Why should Mike get all the credit!?

A couple of weeks ago, I got a phone call from a good friend back at BYU-Idaho. Whose name will remain anonymous for the protection of his dignity, and perhaps even life and limb. He called to tell me a story...it was a story of sarcasm, social experimentation, and journalistic pranking. He and another friend wrote a letter to the editor of the campus newspaper, tongue in cheek, just to see if it would be printed and what would happen if it was. The letter they wrote in no way reflects their actual attitudes. Also note that Mike Leman actually is dating a BYU-I girl, who is very low-maintenance. The letter reads thus:

Girls : BYU–I vs. EFY
Every summer hundreds of teenage girls come to Rexburg to attend EFY. As far as fashion goes, these girls are blowing BYU-I girls out of the water. They obviously go out of their way to be well dressed, do their hair, and do whatever it takes to be attractive. Why aren’t BYU-I girls making an equal effort? Most college girls only shave their legs once a week! Showering happens every few days. They throw their hair in a ponytail, instead of taking time to style it. Get with the times, ladies! I’m just saying that it would be nice if the girls put more effort into looking good as guys on campus do. We work hard for you ladies. Try and keep up. If you need a quick fashion lesson, talk to EFY girls.
Michael Leman, a senior from Rexburg

The letter was printed in the Scroll July 25 2006 issue. Completely unforseen by either of them, this is the reaction it got. The following are from the Scroll August 1 issue.

BYU-I girls ‘keep up’
I didn’t know whether or not to take Michael Leman’s letter seriously — “[EFY girls] do whatever it takes to be attractive.” I’m sorry Mr. Leman, but most girls who attend this school are here to better their education — not flirt and score with guys. A lot of BYU-I girls do take time and effort to look nice. I know many girls who spend hours primping each morning before class. As for your advice on “keeping up” with the guys on campus — why don’t you sit in a salon for 3+-plus hours cutting, dying and waxing and then we’ll talk. It’s sad to see that there are shallow guys on campus who criticize girls’ appearance and then compare them to 16-year-olds who are chasing after college guys. But hey, I guess EFY girls’ strategy is working, eh Michael?
Michelle McPhail, a freshman from West Jordan, Utah

Women, be feminine
I completely agree with Michael Leman! There are too many girls who do not take care of their looks. Too many of them have fallen into the belief that being feminine is bad and demeaning to their gender, when really it is the other way. We are women for a reason and we are supposed to be feminine. I am the mother of two, and I make sure every day that I take time to dress decently and put on some make-up. I do this for myself, my husband, and my Heavenly Father. He created me to be a woman and I should look it. Too many girls think that workout clothes are appropriate to wear all day long. Girls, take care of yourselves. Look nice. Dress nice. Do your best to look your best. Margaret Nadauld said in conference: “‘Femininity is part of your inner beauty’ … Our outward appearance is a reflection of what we are on the inside...You can recognize women who are grateful to be a daughter of God by their outward appearance.”
Shauna Taylor, BYU-I Alumna, Oroville, Calif.

Models have attitudes
Two thumbs up to you Mr. Leman, for speaking your mind. I admire that. In writing a letter that’ll probably have more than half the campus nipping at your heels, that took guts. I agree that it’s important for girls to dress nice and be well groomed. It’s part of the Honor Code. But they all have different ways of going about it. As a defense for the lovely ladies on campus, I’d say that they’re doing a great job at looking their best. But what I prize more in an individual is personality. That speaks far more to me than mere appearance. I’m sure that we’ve all known girls/guys who dress like models but have the worst attitude problem west of the Mississippi. What are their looks, then? But we all have our preferences. I can tell that you like girls with lots of fashion. Since I don’t really care about that stuff, you can scratch me off your list and find another girl. Just keep looking for those girls you prefer and the rest of us will keep doing what we’ve been doing, and we’ll smile the whole time.
Lauren Harvey, a junior from Plainfield, Vt.

BYU-I girls are pretty
I am confident that you have already received countless numbers of letters to the editor that have served as rebuttals concerning the latest letter in the Scroll. I just want to put in my two cents’ worth. First of all, this guy that wrote in must realize that the EFY girls are between the ages of 14 and 18. Being that he is a senior and probably of the age 23-25, he should be searching for girls who are more in his range. I feel that it is my duty as a male student at BYU-I to say that the girls on campus are beautiful, and they are that way daily. Many of them work very hard so some stupid boy will look at them. Not to mention they do this for weeks on end. The EFY girls are here for a week. That’s it. They are looking to impress the good-looking guy in the group and working on maybe holding his hand in group study or getting his e-mail address so they can keep in touch. This is not a good comparison. Good try, but I’ll take a beautiful college girl any day over a flirty, over-dressed and over-made-up 16-year-old.
Tyler Harper, a freshman from Lloydminster, Canada

Not only that, but the editorial of the week was devoted completely to this subject! The picture posted above was part of the article.

Poor Mike and Anonymous Friend are certainly getting torn to peices! For the most part I'm getting a kick out of the whole situation. I can't help but just sit back and laugh about it all.
But at the same time, it makes me a little frustrated with humanity...what a stink people put up for the silliest things. I'm beginning to come round to the opinion that a lot more sorrow comes of taking things to seriously, and not letting them go, whether it be an article in a newspaper or a comment that reflects an opinion you don't share.