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Free BYU
Founder(s)Ryan Bowcutt and Caleb Chamberlain[1]
EstablishedNovember 2013; 11 years ago (November 2013)[1]
MissionTo promote freedom of thought and freedom of religion at BYU
HeadBrad Levin[1]
WebsiteFreeBYU.org

FreeBYU is an advocacy organization dedicated to changing Brigham Young University (BYU) policies such that students can have an environment of religious and academic freedom. These policies mean that students who enroll in the university as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) are not able to express a change in religious beliefs or express their lack thereof without risk of being evicted from their student homes,[2] fired from their campus jobs,[3] or expelled from the university.[4][5][6] Currently BYU does not allow students who enrolled as Mormons to change their religious affiliation,[7][8][9] and FreeBYU is advocating for university policy to apply the same standards for formerly LDS students as it does for non-LDS students, including charging a higher tuition rate.[10]

Actions

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The organization has petitioned the university,[11] as well as several of its accreditors claiming that it does not meet requirements for religious freedom.[12][13][14] These include the American Psychological Association[15] and the American Bar Association[10][16] which resulted in a change to BYU's honor code in 2016.[17] Shortly after FreeBYU's complaint to the American Bar Association in 2016, BYU had added an "Application for Exception" clause that would theoretically enable a formerly LDS applicant to be enrolled if there were "compelling,"[18] "extenuating,"[19] and "unusual circumstances."[20][17][21] A BYU spokesperson stated in 2017 that the university believes it is in full compliance with accreditation standards and offers the option of applying for a religious exemption, though, FreeBYU states that exemptions are not being granted and students are discouraged from applying for them.[10] In 2015 the group persuaded the president of the American Academy of Religion, Mark Juergensmeyer, to decline to speak at BYU's 2015 International Law and Religion Symposium in protest of the university's denial of religious freedom to their students.[22][23]

Media coverage

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The group's advocacy has received television coverage as well as nationwide newspaper coverage including in The Washington Post,[22][3] The Wall Street Journal,[14] and The Huffington Post.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Larson, Chris (16 February 2016). "Ex-Mormon BYU alumni group seeks to force Honor Code change". Daily Universe. Brigham Young University. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Free Byu A Conversation About Religious Freedom Among The Cougars". Sunstone. 2016.
  3. ^ a b Fletcher Stack, Peggy (21 November 2014). "National If you leave Mormonism, you have to leave BYU. Now some alumni want to change that". Washington Post. Religion News Service.
  4. ^ Zavadski, Katie (31 March 2015). "Lose Your Faith, Get Expelled at BYU". Daily Beast. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  5. ^ a b Knox, Annie (19 March 2015). "Brigham Young University Graduates Campaign Against School's Treatment Of Ex-Mormons". Huffington Post. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  6. ^ Riess, Jana (25 March 2015). "'Free BYU' campaign gains momentum as Mormon university's accreditation nears". Religion News Service.
  7. ^ Cassens Weiss, Debra (19 August 2016). "BYU law school says ABA probe is closed; group had alleged religious discrimination". American Bar Association Journal.
  8. ^ Connolly, Caroline (20 November 2014). "'FreeBYU' pushes for policy change on leaving LDS church while attending BYU". KSTU Fox 13. Tribune Broadcasting.
  9. ^ Monsen, Ali. "Group claims BYU policies rob students of religious freedom". KTVX ABC 4. Nexstar Media Group.
  10. ^ a b c Dodson, Braley (17 November 2017). "FreeBYU group vows to continue challenging BYU". Daily Herald. Provo, Utah.
  11. ^ Stack, Peggy Fletcher (20 November 2014). "Group seeks change so ex-Mormons can stay at BYU". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  12. ^ Woodruff, Daniel (3 June 2015). "Group files complaint against BYU law school". CBS 2 KUTV. Sinclair Broadcast Group. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  13. ^ Monsen, Ali. "Group claims BYU policies rob students of religious freedom". ABC4. Nexstar Broadcasting. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  14. ^ a b Randazzo, Sara (19 April 2016). "ABA Reviewing BYU Law's Policy of Expelling Ex-Mormon Students". Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  15. ^ Neugebauer, Cimaron (21 February 2017). "FreeBYU says American Psychological Association 'refused' to hold BYU accountable". KUTV. Sinclair Broadcast Group.
  16. ^ Rubino, Kathryn (28 January 2016). "Is Homophobia Going To Cost This Law School Its Accreditation?". Above the Law.
  17. ^ a b Wells, David (17 Aug 2016). "BYU adjusts Honor Code requirements after religious discrimination complaint". KSTU Fox 13 News.
  18. ^ Knox, Annie (19 August 2016). "BYU relaxes policy for students who petition to stay without Mormon bishop's OK". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  19. ^ Riess, Jana (23 August 2016). "BYU (almost) clarifies its policy on Mormon students who leave the faith, while claiming (sort of) it was already their own idea". The Gazette. Colorado Springs, Colorado.
  20. ^ "Church Educational System Honor Code". Brigham Young University. November 9, 2015. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
  21. ^ Walch, Tad (18 August 2016). "BYU adjusts honor code policies for students who leave LDS Church". Deseret News. LDS church. Archived from the original on August 20, 2016.
  22. ^ a b Riess, Jana (7 October 2015). "Religion scholar boycotts BYU conference to protest university policy". Washington Post.
  23. ^ "California professor cancels religious freedom speech at BYU". Standard-Examiner. Ogden, Utah. Associated Press. 7 October 2015.

See also

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