BYU NewsNet - Students Rally to Thank Gold's Gym for Changes

Representing five local student-run organizations, a group of more than 50 BYU and UVSC students gathered Saturday in front of Gold's Gym on 900 East to express appreciation for the gym's agreement to remove sexually explicit videos from their programming.

Earlier this month, members of the Stand For Decency Coalition met with Kirk Livingstone, Gold's Gym director of operations, to discuss their objections to the entertainment being shown at the gym.

"After meeting with the gym, it was a change of heart in terms of the management," said Jesse Yaffe, spokesman for the coalition. "They said they couldn't fault our cause."

Livingstone said the gym is working closely with its broadcasting provider to make sure entertainment is appropriate for its members' standards.

"There remain some legal hurdles," Livingstone said, "but it's a solution in progress."

"We appreciate the students bringing us their concerns," Livingstone said. "Like I told them, I don't necessarily agree with their tactics. However, we do what we can to address our members' concerns, be it about maintenance, cleanliness, or entertainment. When it comes down to it, we want to make our members happy."

As part of the Thank You Rally, members of the coalition stood by the intersection of 460 North and 900 East and waved signs with such declarations as "Thank You Gold's," "Stand For Decency" and "Cleaner Videos Rock." One sign said "Honk For Decency," and many passing drivers complied.

Although a few passing drivers expressed disapproval, some with the use of profane language, rally organizers said they felt the reaction from the community has been largely positive.

State Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, stopped by to show his support for the rally members. "I just admire them for taking a stand and making a difference," he said.

Rally members said they especially appreciated the support of the community through food donations, including several dozen cookies provided by one generous neighbor and about a dozen boxes of pizza donated by a local Papa John's.

According to Yaffe, 80 percent of the members at Gold's Gym Provo are BYU students, and many of them feel uncomfortable when sexually explicit material is shown at places like the gym.

However, "to keep quiet is to approve," Yaffe said. "As Americans, we believe that someone can watch those sexual images in their own home, but it does not belong in the public domain. ... The prophet [Gordon B. Hinckley] has been a huge inspiration for all of us and has encouraged us to stand up for something."

Yaffe also cited the objectification and mistreatment of women as reasons to monitor sexually explicit material in the public domain.

Stephanie Willoughby, a BYU student who joined the Stand For Decency Coalition for the rally, said, "I think this will influence other gyms to change and will influence other students to stand for decency."