I certainly will not be one to make humor at their expense being that I am a proud alumni of that same program. But, if I may say, who did the administration think they were getting when these talented men who can sing like the wind, dance up a storm, and act their way out of a paper bag were recruited with scholarships? Stereotypes aside, somebody knew these men were not loggers.
One could easily replace the MDT men in this scenario with football players when the occasional blue chipper is recruited from a non LDS background having been raised with a different belief regarding word of wisdom and chastity.
Of course MDTers should be held accountable for honoring the same code of ethics the football players honor. And when football players have moral issues, they are disciplined the same as anyone who committed a standard of behavior to the university--including the theatre guys.
However, there seems to have been no mention of any honor code violations, only issues dealing with homosexuality.
In 2007 the honor code was revamped and expanded to include recent differentiations between homosexual actions and homosexual behaviors; behaviors (having gay sex), versus homosexual feelings (being attracted to ones same gender).
Earlier this academic year, certain wordings (advocacy as one) were removed from the behavioral standard with little fanfare.
In the previous year, 2009-2010, the honor code had a section titled, “Homosexual Behavior or Advocacy”. This stated that “homosexual behavior and advocacy of homosexual behavior are inappropriate and violates the Honor Code.” It continued “Advocacy includes seeking to influence others to engage in homosexual behavior or promoting homosexual relations as being morally acceptable.”
Recently, however, references to "advocacy" have been eliminated. It currently reads, "Homosexual Behavior: Brigham Young University will respond to homosexual behavior rather than to feelings or attraction and welcomes as full members of the university community all whose behavior meets university standards. Members of the university community can remain in good Honor Code standing if they conduct their lives in a manner consistent with gospel principles and the Honor Code." (NOTE:Your being gay is one thing. Your being sexually active - not obeying the law of chastity - is another.) "One’s stated same-gender attraction is not an Honor Code issue. However, the Honor Code requires all members of the university community to manifest a strict commitment to the law of chastity. Homosexual behavior is inappropriate and violates the Honor Code. Homosexual behavior includes not only sexual relations between members of the same sex, but all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings."
FYI, the code had previously read (2007 through 2010): "Homosexual Behavior or Advocacy: Brigham Young University will respond to homosexual behavior rather than to feelings or attraction and welcomes as full members of the university community all whose behavior meets university standards. Members of the university community can remain in good Honor Code standing if they conduct their lives in a manner consistent with gospel principles and the Honor Code. One’s stated same-gender attraction is not an Honor Code issue. However, the Honor Code requires all members of the university community to manifest a strict commitment to the law of chastity. Homosexual behavior and/or advocacy of homosexual behavior are is inappropriate and violates the Honor Code. Homosexual behavior includes not only sexual relations between members of the same sex, but all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings. Advocacy includes seeking to influence others to engage in homosexual behavior or promoting homosexual relations as being morally acceptable. Brigham Young University will respond to student behavior rather than to feelings or orientation. Students can be enrolled at the University and remain in good Honor Code standing if they maintain a current ecclesiastical endorsement and conduct their lives in a manner consistent with gospel principles and the Honor Code. Advocacy of a homosexual lifestyle (whether implied or explicit) or any behaviors that indicate homosexual conduct, including those not sexual in nature, are inappropriate and violate the Honor Code."
I am not about to argue the honor code here. Nor do I generally respect the opinion of those who sign it, then enjoy the benefits of the university, and then make known their excuses for not following it.
You choose to sign the code, you choose to come to BYU, you follow the code you signed.
(Quick side bar to nowhere: There may be an occasional conscientious objector status--a peaceful demonstration within the law to further ones cause; but these when done deliberately as an act of true Thoreau Civil Disobedience as per his essay of 1849 are rare. Rather than an organized distention to not allow governments to atrophy our consciences, we have turned it into a whine in Indian position on a sidewalk somewhere.)
