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Summarized by Kent Larsen
Is Julie In Trouble, Or Is BYU?
(MTV Mormon In 'Real Bind')
New York Post 15Jun00 S2
By Don Kaplan
PROVO, UTAH -- News articles on the controversy over whether a BYU
student named Julie, who joined the cast of the MTV show "The Real
World," should be allowed to return to the school in the Fall continue to hit
national newspapers and Internet websites.
Writing in the New York Post, Don Kaplan says that Julie is actually
"on the verge of getting tossed out of Brigham Young University because of
the show's co-ed living arrangement." While BYU has not announced a
decision in the case, Kaplan claims that BYU has cited Julie with violating the
school's honor code. Kaplan says, " The ultra-conservative school says
that by living under the same roof with four men Julie is breaking the university's
rules against cohabitation."
The first episode of "The Real World" shows Julie
participating in several acts, such as sleeping in the same room with male cast members, that
are strictly against the BYU honor code. "I definitely was naive in
some ways," Julie recently told The Post. "I think I'm a very different
person walking out of this than I was walking into it."
Kaplan acknowledges that BYU hasn't yet made a decision about Julie,
and notes that the decision could have negative consequences for BYU,
"If she is tossed out, the school could face a wave of negative publicity. If
they allow Julie to return to her classes this fall, other students may
protest that the school was overlooking conduct that would have gotten her
expelled had it not happened on a national TV show."
The online entertainment website Zap2it agrees, saying that the
decision puts BYU in a tough place. "If the school allows Julie to
return to her classes this fall, other students may protest. If they kick her out,
the school may be hit with an onslaught of negative publicity."
But BYU's student news organization, NewsNet, also weighed in on
Monday with its own view of the issue, saying that Julie must have known that
being on "The Real World" violated the school's honor code. Noting
that NewsNet saw this controversy coming in an editorial when MTV came to Provo to
audition, the official opinion says that Julie is representing the University
and the LDS Church, regardless of what she wants to represent.
NewsNet assumes that Julie somehow doesn't want to face the heat for
her involvement, "It is time for [Julie] to take responsibility for
her actions. She broke the Honor Code. . . . [She] cannot claim
ignorance. She knew what she was getting into when she agreed to join the cast. It's a
national cable television show open for thousands of people to see."
NewsNet says that Julie should suffer the consequences of violating the honor
code.
However, Julie told the Salt Lake Tribune on Saturday that she had no
regrets for appearing on the show, even if BYU doesn't allow her to
return. "I can't think of anything I did down there that would cause me
embarrassment or regret," she told the Tribune.
And, she even told US Weekly that she suspected she would be in
trouble with BYU, "BYU is an awesome school. But what New Orleans did was
ground me more solidly in what I believe. I will divorce beliefs that are not mine -
things like cursing or not drinking caffeine. I don't think God cares if I
drink a Mountain Dew."
See also:
'Real World' Member Get Kicked Out Of School
Zap2it.com 14Jun00 P2
Not an ignorant participant: NewsNet's official opinion on Stoffer
BYU NewsNet 13Jun00 O2
No Regrets For Student On MTV
Salt Lake Tribune 11Jun00 P2
By Kirsten Stewart: Salt Lake Tribune
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