By STEVE JENSE
In response to The Associated Press’ recent story concerning a BYU internal study revealing that BYU alumni are more religious than those not admitted to BYU, local high school honor students and parents expressed differing views.
Four honor students from Timpview High School in Orem, each of whom has had to decide between attending BYU and a variety of prestigious schools nationwide, disagreed on whether a more intense religious atmosphere at BYU was a key factor in their decision.
Timpview senior Darrin Jannis, planning to major in English and go to law school, said he chose BYU over Cornell, Columbia and other Ivy League schools because he is impressed with the atmosphere at BYU.
“As I sat down and thought about the pros and cons (of attending BYU),” he said, “I thought the atmosphere created at BYU — because of their affiliation with (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) — would be better for my learning.”
Jannis, who feels that the “social feeling” is just as important in deciding on a college as the actual education received, said he felt BYU would “strengthen me and help me become a better person.”
Timpview senior Andy Wilson, however, disagrees. Wilson spent time last summer at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and said he decided he wants to attend a school where his religion is different from the mainstream.
“I’d like to go to a college where my views are challenged so I can reaffirm them to myself,” Wilson said. “If I’m in the minority it’s so much easier for me to be better.”
Wilson said he would prefer not to attend BYU because of the dress code and the attitude of BYU students.
“I’ve seen that BYU students have somewhat of a `holier-than-thou,’ self-righteous attitude,” he said.
Another Timpview senior, Andrew Cannon, said he also has had to choose between BYU and other universities. He plans to attend BYU, at least for his first year, to assure that his roommates will have standards similar to his own.
“I have friends who have gone elsewhere for school,” he said, “and they end up with roommates who are less than ideal, to put it gently. And I’m really not interested in that. I’m interested in being with somebody who will help me be a better person rather than a challenge.”
Cannon’s mother, Ardyth, said she and her husband left Andrew’s college decision to him. They were not worried that Andrew’s going to another university would hinder his spirituality.
Staying active in the LDS Church is not always guaranteed by attending BYU, however. Ann Florence of Salt Lake City, said she stopped attending the LDS Church shortly after graduating from BYU in 1971, but later became active.
“I did not like BYU,” Florence said. “I didn’t like what it did to me, and so I haven’t been very positive about it all these years.”
Florence, who has a son attending Swarthmore College near Philadelphia, said she felt her son would also have a negative religious experience if he attended BYU. Florence said she realizes BYU may have changed since 1971, but she still is against the dress code, which is one reason why her son is at Swarthmore instead of BYU.
“My son had hair past his shoulders, and he was a perfectly fine Mormon, but there was no way they would even let him on campus in Provo.”
Timpview High honor student Brandon Salmon has no problem with the BYU campus. However, he will only attend BYU if he does not receive a scholarship offer from Stanford, which costs $20,000 to $30,000 per year.
Salmon lived outside Utah for 12 years in California and Virginia before coming to Orem, and wouldn’t mind going to college out-of-state because he has seen LDS Church members in other states form close relationships.
