At BYU. When it was final decision time the U petioned the Church not to do the med school and there was an understanding the church would help the U med school and it would in turn be educating BYU and all Utah college graduates.

Heckman is my Uncle and was a fixture in the zoology department for years as an icthyologist.

I've heard him tell the story twice. The last time was about 18 years ago at a family reunion.

He felt BYU made mistake in not starting a medical school but said it probably saved a lot of money for BYU and the Church. He was pretty matter of fact.

And yes Utah does try to avoid taking white male lds applicants or did when I was there 23 yrs ago. I watched it happen and saw comments written about BYU and other white male LDS applicants. I was one of the students in 4th yr on the admissions committee who looked at applications and weighed in. I ran into a spectrum from mild to terrible anti LDS behavior and comments. My experience at Utah SOM made me a much fiercer supporter of BYU athletics. My SIL had similar experience at Utah Nursing school. Almost all of the rhetoric was mild w a very few shocking things here and there.

That being said, I am a white male LDS BYU grad that got in to Utah SOM. But, I had the credentials to make it hard to say no and in the interviews I focused on my experience growing up on a farm rather than anything related to my mission etc.

The funny thing is, white LDS males are very highly looked upon in residency applications...my program director and my chair both rabid evangelicals said they'd take all the Mormons they could get...rarely have substance abuse problems and generally don't fool around w the nurses etc. They just show up and work hard and are generally very good citizens.

Take this for what it is...just one person's observations.