| Revision as of 02:56, 19 March 2009 view sourceGood Olfactory (talk | contribs)688,950 editsm Protected West Ridge Academy: Edit warring / Content dispute: things are getting a bit ridiculous on the page with anonymous editors refusing to acknowledge the need for reliable sources; continual reversions, etc. ([edit=← Previous edit | Revision as of 02:59, 19 March 2009 view source Good Olfactory (talk | contribs)688,950 edits rollback due to continual changes; will lock for a period of a few days for discussionNext edit → | ||
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| | denomination = officially non-denominational Christian | |||
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| age range = 6 - 17{{cn}} | ||
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| '''West Ridge Academy''', formerly called the '''Utah Boys Ranch''', is a ] for |
'''West Ridge Academy''', formerly called the '''Utah Boys Ranch''', is a ] for youth in ], ]. | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| The Utah Boys Ranch was founded by ] in 1964, but a few years later leadership changed hands and Utah State Senator ] became the executive director and remained for fifteen years before retiring in the face of |
The Utah Boys Ranch was founded by ] in 1964, but a few years later leadership changed hands and Utah State Senator ] became the executive director and remained for fifteen years before retiring at age 62 in the face of IRS problems.<ref></ref> West Ridge Academy takes in approximately eight million dollars annually tuition and other income.<ref></ref> | ||
| ===Connection with LDS Church=== | |||
| The board of directors is composed of prominent ] such as LDS author and politician ], General ] President ], ] religion instructor Sally Wyne, politician ] and Senator ].<ref></ref> ] donates food and supplies.{{fact|date=February 2009}} | |||
| The West Ridge Academy declares itself to be a non-denominational Christian organization, but former residents claim ] influences dominate.<ref></ref> The Academy states that "we do not proselyte ''(sic)'' to our students", but they do encourage students "to bring the best from their beliefs about God and seek out a meaningful relationship with that God".<ref>.</ref> | |||
| The board of directors of West Ridge Academy is composed of members of the LDS Church, including ], former general president of the ] ], ] religion instructor Sally Wyne, politician ], and Utah State Senator ].<ref></ref> ], a division of the Welfare Services of the LDS Church, has donated food and supplies to the school.{{cn}} In 1996, the former ] of the church, ], mentioned that he had read a "bulletin" from the Utah Boys Ranch.<ref>Gordon B. Hinckley, '']'', Mar. 1997, p. 58.</ref> | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ==Allegations of abuse== | |||
| Former residents have posted testimonials alleging rampant physical and sexual abuse, negligence, cover-ups, lack of government oversight, severe human rights violations, ] indoctrination in place of legitimate therapy, and other corruption and forms of inhumane handling of youth.<ref></ref> Some opponents have referred to it as a "Mormon ]".<ref></ref> | |||
| Protesters demonstrated at its annual fundraiser The Scarecrow Festival in 2008.<ref></ref><ref></ref> | |||
| ==Media coverage== | ==Media coverage== | ||
| On January 2, 2009, |
On January 2, 2009, an article was published on the internet by a former Boys Ranch resident, writer and journalist Eric Norwood, which detailed abuses and controversial ranch practices.<ref>{{cite news | ||
| | last = Norwood | |||
| | first = Eric | |||
| | coauthors = | |||
| | title = Trapped In A Mormon Gulag | |||
| | publisher = Orato Media Corp. | |||
| | date = ] | |||
| | url = http://web.mac.com/goodk/www.MormonGulag.com/Legal_Issues_and_Bad_Press_West_Ridge_Academy_Mormon_Gulag_Utah_Boys_Ranch/Entries/2009/1/2_.html | |||
| | accessdate = 2009-02-19 }}</ref> On January 9, 2009, ] radio station KRCL invited Senator Buttars, West Ridge staff, and Eric Norwood on their talk show ''RadioActive!'' to discuss the article, but Buttars declined.<ref></ref> On February 19, 2009, author and political commentator ] wrote about the controversy surrounding Buttars and the Utah Boys Ranch.<ref></ref> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| * | * | ||
| * | * | ||
| ] | |||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
Revision as of 02:59, 19 March 2009
Private school| West Ridge Academy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| West Jordan, Utah, USA | |
| Information | |
| School type | private |
| Denomination | officially non-denominational Christian |
| Director | Kenneth Allen |
| Age range | 6 - 17 |
| Website | http://www.utahboysranch.org/ |
West Ridge Academy, formerly called the Utah Boys Ranch, is a residential treatment center for youth in West Jordan, Utah, USA.
History
The Utah Boys Ranch was founded by Lowell L. Bennion in 1964, but a few years later leadership changed hands and Utah State Senator Chris Buttars became the executive director and remained for fifteen years before retiring at age 62 in the face of IRS problems. West Ridge Academy takes in approximately eight million dollars annually tuition and other income.
Connection with LDS Church
The West Ridge Academy declares itself to be a non-denominational Christian organization, but former residents claim Mormon influences dominate. The Academy states that "we do not proselyte (sic) to our students", but they do encourage students "to bring the best from their beliefs about God and seek out a meaningful relationship with that God".
The board of directors of West Ridge Academy is composed of members of the LDS Church, including Richard Eyre, former general president of the Relief Society Mary Ellen Smoot, Brigham Young University religion instructor Sally Wyne, politician LaVar Christensen, and Utah State Senator Chris Buttars. Deseret Industries, a division of the Welfare Services of the LDS Church, has donated food and supplies to the school. In 1996, the former president of the church, Gordon B. Hinckley, mentioned that he had read a "bulletin" from the Utah Boys Ranch.
Allegations of abuse
Former residents have posted testimonials alleging rampant physical and sexual abuse, negligence, cover-ups, lack of government oversight, severe human rights violations, Mormon indoctrination in place of legitimate therapy, and other corruption and forms of inhumane handling of youth. Some opponents have referred to it as a "Mormon gulag".
Protesters demonstrated at its annual fundraiser The Scarecrow Festival in 2008.
Media coverage
On January 2, 2009, an article was published on the internet by a former Boys Ranch resident, writer and journalist Eric Norwood, which detailed abuses and controversial ranch practices. On January 9, 2009, Salt Lake City radio station KRCL invited Senator Buttars, West Ridge staff, and Eric Norwood on their talk show RadioActive! to discuss the article, but Buttars declined. On February 19, 2009, author and political commentator Andrew Sullivan wrote about the controversy surrounding Buttars and the Utah Boys Ranch.
References
- - Buttars Booted From Boys Ranch
- Company Profile
- Mormon Gulag
- West Ridge Academy: Philosophy.
- UBR board of Trustees
- Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Conversation with Single Adults,” Ensign, Mar. 1997, p. 58.
- Testimonials From Former Victims
- DailyKos 'Trapped In A Mormon Gulag'
- 2008 Scarecrow Festival Protest
- YouTube
- Norwood, Eric (2009-01-02). "Trapped In A Mormon Gulag". Orato Media Corp. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - KRCL RadioActive
- The Daily Dish