Student starts think tank chapter at BYU

PROVO, Utah (AP) -- A local chapter of a progressive student think tank has gotten off the ground at Brigham Young University.

The Washington-based Roosevelt Institution is a nonprofit encouraging research on political issues.

Besides BYU, which is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and known for being straight-laced, the institution lists chapters at schools like Yale and Stanford as well as the University of Utah.

BYU club President Tanner Harmon says he was questioned several times by his faculty adviser about the history of the institution, which is nonpartisan.

Amy Steinhoff, the institution's western regional coordinator, says she was surprised to learn there was interest in starting a BYU chapter and that she didn't expect such commitment to a progressive organization to come from the school.

------

Information from: The Daily Herald

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Related topics