Michael John Elias Thomas

• One thing that I noticed when coming to BYU is just how blessed we are to have prayer before each religion class. Prayer not only invites the spirit, but also starts the class out on a quite reverent basis. I do however feel that prayer should not just be limited to Religion classes. The Holy Ghost after all is the spirit of knowledge and understanding, which I think we all can benefit from in each of our core classes.

Argument: Prayer should be offered in every class before starting, not just the religion classes.

Reason: Prayer invites the Holy Ghost, which also gives students more understanding and knowledge.

Assumption: By starting out a class with prayer students will be enlightened to a higher understanding for that class.

Claim: The Holy Ghost gives knowledge and understanding.

Claim: Students can benefit from knowledge and understanding.

• Last Wednesday in the later end of the day, I was rather bored and decided it fun to build a snowman. Through quick recruitment I was able to find many others who were as eager as I was to construct a snowman. Among the building of said snowman, which also brought about the construction of a snow woman as well, I found out that the throwing of snowballs was banned. This action made me quite uneasy as I have found it a fun way to socialize and more of a sport than anything else. Just like any other sport, it gives the opportunity for a physical type of workout and the unity in one’s own team. I come from a northern state and I feel that this action is appalling. The mere thought of simply not using this abundant resource for fun should be strictly forbidden. I understand the need for such a rule in grade schools where the school is completely responsible for the safety of the children. However, we as college are not children and therefore should be mature enough not to cause physical ailments when competing in this sport. For as with all sports there can be injury caused to the point of medical attention. Football has not been banned at this college for its rough conduct, nor should it be. The final point I wish to make is that any sport can result in a loss of limb or broken bone and should therefore be the decision of each individual to decide whether or not to participate.

Argument: The sport of throwing snow should be allowed at BYU.

Reason: No Sport should be limited by any organization, but rather by the individual.

Assumption: By not banning any sport, students will have the opportunity to choose whether or not to participate in the sport of their choosing.

Claim: Any Sport can result in injury.

Claim: The throwing of snow is good for the physical well being of the body.

• When going to and from classes, it can be quite difficult to make it on time to our next classes. The ending of one class may result in only a ten minute gap to travel across the entire campus to get to the next class. For this reason I believe that the no bikes during passing period should be hereby disbanded. Rather than completely restrict the biking to and from class, there should rather be a path designated whereby said bikers might voyage in order to arrive on time. The creating of a separate bike path would not only insure the safety of other humanoids walking, by lack of clippings or fatal collisions, but also allow the bikers to increase their speed knowing that no pedestrian would be harmed.

Argument: A path should be designated just for the bikers on campus.

Reason: Because it would allow a quicker arrival time to classes for biking students.

Assumption: By not having a separate path, bikers are completely limited.

Claim: It would be safer to have a bike path separate from a walking path.

Claim: Bikers should be able to bike during the passing period.