Mood Changes Toward BYU

A few months ago it appeared that the October 10 appearance of Brigham Young University's football team in Arizona Stadium would preciiptate a major campus disturbance.

The fear was based on conintued campus protests against the Mormon Church's practice of barring blacks from the priesthood. BYU, as a church-supported institution, was the primary object of protests.

There still may be some nonviolent picketing in protest of the church's racial practice, But the fear taht another Bear Down Gym incident might erupt has diminished. During that disturbance last January, several UA students were arrested when they stormed the gates at Bear Down Gym where BYU and Arizona were cometing in basketball.

The change in mood is a direct fresult of a fact-finding committee's visit to the BYU campus last week. The committee, led by student body president Bruce Eggers, included a black administrator as well as a representative of the Black Student Union.

Committee conclusions did not exonerate the church's practices, but did conclude that BYU is no more racist than any other university. As a result, the committee urged that Western Athletic Conference schools suspend further demonstrations and disruptions aimed at BYU.

University of Arizona students, including members of a radical coalition which plans to hold a nonviolent protest Saturday, should heed the fact-finding committee's conclusions.

It was an outstanding example of communication between students and administrators acting in concert to reduce the threat of campus violence.