OCR Text |
Show THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1979 THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH VOL 89 NO. 67 r.l iff r- - -i- i 'i MASW7H B8S&C3 By Holly Mullen-Gree- n Chronicle Assistant News Editor Sonia Johnson, chairwoman of Mormons for ERA, was excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints Wednesday. Johnson had appeared twice in the last two weeks before a bishop's court on charges connected with her support of the Equal Rights Amendment; which the Mormon church officially opposes. Jeffrey H. Willis, bishop of Johnson's Sterling, Va., ward, sent the verdict of the bishop's court in a registered letter to Johnson. In his letter, Willis pointed out discussions have been held with Johnson during the past 18 months, according to an official LDS Church statement. "As you know, I have at no time tried to dissuade you from seeking the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. I have counseled with you relative to your By Steve Francis Chronicle Senior Reporter If voter turnout is an accurate indicator, Associated Students of the University of Utah (ASUU) has never been supported by anything close to a majority of University students. i he highest voter turnout in ASUU history was in 1974, when 6,204 or 33 percent of the student body voted. Write-i- n candidates Leonard McGee and Becky Fisher were elected ASUU president and vice president. Last April, when Paige Paulsen and Martha Siggard were elected ASUU president vice president, 1,992 less than 1 1 percent of the student body voted. Why students don't understand ASUU ASUU has done such a consistently good job over the years that students take it for granted, Paulsen said. Any lack of involvement should not be blamed on ASUU, but on the fact that students have other things to do, she added. "Students are intimidated by ASUU, they think it's too political. But ASUU is run by ordinary people, most of support of church leaders and doctrine," Willis said. Willis further stated in the letter that the three basic issues in the hearing, mutually agreed upon between himself and Johnson, were as follows: 1. Have your actions influenced members and nonmenbers to oppose church grams? 2. Have your pro- actions and statements advocated diminished support of church leaders? 3. Have you presented false doctrine which would damage others spiritually? Willis included in particulars of the hearing in the letter, according to the church statement. "You testified that you believe and have publicly stated our Mormon society has a 'savage misogyny' when it is, in fact church doctrine that exaltation can be gained only through the love which results in the eternal bonding of man and woman." whom had no idea what they Lecture Series and clubs, were getting into," according including the debate team. to Greg Skordas, ASUU McGee also wanted to cut the Finance Board chairman. Athletic Department's budget of lack The understanding and spend the money elseand involvement in ASUU where. can also be partially blamed The Paulsen administra-tioon the Chronicle, he said. emphasizes campus events. New programs include the Last Lecture Series and ASUU Classics. Some areas which receive less money now than five years ago include which received about $7,000 in 1974 and has received $800 almost-tota- l "People who work in the so far this year. This of media don't want to print funding "is collapse n BEFORE G, AFTER something good, because unfortunate; nobody would read it. People read the Chronicle because half the articles are terrible and the other half are condemning something," he said. G was a program with a lot of promise," McGee said. The Challenge Lecture Series also receives less money. In 1974 it was apportioned $30,900; this year it received $22,800. 5 years of change ASUU has not changed Challenge is getting less it is radically over the last five money this year because years; most areas which being managed better and received funds in 1974 are gets more for the amount of still receiving them. money spent, not because it The McGee administration is no longer a priority, initiated the Student Advisory according to Martha Siggard, president. Committees (SACs) and. ASUU vice "One of ASUUs primary Utah Public Interest Research is to provide a consu- responsibilities Group the students with opportunity me! advocacy gioup. McGee continued on page two emphasized the Challenge (U-PIRG- ), -- Coffee and Politics, The Role of the Regents in Higher Education, Don Hoi brook, Utah State Board of Regents chairman, OSH 255. 