OCR Text |
Show A4 Monday • June 22, 2009 • >.•: •-.'.' ' current position from the almost total obscurity of being an only recently "tenured" from' A3 professor at BYU could be allayed simply: the Board its sole purpose is to disen- of Regents should announce franchise millions of people, publicly who backed him in and treat them as something the nominating process both less than full adult citizens, by initially approaching him, not to mention to paternal- then nominating him, and istically determine for even then fighting for him. That more millions of people is, they argue that if only what does and does not con- people knew he was nomistitute a genuine family. Of nated because of his leadcourse, NOM contributed to ership abilities, his "potenthe defeat of Proposition 8 in tial," and not because of his California, and though gay connections, we would see marriage is a non-starter in that the nomination process Utah, this still has implica- was not based on "insider tions for the V's sizable gay influence." Is it not possible, community of students and however, that there is a reafaculty, perhaps the most son for the Board decision concentrated in Utah Valley. not to speak publicly about Policies aren't the only how his nomination and apthing at issue - so is the en- pointment came about? The tire tone of the university. editorial board assumes that Pres. Holland, simply by his it really was simply because very presence, can change of Holland's credentials and the way we communicate not his connections. And here. It seems that a student this is all in addition to the or faculty member could fact that a taxpayer-funded feel emboldened by his very Board held a confidential public religiosity and con- process to choose a taxpayservative agenda to speak as er-funded university presithough the dominant culture dent. Shouldn't essentially and values were the only everything funded by the relevant culture and values. public be completely open Another student or. faculty and transparent to the pubmember may find that they lic? If the process isn't, there feel less comfortable speak- is probably a reason. ing about their differing We must think about this views, or about their life- in the context of the relastyle, religion, or atheism tionship between UVU and either in class, in the hall, or its closest neighbors. When with administrators and pro- Dick Cheney was invited (or fessors, even if it is central to invited himself, depending their education. In short, just on who you ask) to give the being here could, though not commencement address at with certainty, shrink and BYU and many left-leaning shrivel the robust and open students put up a fight, it was academic atmosphere that is UVU that welcomed the alunfortunately so difficult to ternative commencement, an achieve in our little valley, event that somehow seems and which we have achieved less likely to occur during with only moderate success the tenure of Mr. Holland. thus far. Those students who wish to In a June 4 editorial, get a university education The Daily Herald's edito- in Utah- Valley, but either rial board seemed to make can't or won't attend BYU the argument that any fears because of theft lifestyle, about how and why the new views, or needs often end president of UVU rose to his up coming here rather than from f village Jewelers enjoy village life The Time Has Come Condo Amenities *Year Round Heated Pool *Modern Architecture *Private Key Locked Bedrooms *Washer/Dryer in Each Unit *42"HD flat Screen TV *Leather Couches *Granit Countertops *Central air Conditioning *9 foot Ceilings *Knotty Alder cabinets *Tile Porcelain Floors Fifty-three years ago, we opened our doors to offer our magnificent lines of jewelry in downtown Provo. Since then we have helped countless couples with engagement ring sets, precision watches, Lladr6 porcelain and other fine, quality jewelry. Now as a result of insurmountable health problems, it is time for us to close our doors.. As a thank you to the UVU community for your many years of patronage, we invite you to come in and take advantage of our total closeout. From our collection of more than i.ooo engagement rings to one-of-akind custom rings designed for you by our Master Jeweler, we're confident you will find something you can not live without. We will always offer the best, so come in and take this opportunity to buy the best for less. Thank you, Dick andJoAnn Losee We buy gold, silver and platinum. Ibis may help you reach your presentjewelry dreams. Now accepting all Students 1378 N Freedom Blvd Provo, Utah 84604 www.myalpinevillage.com 801-623-6093 MAKING A DIFFERENCE ONE CALL AT A TIME. APX Alarm Inside Sales is now hiring highly-motivated, goal-oriented individuals. • Protect families £ * LOSEE ,, 7 • Great pay J • Health benefits , ,•' • Great incentives Jewelers Only in COTTONTREE SQUARE 2,230 N University Parkway in Provo • Building $ Monday-Saturday 10 AM'-6:3b PM • Friday 10 AM-8 PM 801 $73-1000 • For additional extended hours, call for an appointment ESTABLISHED 1956 \ nions HOLLAND his appointment, a board Christiansen, another finalmember of the National Or- ist for the UVU presidency, ganization for Marriage, an has more than 30 years of anti-gay marriage group. education experience; similarly, Obama spent only ing his recent claims that four years in the US Senthe "Jews in Washington" It will be interate, and Holland has been keep him away from the esting to see a consultant and a chairman President (which reminded how President of the American Heritage me of the brilliant TV FunHolland helps Faculty Group at BYU, but house SNL cartoon where never anything on the level facilitate (or Obama keeps sending the of university president. eager Jesse Jackson and Al • hinder) growth 1 guess I don't really of that identity Sharpton on "secret mishave an argument either as an individual, sions" to the North Pole and for or against Holland; I the Sahara in order to keep unique