Maybe these MDT men met with leaders and decided that the U of U was a better fit. As a group they all went to the honor code office. Voluntarily as a group. Uh Huh.
Maybe there was some type of sting that nabbed them as they all shuffled off to Buffalo in unison. I doubt it.
Possibly there was an Internet/blogging incident that brought them together, or these men decided to take a political stand where the only outcome was a change of educational venue.
What if several of them spouted off about a social life that was contrary to the code they signed? Possible. Frankly, no university owes anyone an explanation of facts on the files of these eight men (if my source is correct). If I was one of them or one in or out of any group in the public eye, I would be pleased at the university's protection of my privacy--as they have protected the privacy of many students many times in the past. (So 'in So was released from his scholarship today, or Joe Bob was dismissed due to honor code infractions and no, we will not be answering your questions.)
Could the reason be that these men were released and offered transfers be based on confessed Homosexuality alone?
I pray no.
Where DO you get your information? You are like the CIA. I had heard this same thing though not in as much detail. In the first place, thanks for telling what you know without going into it in depth. I appreciate your candor as well as your subtlety. In the second place, I agree that WHY they were let go (Behavior or Inclination) is the issue. And I would not be surprised if it was due to some email/blog/texting thing.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like the SS. It is a little scary. I wish I had the confidence in the church like you seem to have. I would like to hear for the guys? Can you get one on here?
ReplyDeleteI suppose this is a real test for the LDS church – if we can say that BYU is its right arm. Were these men released – good word choice- because they were gay this is a problem. If because they were expressing inappropriately on the web, or screwing around electronically (not a good word choice) then I feel it is their own fault and the school did the right thing. Would be interesting to see part two from the side of the MDTmen
ReplyDeleteOn one hand I feel that all byu students should be treated as equally as they can be in this world. On the other hand, I see guys in the athletics program who slide past the rules because they hit hard or because they run fast. Scholarship guys are often untouchable as long as there aren’t too many witnesses. Maybe it’s good to see that byu is enforcing the honor code cross the board. All this is assuming that the music dancer guys were violating the code and not just being gay.
ReplyDeleteI think there's a large chunk of empathy missing from most discussions involving the honor code. "You signed it, you live by it." I get it. I use to say the same thing all the time, all while expressing not a shred of sympathy. But really, I think most of us forget the magnitude of this issue and how much it affects a person's life. Having to restart your college education can literally add YEARS to your schooling, not to mention the other fallout that can come from having to explain to family and friends what happened.
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying the church should stop living up to its own standards. I just wish everyone would stop jumping on the "they deserved it!" bandwagon.
Well said. My bandwagon isnt as much that, as it is to treat apples and apple, MDT or football moral issues the same. We my not let someone go from BYU for stateing on facebook that he is a horndog looking for a hound girl, but if a guy is looking for his match in the same way we are all over it. Frankly, We are on ground undefined and I wish people would tread softly for a bit until we get if figured out.
ReplyDeleteCal,
ReplyDeleteThere is a different standard for gays vs straights at BYU (and in the church generally). The different standard lies within the use of the term "homosexual behavior/activity" used within both the honor code and the church handbook.
While it's true that everyone has to obey the law of chastity, a hetero couple is welcome to hold hands, kiss, and even propose marriage whilst walking through campus. A homosexual couple cannot do ANY of those things.
I suspect that the MDTers were likely guilty of something along those lines. For example, maybe they have boyfriends and though they may have been keeping the law of chastity with their boyfriends, the fact that they had boyfriends is enough to get them kicked out of BYU.
I am glad you have your feelers out so that we can get the information that can help us in the ling run. So dont name names, but keep the info coming.
ReplyDelete...And today it seems that BYU is being consistent all the way around. As a basketball fan I am sad to see B Davies let go, but all should be treated fairly at BYU MDT or Men’s Basketball. The university will miss them all, and we will not be as complete without these wonderful men who are taking responsibility for their actions and can hold their head up high.
ReplyDelete