarland@sltrib.com or 801-257-8619.