7:30 p.m. Dreams workshop, Sharing, Recording and Interpretation of Dreams, Campus Christian Center, 232 University St. 7:30 p.m. Silent Flick Festival, Riders of the Purple Sage; admission $2.25, AAC 9:55 a.m. Further, "you have publicly taught that the church is dedicated to imposing the Prophet's moral directives upon all Americans, when it is the doctrine of the church that all people are free to choose for themselves those moral directives dictated by their own consciences." Finally, "your testimony and public speeches evidence in spirit you are not in harmony with church doctrine concerning the nature of God and the manner in which He directs His church on earth." Marilee Latta, Mormon president of the Equal Rights Coalition of Utah said, "the Equal Rights Coalition is saddened by the fact Sonia was excommunicated. Like Sonia, we had hoped for exoneration, and although I can't speak for Sonia, I know it was devastating to her." "The Coalition also wants to encourage dialogue between church leaders and Mormon women as a result of this incident. This is a perfect example of what happens when dialogue on important issues does not occur," Latta said. Other Mormon women who support the ERA should not fear excommunication, Latta said in reference to a chruch statement which said, "no church action has been taken against members who support the ERA, nor is their membership in question." Church officials have repeatedly said Johnson's support of the amendment was not the reason for her trial. "We want to urge other members to maintain their stand on the ERA. We can only hope the chruch will stand by its word that support of the ERA alone will not be grounds for excommunication," Latta said. Johnson will probably appeal the bishop's court's decision, according to Latta. A court is hearing before a stake the first in a appeal process. A court of church general authorities hears final high-counc- appeals. sqauadl QmmSgi?a)ti5(Q)n) cpiiszes 0 By John Murray Chronicle Senior Reporter Iranian students at the University were questioned by armed immigration officials this week about their academic and financial standing. The officer in charge of the Salt Lake immigration office said he was following orders from President Carter to interview all Iranian students by December 14, but Gerald Harris, director of International Student Services called the government action "unfair." "Our basic question was, are they going to school?" said Gerald Fusbender of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. "We also asked if they worked, and whether their income was shaky." If students could not afford to remain in the country they would be returned to Iran, he said. Harris said the order to interview the Iranian students rescinds a previous government promise that no Iranians would be forced to leave the United States until June 1980. " They should have done this two years ago," he said of the interview process. By guaranteeing the students they could stay until next June, some of the Iranians may have chosen their class loads accordingly. Harris said they may have taken fewer than the required 12 credit hours, intending to make it up by June. "Now they've rescinded the (June 1980) policy and they're saying, if you're in violation, they're going to deport you." When immigration officials first started interviewing in Utah, students at Weber State Diramioaiinis and Utah State were asked such politically-orienteh or questions as if they were students Although University may have been asked what they do in their spare time, or whether they participated in demonstrations, the field team shifted its emphasis to academics and finances. "We had to bring a bankbook," said one Iranian student, who added it may be only a matter of time until she is forced to leave the country. "We can't receive any money from home because they aren't allowing any money out of the country." Another student pointed out that even if he receives a check through a third country, it is d pro-sha- anti-sha- h. nearly impossible to cash it in the United States. Harris said the Khomeini government still authorizes exchanges of up to $1,000 a month through the San Francisco embassy, but he does not know how much longer such exchanges will be permitted. Another problem University students face is cashing Iranian checks, currently possible through only the Melli Bank in New York. "It is not certain whether checks drawn on banks other than Melli will be honored there," he said. The 165 Iranian students at the University, on l or l status, are not permitted to work F-- J-- in this country. Fusbender said keeping track of the student's financial status gives his over- worked staff an opportunity to "check them later. It gives us someplace to begin looking later on." The field team at the University was armed, Fusbender said, because "we never know where violence is going to hit." Non-Prof- auditorium. 8 p.m. Modern Dance faculty concert, Dance Sculpture 'Sound, admission $3, $2 with I.D.. Dance Building 208. 8 p.m. Opera Scene recital, Union west ballroom. t . In I .. il two-ste- p it Org. U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 1529k Salt Lake City, Utah 4 J |