Open letter to the BYU Administration: Campus Safety for All

Dear President Worthen,

I am a heterosexual, white Male and alumnus of BYU. Over the last 3 years or so I have been doing some significant soul searching and reflecting upon how I could make the environment around me more safe and inclusive for anyone that is different from me, whether it is differences in race, sexual orientation, religion, sex, etc. This exercise in self-reflection has been difficult as it has caused me to confront overt and covert acts of racism, sexism, homophobia and other problematic behaviours for which I am personally responsible. I have done my best to make changes in the way I speak, the way I act, and to redefine my beliefs and values

I was struck by Déborah Aléxis’s article published in the Salt Lake Tribune regarding the overt and systemic racism prevalent at BYU. As I reflected upon my experience (2009-2011), I cannot say that I was surprised. I had neighbours in BYU-approved housing that hung Confederate flags on the wall and in the window. I had a Bishop that once referred to a young man in our ward as a “colored boy.” I had a professor who once suggested that the reason black members were banned from the priesthood because white members of the church weren’t ready yet. I’ve had a classmate tell me that the Holocaust was God’s revenge on Jews for crucifying the Savior.

In my opinion, BYU needs to confront its racist past as well as the racist past of the Church. The Church has always taught that while the Gospel is perfect, the Church members are not, so why not look to the past and where members, including general authorities, have made missteps and let’s discuss those mistakes.

It’s known that while BYU has always admitted black students, there was a period of time before the priesthood ban was lifted in which the University sent letters to newly admitted black students warning them that the campus may not be so welcoming to them for reasons such as: they may not get dates as they wouldn’t be eligible for a temple marriage, or that the surrounding community may not accept them. It’s not a stretch to say that BYU, The Church, and Utah County have a difficult relationship with racism and took steps to enable that racism rather than quash it.

I would like to make the following recommendations based on my lived experience at BYU and on BYU-approved housing:

1. Explicitly state that racist language and acts are an Honor Code violation, including the display of Confederate flags on campus or in BYU-approved housing.
2. Ban the use of the “n-word” by non-black students and faculty. It’s not their word, nor is it their privilege to use it.
3. Provide racial and cultural sensitivity training for faculty, priesthood, and organization leaders. Train these leaders to act against racism in their classes and church meetings.
4. Create greater stronger means to redress racial administrative issues at BYU.
5. Review the namesakes of the buildings at BYU and rename any buildings who are named after individuals who supported slave ownership or white spiritual superiority. Consider renaming these buildings after faithful black pioneering Latter-day Saints such as Jane Manning James, Elijah Abel, or Helvécio Martins.
6. While I understand that we don’t completely know why Blacks were banned from the Priesthood, the Religion Department needs to be explicit in dispelling myths that we are certain are not true regarding the priesthood ban, such as:

• The spirits of black people were less faithful in keeping the first estate in the premortal life
• That blacks are the seed of Cain
• That blacks not having the Priesthood was an act of mercy on God’s part
• That whites weren’t ready to have black priesthood leaders

On the topic of inclusion and safety of all people, I would also like to see the University formally recognize BYU’s Gay-Straight Alliance and give them a space for discourse and club activities on campus. LGBTQ2+ individuals seriously struggle at BYU and are at a major risk of mental illness and suicide. It would go a long way if BYU could give them a small corner on campus so that they can have a forum and support each other while navigating life at BYU. If an Apostle of the Lord says there is a place for LGBTQ2+ people in the Kingdom, certainly there is a place for them on campus.

As such, an additional recommendation I would make is to remove chastity violations as grounds for expulsion including unchaste behaviours between homosexual students. Expulsion should be reserved for academic and criminal violations only.

Until measures such as the ones I have suggested are implemented at BYU, the University will continue to struggle with issues of inclusion and safety and the student body will wallow in ignorance toward people that aren’t like them. BYU will fail to become a strong, diverse institution. Additionally, I’m not sure how long freedom of religion rights guaranteed by the US Constitution will hold up in a court of law when racial discrimination and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation are being perpetrated on campus every day.

I love BYU, and the 2 years I spent there were a life-changing time and put me on a path for further academic and career success. It pains me that not every student who graduates has had that same experience.

Thank you for reading my letter and seriously considering my opinions and recommendations.

Best regards,
Joel Sherlock (Class of 2011)