News of BYU

The topic was the Doctrine and Covenants, but the testimonies were of Joseph Smith. More than 1,500 teachers and students of the gospel attended the seventh annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium on the Scriptures in January at Brigham Young University. And although the topic was “Understanding the Doctrine & Covenants,” a main theme pervading all sessions was a unified testimony of the verity and import of the Prophet Joseph Smith, through whom most of the D&C revelations were given. Many of the eighteen papers presented were on detailed aspects of the D&C.

Featured speakers were Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve, Church Commissioner of Education Jeffrey R. Holland, and Robert J. Matthews, chairman of Ancient Scripture in BYU’s Religious Instruction Department.

Elder McConkie explained that “singled out from among the hosts of heaven were certain who were foreordained to be the heads of dispensations— … and all the seers, and all the administrators, and all the apostles of that period are a reflection and an exponent of what came through the dispensation head.

“What this means is that the head of the gospel dispensation stands as one of the ten or twenty greatest spirits who have so far been born on earth—ones who had special spiritual talents and capacities to come to earth in periods of turmoil and wickedness, and rebellion and evil, to be lights and guides to the world.

“Now this gives us a little perspective on what is involved in the life and status and position of Joseph Smith.”

BYU has given the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare input on proposed interpretations of Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments. BYU sent comments to the department’s Civil Rights Office in February, responding to an HEW request that educational institutions across the nation give input on the application of Title IX.

The BYU comments stated that Title IX should not be interpreted to authorize HEW to regulate intercollegiate athletics. BYU President Dallin H. Oaks said the university was commenting because of the threat such a policy could be to higher education.

He said that BYU has a large, thriving athletic program for both men and women and neither practices nor tolerates prejudice against women, minorities, or others. The university expressed concern that HEW was attempting to go beyond its regulatory powers.

The David O. McKay Building, remodeled and enlarged, was rededicated in January. President N. Eldon Tanner, first counselor in the First Presidency, who also served as a counselor under President McKay, gave the dedicatory prayer.

Tuition at Brigham Young University will be raised seven percent this fall to help offset rapidly rising operational costs. BYU President Dallin H. Oaks announced the increase in December, explaining that the increase is proportionately less than the increased cost of operating the university. The new rates go into effect in fall 1979.

The increase in tuition for students who are members of the Church will be from $420 to $450 per semester for undergraduates; $470 to $500 for advanced standing; $770 to $825 for law school; and $600 to $645 for the Graduate School of Management. Tuition for spring and summer terms will be half the fall semester rate. Non-Latter-day Saint students pay fifty percent higher tuition in each category.