BYU-I and BYU-H out of consideration

[S.A.M.]

http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/74855/ encourages a BYU-I reader to apply. Four days later, http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/74887/ another BYU-I reader is turned away. I completely get the logic of http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/74830/ by students for students, but what's behind dropping BYU-I and BYU-H students from consideration?

[Tally M.]

We were in the middle of making a decision when the first question posted. The second question came after the final decision had been made.

It's the same reason for keeping writers as current students--more or less

[vorpal blade]

I think it is fine if the editors wish to preserve The 100 Hour Board as it is. After all, why mess with something that works. The 100 Hour Board is wonderful just the way it is.

I don't exactly agree with the idea that "what makes the Board special is that it is, ultimately, by BYU students for BYU students." I think that part of the reason it is special is that it is associated with BYU, and many of us have fond memories of BYU. I'm not convinced that most of the readers are in fact current BYU students. But if the writers choose to address their answers with this audience in mind then who am I to complain? It seems to be working.

I understand the desire for a cohesive community of writers. One of the things I really like about the Board is that the writers generally come from a perspective of active, educated Latter-day Saints. Another thing I like is the lively, witty, entertaining nature of the answers. That's an argument in favor of a somewhat younger group of writers. And the feeling that the writers belong to some kind of an exclusive club with insider knowledge, loyality to one another, and the power of unity is rather charming.

So, I'm more or less content to let The Board decide for themselves what is best for them.

Just wanted to clarify my thoughts by writing them out.

[S.A.M.]

Have there even ever been any board writers who were students at BYU-I or BYU-H while they were actively writing? I don't remember any.

[Tally M.]

I think there was one at one point...

[yayfulness]

I was one of the main participants in the debate, so I suppose I should probably explain my reasoning.

The Board, at its core, is a fundamentally BYU entity. It was founded by and for BYU students. It is run on BYU webspace. One of our major long-term goals is to become an official BYU club. This has nothing to do with any assumption that BYU students are inherently better at anything. I agree, we could provide a MUCH better service if we opened applications up to the general public. However, doing so would be a major step towards the Board's divorce from BYU, and away from a more permanent union. Perhaps some people would see that as desirable, but the consensus among writers and editors is that we want to move towards being an official BYU club.

When determining who can and cannot be a writer, it is necessary that we draw a line in the sand somewhere. Currently, the rule is that you must be a current BYU student to apply. However, writers who graduate, transfer, or otherwise leave BYU are grandfathered in and not compelled to retire. Is that a perfect system? Absolutely not. However, I think it is the fairest one possible given our goals. It is hard to justify, for instance, allowing BYU-I students to apply but not BYU alumni or members of the Provo community. One of my main reasons for defending the line where it is is because it is justifiable. Agree or disagree, you have to at least admit that it makes logical sense from our perspective. Extending it to one group of non-BYU students while not extending it to another would be much harder to justify.

I hope all of this makes sense.

[Dragon Lady]

We did at least have one BYU-Idaho student. And we've had BYU alumni (like Humble Master). We've had UVU students. We've had non-BYU students in the Utah area. But the great thing about the Board is that it's fluid. It changes with the needs of the current writers, editors, readers, etc. The Board has a different personality at any given point in time. But in general, the rule has always been BYU students only. Exceptions have been granted either because of exceptional writing, or a person filled a specific need that the Board was lacking. Or sometimes because a person was writing a ton of answers anyway, just via an active writer who often asked the non-writer for sources. But they're always that... exceptions.

[Imogen]

I don't understand. I guess BYU is different from the UT and Texas A&M system in this way. Although you may not be on the main campus, you are still considered a UT or A&M student, and receive the benefits of such. Sure you couldn't join UT-Austin's LARP club if you're at UTEP since UTEP is in El Paso, but for the purposes of online type things, it doesn't matter which campus you're on. Is it because they're in totally different states?

[yayfulness]

As I understand it, BYU, BYU-I, and BYU-H each have separate and autonomous administrations, but all are under the umbrella of the Church Education System. BYU students can't access sites requiring BYU-I accounts and vice versa; admissions decisions are made independently; rules and regulations are not uniform.

[Portia]

The Board has a different personality at any given point in time.

Ain't that the truth!

[Portia]

One of our major long-term goals is to become an official BYU club ... the consensus among writers and editors is that we want to move towards being an official BYU club.

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.

You're what, 22? So I suppose you were but a wee bairn and barely old enough to get your license during the Great BYUSA debacle.

I see the Board as something of a last bastion of First Amendment Rights among the BYU community, and coming under the official aegis of the university would threaten the writers' ability to speak freely. Look what happened to the debate team. (Axed.) Look what happened to the Trivia Bowl. (Produced Ken Jennings. Now dead.) Look what happened to Todd Hendricks. You yourself seem to have a pretty open attitude towards issues of mental health, sexuality, and most importantly, faith crises that just would not fly if the Board becomes an official club.

I don't read the Board expecting some kind of Mountain West-flavored Dan Savage, but this strikes me as a short-sighted goal and a self-defeating one. I don't recall who hosts your servers now as my mother was dying when all that went down, but it has to beat "BYUSSR."

Welcome to the sanitized, BYUSA-approved Board 3.0! (Heaven help me.)

[Giovanni Schwartz]

mien

Interesting side note: This word means, approximately, face or appearance. In Chinese, the character 面 is pronounced mee-en (quickly, as close to one syllable as possible). Which also means face or appearance. Now, while I doubt that the English comes from the Chinese, and am positive this Chinese doesn't come from English, I still think that this is an interesting aspect of both languages.

[yayfulness]

One of our major long-term goals is to become an official BYU club ... the consensus among writers and editors is that we want to move towards being an official BYU club.

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.

You're what, 22? So I suppose you were but a wee bairn and barely old enough to get your license during the Great BYUSA debacle.

I see the Board as something of a last bastion of First Amendment Rights among the BYU community, and coming under the official aegis of the university would threaten the writers' ability to speak freely. Look what happened to the debate team. (Axed.) Look what happened to the Trivia Bowl. (Produced Ken Jennings. Now dead.) Look what happened to Todd Hendricks. You yourself seem to have a pretty open attitude towards issues of mental health, sexuality, and most importantly, faith crises that just would not fly if the Board becomes an official club.

I don't read the Board expecting some kind of Mountain West-flavored Dan Savage, but this strikes me as a short-sighted goal and a self-defeating one. I don't recall who hosts your servers now as my mother was dying when all that went down, but it has to beat "BYUSSR."

Welcome to the sanitized, BYUSA-approved Board 3.0! (Heaven help me.)

That is a very good point and I shall take it into consideration.

[Katya]

One of our major long-term goals is to become an official BYU club ... the consensus among writers and editors is that we want to move towards being an official BYU club.

Wait—would that make you a subsidiary of BYUSA? That is a terrible, terrible, terrible idea. The Board almost died as a result of BYUSA and we spent a huge amount of effort getting free of them. Ask anyone who was around at that time if it's a good idea for the Board to be back under BYUSA's thumb.

[Portia]

One of our major long-term goals is to become an official BYU club ... the consensus among writers and editors is that we want to move towards being an official BYU club.

Wait—would that make you a subsidiary of BYUSA? That is a terrible, terrible, terrible idea. The Board almost died as a result of BYUSA and we spent a huge amount of effort getting free of them. Ask anyone who was around at that time if it's a good idea for the Board to be back under BYUSA's thumb.

Bow to your sensei, noobs!