PLEASE ACCEPT THIS AS A TRIMMED DRAFT OF THE PREVIOUS LETTER I SENT. THANKS!:
Editor,
The Daily Utah Chronicle poll question that is running this week online, “Should the U continue its fight to keep guns off campus?” lacks the essential focus necessary to capture the most salient sentiments of those who believe the U should abandon its fight against Utah state law (that is, the U’s fight to keep concealed carry permits off campus). The poll is such a blatant means of misrepresenting student opinion that it makes me wonder if it was intentionally placed. The only choices for those opposed to the gun battle to represent their view are, 1) “No. It’s a pointless battle. The U should give up.” and, 2) “No. Even though it’s good to keep guns off campus, the U can’t succeed.” I believe I have followed the concealed carry debate intently and not once have I heard someone in opposition to the U’s policy focus centrally on the utility of the U’s fight! How convenient to forget about the constitutional arguments that might actually proficiently capture real student opinion. Instead, the Chronicle focuses on the less incendiary, less constructive, relatively insignificant issue of the utility of the U’s row with the state–preposterous! It would be nice to see the chronicle, and ASUU while we’re at it (e.g., their providing a petition against SB 108 when they are supposed to represent ALL students, whether they are against or for), actually try to represent the REAL points at issue.
Brandon DickersonSenior, Political Science