SALT LAKE CITY — Utah State University has agreed to participate
with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in an eight-member review
board to address issues between the Church and the University over a collection
of historical papers passed to the University by the late Leonard J. Arrington.
The board will be composed of four representatives from each institution
under the direction of Church President Gordon B. Hinckley and University
President Kermit L. Hall. Board representatives for the Church are co-chairman
Elder W. Rolfe Kerr, a USU alumnus, former Utah Commissioner of Higher Education
and a General Authority of the Church; Elder Quentin L. Cook, a USU alumnus and
General Authority of the Church; Richard E. Turley Jr., managing director of the
Family and Church History Department; and Berne S. Broadbent, an attorney for
the Church.
Board members representing the University are co-chairman Stan L. Albrecht,
University Executive Vice-President and Provost; F. Ross Peterson, Professor
Emeritus, History Department; Craig Simper, University Counsel; and George
Daines, attorney for the estate of Leonard J. Arrington.
The board's objective is to make joint recommendations to the presidents of
the Church and the University regarding documents that may not have been
intended for the massive collection of papers, research notes, and other
documents passed to the University by Dr. Arrington.
The members of the committee have agreed to make no further public comment
during their deliberations until a satisfactory conclusion has been reached.
The University and the Church, which have a longstanding relationship of
cooperation and goodwill, remain optimistic that these issues can be resolved in
a way that will preserve the Church's right to materials that it owns, provide
the public with access to important research information, respect Dr. Arrington's
desire to further the study of Church history, and fulfill the University's
obligations to serve the academic community.
See also, "Cries of Censorship Portray
'Chicken Little' Syndrome" opinion column.
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