By Bill Brady
Whoever has the impression that decisions made by BYUSA go unnoticed needs to check out my e-mail inbox. I have been somewhat swamped over the past couple of weeks with letters from concerned students who have spoken out against a decision made by our Student Advisory Council to drop a long-running program called the 100-Hour Board.
I will take this opportunity to explain publicly the rationale behind that decision and some of my thoughts on the decision since it was made.
To begin with some background, the 100-Hour Board began nearly 10 years ago as a program of SAC, designed as a forum for students to ask questions pertaining to university issues and receive a posted response within 100 hours.
The concept is fantastic, but over the years the program developed into something other than what its creators intended. Serious issue-based inquiries were replaced by creative, whimsical, and sometimes hilarious questions.
A sub-culture grew; students over the years have looked to the 100-Hour Board to smile and to chuckle rather than provide a voice to BYU administrators.
I, myself, have in fact been a curious fan of the board- Its zaney questions and comical responses (last year someone even asked The Board a question about me!). BYUSA's SAC, however, hasn't seen it the same way.
This spring SAC began a comprehensive review of all its programs, scrutinizing their effectiveness in furthering its mission, which is to gather, formulate, analyze and present student viewpoints.
Upon reviewing the 100-Hour Board, SAC leaders decided that it wasn't truly fulfilling that mission because it was no longer centered around gathering student opinions. In fact, some felt the comical nature of the board actually detracted from SAC's ability to present serious student input to the BYUSA presidency and university administrators.
Based on the true mission of the SAC, I agreed with the notion that the board no longer belonged under SAC's stewardship.
However, my personal feelings have echoed those expressed to me in numerous e-mails since the board came down. Though the 100-Hour Board doesn't necessarily collect student input that will ever end up on President Bateman's desk, it does provide BYU students with a diversion and an opportunity to enjoy a unique part of BYU culture.
SAC leaders have agreed that perhaps there is still a place for the public relations area, a branch of the association better suited to run it. While nothing is official and a few things remain to be reorganized, it looks as though the 100-Hour Board will return shortly to its hallowed wall in the basement of the WSC.
Granted, the anticipated return of the 100-Hour Board is not really a campus-changing event. Students won't graduate quicker or get better grades because it is here. They will, however, have something to look forward to as they walk through their student center.
Most importantly, this experience has been a great example of the importance of making one's voice heard. I want to thank those who took the time to share their feelings with us; doing so has made a difference.