BYUSSR

A frustrating event on campus made me decide to write a letter to the Readers' Forum of the Daily Universe. In real world (non-BYU) language, I wrote a 'letter to the editor' of BYU's student newspaper. As I voiced my opinions and concerns through writing,it became a little too...verbose for a quick letter to the editor. I have shortened one to send, but decided to post the long version on my blog.

I have decided that, before I send my article to the Daily Universe, I want to get the facts. So I called and made myself an appointment with the BYUSA president. People say lots of things, I and I want to make sure that I am getting legitimate information before I completely form my opinion, in addition to hearing their responses to my ideas.

And now, without further ado, my (extended) letter to the readers' forum:

As I finished climbing the steps to the bookstore’s third and final floor, a ‘free’ notebook was thrust into my hands by a fellow student. The notebook, approximately .5 inches thick, is a spiral-bound depiction of a Napoleon Dynamite-esque re-creation of MIKA’s ‘Life in Cartoon Motion’ album cover. I don’t hate the design, I’m just saying, it’s been done. One thing the design does superbly emphasize, as did the fellow who handed me the book, is one of our school’s many inescapable acronyms: BYUSA.

‘Finally!’ I thought, ‘BYUSA has considered my needs as a student, offered something I can use, and distributed it somewhere other than the freshman-ridden terrace.’ I was so ecstatic that I didn’t even get annoyed as the 6th person bumped into me while I was trying to quickly grab a packet in the religion textbook aisle.

Later that afternoon I seized the notebook from my bag and took a closer look. I’m not sure I’ve felt more patronized in my entire life. Let us analyze. Spiral? Sturdy. 3 Sections? Useful. Dividers? Brilliant. Space for important class information? Clever. Message from BYUSA officers? Sweet, but grammatically flawed. The advertisement on the opposing page? Icky. The advertisement on every other page? (drum roll please...) Patronizing. I wonder why BYUSA advertised for those specific companies. Certainly they don’t need an addition to their surely inflated budget.

I don’t have a problem with BYUSA officers. In fact, they are legitimately likeable people. I think they honestly that what they do has little effect on me. I’m sure as they buzz around that mysterious office on the 3rd floor of the wilk in all of their free T-shirt-ed glory they are having a great time and feeling fulfilled. If they want to keep doing that, it’s fine. I appreciate that they respect me as a free agent and don’t force me to attend way-too-loud concerts at noon in the terrace or play around in blue foam. Don’t buy my affection with an ad-ridden, sub-par (though recycled) school supply. Don’t use me, your target demographic, to gain funding and wrap it up as a gift to me.

I have a testimony that the leaders of our school today are just as inspired as Karl Maeser and others. Attending BYU is a blessing. I am happy here. I do wish, however, that the widows’ mites that go toward the funds for our University were better spent. If BYUSA is truly the Student Service Association, then stop trying to entertain me and pretending to serve me. Please donate the amount of money you received from selling my time spent (not everyone’s, just mine) viewing those advertisements to the Humanitarian Aid fund. Then I will be filled with a spirit of service.

Some friends and I plan to remove the advertisements (excluding front and back cover) and send our notebooks to ‘Paper4All,’ a charity that distributes school supplies in the poorest regions of Africa. If you want, we’ll send yours too. We live on the corner of 800 North and 580 East. There’s a box on the front porch, just throw it in.