The Soulforce Equality Ride will be making its second trip to BYU coming this March, but this year they will not be welcomed on campus.

Carri Jenkins, BYU spokesperson, said BYU has explained to Soulforce that it will not be allowed on campus this year because of events that occurred last year.

"Soulforce blatantly violated University policy, which is applicable to all campus visitors," Jenkins said. "[This] was carefully explained to Soulforce in writing before its visit."

Last year's equality ride to campus resulted in two of the "riders" being arrested. Jenkins said one of the Soulforce members was quoted last year as saying they would not leave until they were arrested.

"Soulforce made it very clear to BYU and to the media that the purpose of its visit was to gain media attention," Jenkins said.

BYU agreed to allow Soulforce on campus last year if they kept the visit to civil, one-on-one discussions. However, Soulforce made it clear they were only seeking to attract the media and to be arrested instead, Jenkins said.

Matthew Kulisch, one of the organizers for the BYU equality ride stop, said Soulforce is hoping BYU will continue dialogue with Soulforce to allow the riders to come on to campus.

"It's really up to [BYU] and always has been up to them," Kulisch said. "This is a dialogue that we believe is very important and we want to be able to facilitate this to students."

Kulisch said if BYU wants to change its mind he would love to see that, but if not, Soulforce will be planning on holding other presentations in Provo and Orem.

"We're hoping to find some venues, whether that be in public places or even in private homes, to have the opportunity to give the presentations," Kulisch said.

Soulforce is planning on coming to Salt Lake City on March 20 to do community service and engage in dialogue with citizens there. After this, they will make their way to the Provo area Kulisch said.

Jenkins encouraged students and citizens to give Soulforce the same courtesy they gave last year during the Soulforce stop.

"We ask [students] to ignore and not to take personally any derogatory comments made by Soulforce or its members," Jenkins said.



Copyright Brigham Young University 9 Feb 2007