univerhave no strong feelings them from campaigning for sity. about his appointment, in him) — came to light. One the same way that I didn't of the biggest criticisms of Obama's critics main- have any strong feelings for Holland is that he is a memtained that he didn't have or against Obama's elecber of the Church of Jesus sufficient experience for the tion (except that anything Christ of Latter-day Saints, pressures of the presidency. we can do to keep Sarah and his father, Jeffrey R. Whether or not that is a valid Palin away from The Big Holland, is a current apostle criticism even Newt Gin- Red Button' is good by in the church, as well as the former president of BYU. grich said that "Abraham me). I have my criticisms The LDS Church itself has Lincoln served two years in of Obama, but I think he's come under substantial the U.S. House, and seemed doing afineenough job givcriticism over the years, to do all right" - similar ar- en the circumstances, and I most recently with its vocal guments have been made feel that at least he's trysupport and advocacy for about Holland. Sen. John ing to improve the nation's Proposition 8, California's McCain, Obama's chief ri- overall direction. As UVU anti-gay marriage initiative. val, has served in the Senate continues to evolve in these Holland himself was, until since 1987, and Dr. Jack R. crucial, formative years, it will be interesting to see how Pres. Holland helps facilitate (or hinder) the Letters to the editor requirements growth of that identity as an individual, unique univeruvu.review.opinions@gtnail.com sity. Our school has long been percieved as BYU's redheaded stepchild, the school where the alcohol• Letters must be turned in on Wednesday by ics go when they can't get noon in order to be printed in the next edition. into BYU (or after they get • We make no guarantee that letters will be kicked out). But most of us printed. didn't "settle" for UVU, • Letters 300 words or less have a greater chance and most of us aren't here just because we want to be of being published - anything longer will be able to have beards and enedited for content. joy a fine single malt. • Please provide an electronic copy regardless of Obama and Holland whether or not you wish to submit a hard copy. are two educated, accom• All letters become the property of UVU Review plished, and apparently as soon as they are submitted. decent men who may not have the same amount of direct experience as their now-defeated opponents did, but our country gave Obama the benefit of the doubt for now, and perhaps 53 YEARS OF FALLING IN LOVE we should allow Holland the same. £-*&.> LOSEE '•*•'-\ jation caljtfylark transplanting to Salt Lake or Logan. And UVU, or at least its students, has certainly irked a number of people in the community, perhaps simply by existing as it does, as was evinced by the situation a few years back with Michael Moore, among other perhaps less public instances. There are plenty more reasons, in addition to these, for the community to want a change in the V's way of doing things in Utah Valley which hasn't always coincided with the community and/or the Y's way. So it seems impossible to deny that Mr. Holland's appointment was at least in part the result of his position and connections within this community. Surely the apparently nationwide search for a new president turned up a number of credentialed and charismatic candidates, none of whom were ultimately selected. That speaks volumes. Both of the other finalists, Jack R. Christiansen, currently the Executive Director of the V's Center for Engaged Learning, and Kim S. Cameron, a long time scholar and student of administration and a dean several times over, have far more experience in demanding leadership positions and in executive capacities than our new president. In addition, of the some forty initial candidates, we know nothing other than that they came from around the country. Were all of them also LDS, like the finalists? Did most of them have ties to BYU, like the finalists? Were they perhaps extremely qualified, but were simply not, shall we say, as politically equipped as Pres. Holland? Did they all have the same extreme political views? These are important questions that require the Board of Regents to speak, as the HeraTcFlias astutely pointed out. Of course, I'm-not-making predictions here. I am only pointing out what is on the minds of a great many people and which constitute real and strong concerns. It is possible that things will work out great, and these concerns, while merited, are simply not borne out because Pres. Holland is firmly committed to divorcing his administration from the rest of himself. But of course, the opposite path is possible as well. His position in the community is not just cause for concern - it is pragmatic. His unique position will undoubtedly be beneficial for the important endeavor to raise funds in the poor economic climate (on this, Pres. Holland has hit the ground running it seems), and in any number of situations that require the president to, as former Interim President Hitch put it, meet, greet, and eat. These situations that are vital will be made that much easier, which is positive to be sure, and as such it was expected that the appointee would likely reflect the community in Utah Valley to a large degree. What wasn't expected is the choice of such a newbie with a complicated set of loyalties, relationships, and politics that may not reflect the institution, or the requirements of an open society, even if they do the community. But schmoozing for funds is not the only, or even the most important thing, a university is about. Let's be honest and admit that there are both good reasons and serious concerns involved in this appointment, and not let Pres. Holland's personality outshine how he came to be and where he may be taking us. Only time will tell, and going in blinded by his light won't make evaluating his appointment any easier. |