Notes taken during an interview with Gerald Dye, Chairman of the University Standards, Brigham Young University, on 1 February 1978:

by Gary Bergera

Reacting to statistics whch would indicated that approximately 2500 BYU students are gay: "I Couldn't believe that. I just don't think that it's possible."

It is university policy not to release statistics which would note how many students are currently working through university standards.

For a gay student to remain enrolled at BYU, he would have to be going through the repentance process.

The policy is that a person who has been disfellowshipped or excommunicated is almost automatically expelled from BYU. (Pres. Oaks has authority, however, to intercede in behalf of a student to permit his continuing. Though such cases are extremely rare.)

University Standards becomes involved only when students are engaged in overt homosexual behavior.

Standards learns of such students through:

1. A student who's willing to turn another student in; one who's willing to testify that he's been involved with another student.

2. Referrals made to Standards by BYU Security.

3. Students who feel they might be gay and so turn themselves in seeking help.

"If you've offended someone, you need to go make that right. If a person niolates a university standard, I have a hard time seeing how that person can make amends without going through University Standards. . . A person needs to ask himself, 'Can I really repent without going through University Standards.'"

BYU Security will turn over the names of students arrested to Standards.

"We don't ask security to make surveillances. But they do make information available to us."

Security works with Standards on a purely professional basis. However, Standards, once information is made known to them, will involve, on an eclesiastical basis, brank presidents and bishops.

Homosexual students referred to Standards go through a set process:

1. They are ask to a personal interview with Standards.

a. Purpose of interview: To determine the depth or extent of involvement previous involvement, if any, of offender; does the student understand the seriousness of the matter; if the branch president or bishop aware;

2. The individual's branch president or home bishop is contacted

3. Standards is to determine if the offense is serious or not.

a. serious: repetition; anal/oral intercourse.

b. less serious: experimential; mutual masturbation

4. Action taken

a. If determined to be serious, the student is expelled

b. If less serious, the student may remain at BYU on a probationary basis

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5. Standards also acts as in intermediary between the student who remains and a counseling service; Students who remains are required to undergo therapy.

"I've learned one thingxxxxx. Man, you don't ever call any one a homosexual unless you have the facts."

University Standards works with or refers student to Campus Counseling (an arm of Student Life Services), or Church Social Services (Esp. for students who are required to leave.).

Promises: "No student working through Standards will ever undergo aversion therapy."

2The Hardest thing for homosexulx kids to understand is that it's a learned behavior."

"I'm convinced without doubt that homosexuality is a learned behavior."

"I just shudder at labeling people who may not be as manly as maybe we think they out to be. It's crushing and cruel."

"I talk to kids who feel they're making it. Changes do come. That's what's exciting: watching behavior change."