Editor:

I am writing in response to Jay Richards’ column, “Big issues need grassroots control,” June 29.

The answer to Richards’ question-why are the opinions of these people more important than what students at the U want?-is simple. The U is a publicly funded state institution and as such should have policies that reflect the will of the people, or owners, as a whole, not just a small subset of “patrons.”

This isn’t to say students shouldn’t be heard on issues that affect the university, but the university is ultimately subject to the laws of the state of Utah.

Think of it like this, Richards: You wouldn’t think that a group of Lagoon patrons could decide they want to change the hours of operation and actually think they have the authority to do so. It’s reasonable that they make suggestions, but it’s ultimately up to the owners of Lagoon to discuss and set appropriate policy.

I’m not quite sure what kind of patriotic feelings Richards was going for with his closing line, “It’s the American way,” but surely the true American way would be to follow the wisdom and forethought of our nation’s founding fathers who made explicit declarations on the purpose of civilian firearm ownership instead of ambiguous and poorly defined rulings about “academic freedom.”

Of academic freedom, J. Peter Bryne says it best-“Lacking definition or guiding principle, the doctrine floats in law, picking up decisions as a hull does barnacles.”

John Picket

Staff