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Show A4 The Salt Lake Tribu: Student’s Suit STARTS FRIDAY AT 10 A.M. Accuses U. of Religious Bias @ Continued from A-1 dimitted to the program under nditions. receiving an acceptance April 1998, Axson-Flynn meant she wouldn't ave to swear in plays Axson-Flynnbelieved at the beginning of alifelong follow in the footsteps of ors Jane and hael But conflicts beween her religious objections to ity and the program's cur iculum arose almost immediately 1e first monologueshe per <i in Se; pecomer 1998, Axson Flynn omitted two words she ound offensive. jonthlater she was asked to form a scene that contained age shefoundinappropriate The undergraduate student asked Barbara Smith, an adjunct profes. or, if she could substitute other words oract in another scene. ‘Get Over’ Inhibition: Accord: ng to the lawsuit, Smith told her ‘get over” her inhibition and tid Axson-Flynn could use proanity and “still be a good Mor- non.” Axson-Flynn was informed hat if she refused to perform the cene as scripted she would not ‘ive credit for the assignment After Axson-Flynn said she ould opt for no credit, Smith sted she spend the weekend hinking over herdecision. Smith WINTER CLEARANCE SALE iter told the student she could ‘liminate the offensive language ind get credit for the work, which \xson-Flynndid. But at a December1998 review session with faculty members, \xson-Flynn was told she would 10 longer be given “an allowance on language” and would have to change her views” and“modify according to the law- claims she was given until the end ofthe academic year to comply or leave the program. \xson-Flynncomplained about the edict to Xan Johnson, thende: partment chairman. According to the lawsuit, Johnson took no ction Johnson said Thursday he had no recollection of the incident. That same month, Axson-Flynn claims, she was ed to meet with other Mormon womenin the gram who didn’t have a problem swearingin pl: In January, Ax: on-k lynn met with Sandy Shotwell, associate professor, and was advised again 25‘orF oe she would have to leave the program if she refused to use profanity. Axson-Flynnsaid she would withdraw Shotwell, according to the lawsuit. then required Axson-Flynn to meet with her classmates and publicly explain her decision. She ld classmate: ie could live TAKE AN EXTRA with herself ifshe never became a great actress, but she could not live w mh herself she violated lynn subsequently ape auto the university. It was very difficult because ng and she went to develop limate aid. “The was such she was iruimmed out of the programbe 1use they would not allow herto ive by her religious beliefs.” Defendants listed in the case ¢ Johnson; Shotwell; Smith: Sa ‘ah Shippobotham, avisiting as ociate pro ; and Jerry Gardner, an assistantprofessor. Problems With Profanity: The university's theater program has ‘aaced other complaints aboutpro: inity in its plays. In 1994, The Church of Jesus Christ ofLatterday Saints threatened.to with- THE ALREADY REDUCED PRICES THIS BRINGS YOU A TOTAL SAVINGS OF 40%-60% OFF JHE ORIGINAL PRICES! iraw a $15,000 grant fromPioneer Memorial Theatre becauseoffoul language in productions. McConkie, who has represented ther Utahns in high-profile civil rights cases, told The Salt Lake Vribune that requiring Axson Flynn to use profanity was akin to telling a Jewish person taking a cooking course that he or she would have to eat pork preparedin the class to remainin the program. A state agency doesn’t have the right to try and force a person to not live their religion,” McConkiesaid. The lawsuit cites a Jan. 9 stor SAVE IN WOMEN’S, MEN’S, JUNIORS, CHILDREN’S, INTIMATE APPAREL AND ACCESSORY DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT OUR STORES /(M in The Tribuneaboutperceptions of anti-Mormonismat the U., which university President Bernie Machenhas characterized s “folklore.” The suit says “Ma chen’s refusal to recognize the problemlegitimizes and encour. ages the kind of behavior which has resulted in an infringement” of Axson-Flynn’s rights. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages as set by the court and reimbursement of attorney and court fe As important, McConkiesaid, is the hope the lawsuit will help “eliminate the discrimination that takes place at the school and ultimately create a better climate between Mormons and non Mormonsat the university.” x hv SHOP ALL STORES MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY 10 A.M.-9 P.M. (EXCEPT SALT Lake Downrown ano ZCMI Il-FooTHiLt; SATURDAY 10 A.M.-7 P.M, AND St, GeoRGe Downtown: MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY 10 A.M.-6 P.M ), CLosep Sunoay. ORDERBY PHONE: IN SALT Lake, 579-6666 ELSEWHERE IN UTAH ANO IN THE U.S, 1-800+759-6666 4 w |
