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PROVO, Utah (AP) -- Brigham Young University students angered by the firing of a former school employee who wrote a critical letter to the editor staged a rare protest at the church-owned school.
With duct tape covering their mouths to symbolize what they feel is a lack of freedom of expression, about 60 students waved signs and protested policies at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints school on Friday.
"When free speech is held back because of repercussion or implied repercussion, there is no free speech," protest organizer Ashley Sanders said. "Our silence is meant to emphasize that BYU students are not allowed a legislative voice in our own student government."
Protesters on Brigham Square also held signs that read "Criticism is not disloyalty" and "BYUSSR -- We want a leader, not a tzar."
Former BYU student leadership coordinator Todd Hendricks was fired March 17, a week after the Daily Universe, BYU's student newspaper, published his letter that criticized the election process for the BYU Student Association, saying the committee was open to influence by school administrators.
Hendricks said he was fired because the letter was deemed a "disloyal act." BYU officials have said there were other issues in the firing.
The protest, which Sanders said had been turned down Thursday, received last-minute approval Friday afternoon. Students felt the approval was a public relations move in response to a story about the planned protest in Friday's Provo Daily Herald.
BYU spokesman Grant Madsen said administrators plan to meet with students to address the matter.
"BYU's administration is interested in students letting us know when they have concerns," spokesman Grant Madsen said. "We want to hear what students have to say. They need to give us a little more time to deal with it . . . to go through the proper process."
The protesting students were supported by at least one faculty member.
"We need to reinstate the credibility and power of our students to have a voice in BYU's present and future actions," said Warner Woodworth, a 30-year business professor.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
