On My Honor

BYU HFAC - Home of the Flames

As reported by CNN, Brigham Young University officials in a Thursday press conference stood by the Honor Code offices decision to dismiss a standout basketball player on the Cougars' highly ranked men's team, saying they are treating him as they would any other student.


Officials did not specify why, nor would they confirm rumors to the cause of this students suspension during a press conference Thursday.


However, the non-Mormon friendly Salt Lake Tribune was quick to cite "multiple sources" that the sophomore violated the honor code and went on to name the spicific alleged infraction. (True to form, the trib can be counted on for anything salacious or slanted away from the church or church members who want to remain members.


The BYU honor code, for anyone housed under a rock, includes requirements for "modest, neat and clean" dress and grooming; abstinence from alcohol, tobacco or illegal substances; any sexual intimacy Hetro or Homo; prohibits members of the opposite sex from going in one's bedroom areas; and regularly participation in church services, either Mormon or another faith.


I was a student at BYU back in the mid ninety's.  I had friends kicked out for honor code violations. Just recently I blogged about several MDT men from BYU that were “let go” so to speak from their student status and had applications made for them to the U. Frankly, there would have been grounds for me to be so released when I was a student at the Y, and I could have been joined by at least 40 men that I knew of personally and factually.


Last year, another predominate sports man was let go – and it cost the football team dearly. He was repentant, he volunteered the information to the code enforcers. He was consoled and strengthened, and was still kicked out.


Many in my position, being SGAttracted (gay to anyone else) will say that BYU is unfair, or inconsistent. I do know that they try to follow standards and guidelines universally. They often fail. In my case they didn’t have the information, and I wasn’t going to give it to them. There are many honor code violators at BYU.


They are not the majority, however. And the fairness of these guidelines should not be judged solely on the opinions of those who choose not to live by them.  And while there should always be mercy, as is the nature of Christ’s atonement for us, there should also be justice, as is the nature of Christ’s atonement for us.