In an article on Page B3 of the Oct. 31 issue of the Deseret News, Edward L. Carter makes the assertion, "A large group of students assembled . . . to protest the museum's decision not to show" four pieces of statuary by Rodin. With the article was a photo of the "large group." With the aid of magnifying glass I counted, as best I could, the heads in the "large crowd," 76 of them. With an enrollment of 27,000, I think a protest by 76 is scarcely worthy of attention. Certainly it would not qualify as a "large group," more a smattering; and this 76 includes, I am sure, some there just out of curiosity and also some, like Steve Stemps, protesting the protesters.
Carter makes the unsupported statement that "most students disagreed with the decision . . . not to show four of the 56 works." Where did Carter find grounds for making such a statement? How many students did he interview? It is extremely poor journalism to make such an assertion without pooling at least a representative group. I cannot believe that more than a tiny percentage of the students would go contrary to the decision of the school administration, particularly when presided over by one of the general authorities of the church.The Y. is a church-owned private institution. It is entitled to set whatever standards it deems proper. No one is compelled to accept those standards, but if they find them too restrictive then such students should seek their education elsewhere.
Perris S. Jensen
Salt Lake City