Most welcome VP

Despite the widespread controversy stirred by Vice President Dick Cheney speaking at Brigham Young University’s graduation commencement, few protestors were seen on campus on Thursday – the largest demonstration occurring at Utah Valley State College where a group of BYU students held a separate commencement.

The so-called “alternative commencement” was organized by 25 students to show disapproval of Cheney’s involvement in the graduation ceremony. Speakers included Pete Ashdown and Ralph Nader.

The invitation extended to Cheney to speak at BYU angered people because many believe his policies and actions do not align with the values represented by the school and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Students and professors have spoken out against his coming since it was announced in March.

Wanting to provide a larger forum for protest, students began planning the separate ceremony 10 days ago. They also wanted to offer something other than the status quo to this year’s graduates.

Ashley Sanders, a 2007 BYU graduate who helped organize the ceremony, said, “I want people to have the chance to speak. My school and my country do not allow enough of this and they hurt themselves for it.”

The organizers said they wanted to show the school and church that there are other options than simply following what is placed before you.

One organizer said, “We are at a red school in a red county in a red state but there are alternatives. They are not better or worse necessarily but they are different.”

Nader said the passion and authenticity of the student organizers was obvious and commendable.

“The moral example the students are displaying that brings us together is perhaps to make clear in the future the gravity of dissent and the greatness of dissent,” he said.

Eric Bybee, who graduated Thursday, also helped to arrange the event. He said they attempted to schedule the ceremony at 24 different places. Only UVSC would allow them to gather there, Bybee said.

BYU spokesman Carri Jenkins said they would not approve the ceremony because they have only one commencement. However, she said she understood the students’ motives in having protests.

Jenkins said, “With any issue, there is always a multitude of opinions and this is no different. We do recognize that members of our campus are entitled to their own opinions. We understand.”

She also said the school was not trying to make any sort of political statement. They simply wanted to give people the opportunity to hear from the vice president.

“This is not a political endorsement,” Jenkins said. “It is only an opportunity for graduates and their guests to hear from the Vice President of the United States.”

More than 50 graduates participated in the alternative ceremonies.

Speaking to a crowd of more than 22,000, the vice president advised the 6,000 graduating students of the future that lay ahead. He spoke of personal experiences that unexpectedly changed his life – being kicked out of Yale twice, becoming actively involved in the government and then being asked to be George W. Bush’s running mate in 2000. Cheney warned students of choices that will change their lives forever.

“Many of you are leaving BYU with a few plans of your own. I would guess that 10 years from now many of you will find that you are following a different course because of opportunities coming out of the blue,” Cheney said. “The choice belongs to you alone.”

He also told students that America was still the country of second chances and that most would end up needing one.

Cheney received an honorary doctorate from BYU for public service at Thursday’s ceremony. He said it was a privilege to participate in the ceremony and was proud to leave as a member of the class of 2007.

Speaking at the alternative commencement to hundreds of people, Nader attacked Cheney’s and the Bush administration directly.

“It is amazing the double standards politicians live by. The White House is out of control,” Nader said. “We have got to take the government very personally. They are acting in out name and we are entitled to state taking it seriously and personally.”

He told graduates to go forward with a moral thirst for peace and justice.

-ariek@cc.usu.edu