Dear Supporters,
First, I would like tho thank each of you signing the petition and sharing your experiences, both as host families and as students in the homes. We can all agree that these experiences have been extremely beneficial in the past and we all will cherish the memories and friendships that were made.
I have received a very kind and informative reply from Sandra Rogers, the International Vice President, who is over the performing groups, explaining that the university will stand by the decision to discontinue homestays. President Worthen read over the petition and the many experiences shared by you. I am grateful for the time he took to review the petition and listen to our concerns about the discontinuance of homestays. I will summarize some of the main points from Sandra Rogers:
- This decision is unanimous among the President's Council. (i.e. President Worthen and the Vice Presidents of the University and Assistants to the President). In making the decision, the President's Council has sought legal council, and consulted local and area church leaders and other university officials on the issue.
- The university believes that the risks involved and cost imposed on host families increases when student performers are housed overnight.
- "The university is able to raise money to cover increased tour costs related to dropping the tradition of homestays for student performers."
- "No other BYU student groups (athletics, extra-murals, clubs, study abroad groups or individuals, etc.) use homestays for students, except through licensed, bonded companies." On rare occasions, like the International Folk Dance Ensemble's experience in Belgium this summer, "[the university] can contract with licensed, bonded homestay companies and organizations for homestay experiences when that is appropriate."
End summary. I appreciate the communication from the university on the issue. Clearly we can all agree that it is more important to continue sending students on tour, no matter how the tours might be administered in the future. BYU tours are all about the connections that are made and sharing God's love with all his children. Sandra Rogers also noted that:
"One of the benefits of performing tours for student performers and for their audiences is the opportunity to interact with each other in a variety of situations. [President Worthen and I] both believe that these interactions can occur with firesides, morning sides, joint service projects, joint cultural activities, and other events. Our plan is for these types of interactions to continue and perhaps even increase in the future."
I am excited for the additional ways by which we will be able to connect with and reach out to the communities we perform for that will spring from the discontinuance of host families.
In the end, we have made our voices heard about an issue that we felt passionately about. We gained over 700 signatures in under a week. The President's council met again to discuss our petition. These are all incredible results. All those who signed the petition, understand the importance of human connection both in our own communities and across cultures. As we move forward, may we continue to seek for different ways to increase love and understanding in an increasingly divisive world. I support the university and their decision and will continue to strive to find ways to connect with people on tour, because that is what it is truly all about. Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Brandon Carter