The fact that church officials are annually meeting directly with lawmakers puts the LDS Church's so-called "political neutrality" in question. There is nowhere else in the country where an annual powwow between lawmakers and a church body takes place, and these meetings seem to have more in common with an Iranian theocracy than a U.S. government that emphasizes church-state separation.

Smoking should be a no-brainer decision, particularly when a child with developing lungs is present. But the government shouldn't be responsible for policing citizens' behavior around their children. They should be able to police themselves.

The only reason I defend 24 Hour Fitness is because I'm a complete and utter fitness guru and I picked my gym wisely based on their membership perks. Gold's Gym, on the other hand, I can't speak much for. I've heard awful things.

I would like to propose that a small section of the Utah State Capitol grounds and a similar area on the grounds of the Salt Lake City-County Building be set aside as a memorial to Harvey Milk (1930-1978, the assassinated first openly gay person to hold public office in California).

On behalf of the LIFE club, I would like to make a statement concerning H.B. 222. To deny an unborn child the right to life is unacceptable, but to deny an unborn child simple anesthesia or analgesics while unjustly taking its life is just coldhearted.

No matter how much we enjoy the film "Animal House," few of us would want to deal with toga parties in our own neighborhoods or Bluto and Flounder urinating and vomiting on the front porch. It would just be easier to sympathize with the residents if they were better neighbors themselves. On the other hand, the residents need to understand that living next to a university is different from living elsewhere.

As a member of the Honors College Social Justice Scholars, I represent our group in saying that we fervently oppose House Bill 64, Deterring Illegal Immigration, for two main and closely related reasons: ambiguity and inefficiency.

H.B. 122 would serve only the interest of the government by allowing it to be easier to cover up the trail of corruption. Do not allow the Legislature to chain down the watchdog of government offices and officials. Tell you representative how you feel about H.B. 122.

It is time to demonstrate some tough love for businesses that put profit before safety. I often hear the argument that regulation strangles America's competitive edge. Is that really the only thing that we would have to strangle to keep peanut butter safe? OK, sounds good to me.

The U offers free membership to students at the Field House, and though the amenities might not be the same you might find in many other fitness clubs and the hours might not be as convenient, it's not likely to come packaged with too much small print. The last thing students need is another set of inescapable payment obligations.