An opinion is expressed. Three times a week, the words of community members fill the pages of the Daily Universe. Treasured may be too strong, but warranted and needed certainly are valid.

Our community consists of three classes - faculty, staff and administration. Each section is respected for their positions in making certain the BYU community functions properly. When there are concerns from any of these sections, opinions are formed and expressed.

Individuals pore over the pages in The Daily Universe, aligning or taking a juxtaposed position as members of this the BYU community.

Community journalism, of which this department professes to practice, involves a discussion on why a story is deemed newsworthy. It strives to bring out the opinions of those members of the community who are affected, but not normally those who are the opinion makers. Opinions are those moments when standing for something is imperative to that person's moral judgment.

This past week, it was reported that a BYUSA staff member had been terminated, in part, due to his participation in this form of free expression.

We stand up for his right to speak his opinion. While the topic - BYUSA -- is a controversial and "touchy" subject on the part of the administration, this member of our community has a right to speak out without consequence. We, too, have spoken out on the subject of the BYUSA presidency and council. We, too, have been challenged for our opinions.

We, the members of The Universe's editorial board, are first to admit that we, too, have room for improvement. Our errors and foibles are displayed daily, and we are subjected to scrutiny of the faculty, staff and administration.

But there is no shame another department on this campus should face the same scrutiny, and that that scrutiny should not result in the firing of a "whistle-blower" or someone with an alternate opinion.

We understand other factors are involved in the dismissal. Our concern is that the firing was too close to the publication of his letter and this action may carry a dampening effect on the decision of others to speak out. The university's position was this BYUSA employee "was not terminated solely because of the letter, but that the letter was taken into consideration." When free speech is held back because of repercussion, or implied repercussion, there is no free speech.



Copyright Brigham Young University 27 Mar 2006