"Power derived from fear of punishment is wrong," protest organizer Ashley Sanders said after removing the duct tape. "When free speech is held back because of repercussion or implied repercussion, there is no free speech. Our silence is meant to emphasize that BYU students are not allowed a legislative voice in our own student government."
The recent firing of BYU student leadership coordinator Todd Hendricks sparked the protest. Hendricks alleges he was wrongfully terminated after writing a letter that raised concerns about a "lack of transparency" in BYU student elections to the school's newspaper, The Daily Universe.
The paper published the letter March 10. Hendricks says he was fired March 17 after being told by student life dean Vernon Heperi that his letter was a "disloyal act," and BYU administrators could no longer trust his judgment.
Heperi, who watched the protest from the sidelines, referred all comments to BYU communications personnel.
Hendricks did not attend the demonstration.
"BYU's administration is interested in students letting us know when they have concerns," spokesman Grant Madsen said . "We want to hear what students have to say. They need to give us a little more time to deal with it . . . to go through the proper process." BYU keeps all termination issues private, he added.
Madsen did say, however, that administrators plan to meet with students to address the matter, although a time and place for the meeting had not been set.
BYU spokeswoman Carri Jenkins earlier this month said Hendricks wasn't fired solely due to his letter. "There were other issues," she said.
Students said no one seems to know what the "other issues" are, including Hendricks. If you don't know what they are, how can you defend yourself, they said.
Sanders, a granddaughter of the late LDS Church Apostle Neal Maxwell, said when she approached university administrators Thursday seeking "permission" to hold the demonstration, she was turned down. But when a story about the planned protest was published in Friday's Provo Daily Herald, a BYU official called Sanders and said, "We would like to talk to you about this," she said. After agreeing to certain protocol, approval was granted.
"BYU only responds to PR [public relations] disasters," said Kate Kelly, a senior political science major from Oregon. "They are more concerned about image than students."
Students handed out a statement that listed their issues. They allege, "BYU administration espouses virtues of honor and integrity unless those virtues find fault with its own policies and practices." They also say students have no voice in their own student government organization, which they deem "merely a social planning organization" that has no real power to affect change.
Student David Sudweeks, standing among the protestors but not participating, said he is a "happy BYU student" and didn't know what all "the fuss" is about. Every decision administrators make doesn't have to be acceptable to students, he said.
But Sarah Crane, a journalism major, disagreed.
"Students want to be taken seriously . . .. We would like them to value our input," she said. "BYU student government shouldn't be a glorified high school student council."
That sentiment was echoed by 30-year business professor Warner Woodworth. "BYU is a great institution, and we are trying to make it better," he said, joining the demonstrators.
sykes@sltrib.com
