Cheney Facing Widespread Opposition at BYU Commencement Address

by Democracy Now (reposted)

Thu, Apr 26, 2007 8:45AM

Dick Cheney is heading to Utah today to give a commencement address at one of the most conservative schools in the country -- Brigham Young University. More than 3,000 students, professors and alumni at the Mormon school have signed a petition to oppose the selection. We speak with a BYU graduate student.

Vice President Dick Cheney is heading to Utah today to give a commencement address at one of the most conservative schools in the country -- Brigham Young University.

Up until recently, no political protests had been at the Mormon school in years.

But that all changed when the school announced this year's commencement speaker. 3,000 students, professors, alumni and church members have signed a petition opposing the selection of Cheney and the decision to award him an honorary doctorate. Anti-Cheney protests have also been held. Tonight, student activists are planning to hold an Alternative Commencement featuring Ralph Nader.

* Joe Vogel, a graduate student at BYU. He is also the author of the book "Free Speech 101: The Utah Valley Uproar Over Michael Moore." He joins us on the phone from Utah.

LISTEN ONLINE:
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/04/26/1355254

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