By Stephanie Sonntag
BYU Student Leadership Coordinator Todd Hendricks has been fired after writing a letter to the editor criticizing BYUSA student elections.
After the letter ran in the March 10, 2006 issue of The Daily Universe, Hendricks said he was called into the office of the dean of student life, Vernon Heperi.
?I was told that it [the letter] was a very disloyal act and that they would not be able to trust my judgment ever again,? Hendricks said.
Heperi declined to comment, though a university spokeswoman said there were other factors leading to Hendricks? dismissal.
Hendricks said he wanted to encourage campus dialogue through a medium that had the largest amount of student readers and that his supervisor?s reaction had surprised him. On March 17, 2006, at 9 a.m., Hendricks was told he would be terminated and receive a settlement.
The settlement included one month?s salary and insurance until June and allowed Hendrick?s termination to appear as a mutual resignation. In exchange for these considerations, Hendricks would agree not to tell his story to anyone except close family members, to submit all the names of the people he had talked to about the elections and type a retraction letter.
Though Hendricks had concerns about his wife and providing for his family, the couple decided it would be best not to sign the settlement agreement.
?We felt that not being able to talk about the process wouldn?t help in the long run,? Hendricks said. ?This was something we felt we couldn?t put a price on.?
Under routine circumstances, the university withholds comment concerning employee terminations. But because Hendricks spoke out, the university responded.
?He was not terminated solely because of the letter,? said Carri Jenkins, university spokeswoman. ?The letter was taken into consideration, but there were certainly other issues involved.?
Hendricks said he is unsure what those other issues are.
?The reason I was told I was terminated was because of my letter to the editor and because I wasn?t happy at my job,? Hendricks said.
At BYU each employee has an annual personal development plan where employers are able to raise any concerns. Hendricks said the development plans indicated he was meeting expectations. Also, if employees are in jeopardy of termination they are to receive a verbal and then a written warning. Hendricks said he never received either.
The letter to the editor initially addressed Hendrick?s concerns about the disqualification of candidates.
?Each year, a full-time employee takes a turn rewriting election regulations, then appoints a student to chair the elections committee that will ensure candidates? compliance,? the letter read.
The letter concluded that special interests often cloud judgment and determine the BYUSA president.
Hendricks said he wrote the letter to improve the campaign through creation of a more transparent election committee not associated with BYUSA.
?I would say in an effort to improve we needed dialogue,? Hendricks said.
Hendricks is in the executive MBA program at BYU and lives in Spanish Fork with his wife and their two children. His wife, Hilary, is pregnant with their third child, which is due in June 2006.
Hendricks said none of his colleagues are vindictive and generally do the very best they can, but they aren?t open to criticism.
?I would say from my own experience, criticism isn?t welcome,? Hendricks said.
Hendricks is also still a BYU fan.
?I am a true Cougar,? Hendricks said. ?We will use this situation as an opportunity for transformation.?
