Dear Editor,
Do I have a big sticker on my forehead that says, 'I'm not as good as you'? It sure seems like it. The minute people find out I have an associates degree from Utah Valley State College, the gavel drops and my education is labeled 'less than stellar.'
I get this from people on campus a lot. We'll be talking about grades and after I mention that my GPA is pretty high, they are quick to point out that I took my general education courses at UVSC, not BYU. It must be a cakewalk down there at UVSC.
Do people honestly believe that UVSC just hands out degrees without forcing students to do any work? I took courses such as biology and American Heritage that forced me to spend nights in the library or at study groups. Oh yes, UVSC students do participate in study groups, heard to believe, I know.
Students that transfer from Ricks, oh sorry, BYU-Idaho don't receive the same scrutiny as UVSC students. Why? Is it because they are now one of us? Because they bear the sacred name of Brigham Young University? Maybe UVSC should change its name to BYU-Orem.
Most of the students at UVSC attend BYU wards, live in BYU housing and eventually transfer to BYU. President Hinckley himself says we all need to get along so why don't we.
I think I'm going to remove the sticker form my forehead. You are not better than I am. We just took different routes to get to our final destination: BYU.
Can't we all just get along?
Leigh Dethman
Portland, Oreg.