LOCAL: Blame BYU for Davies' Fall

Mar 02, 2011 43 Comments by

Brigham Young University has shot itself in the foot — right in the middle of a race.

The Daily Herald (my daytime employer, though I had nothing to do with the story) broke the news Tuesday night that starting center Brandon Davies will not complete the season because he violated the school’s Honor Code. The news is a big blow. And though I can’t make a decent prediction about the consequences of the news, nothing good can come if it.

But while Davies obviously let down his team and community, an equal share of culpability goes to BYU for its opaque enforcement of a bizarre and arcane set of rules. In other words, Davies screwed up because he broke the rules, but BYU did the same when — by implementing and enforcing those rules — it set the stage for Davies’ failure.

Davies’ experience illustrates a few problems with BYU’s Honor Code. Most importantly, the policy includes an array of rules that other institutions see as unrelated to academics or sports. If Davies got caught plagiarizing, doping, or doing some other stupid thing, his suspension from BYU’s basketball team would make sense. He alone would be accountable.

But the reality is that BYU’s Honor Code includes all sorts of regulations that have nothing to do with academics or sports. Davies might be a criminal — or he may have forgotten to shave one too many times. He could have stayed past midnight in a girl’s apartment (or stepped into a female’s bedroom). He could even have ordered a coffee at some point, or simply have worn clothing that was too tight.

The point is that while BYU’s Honor Code addresses typical collegiate issues, it also goes much further, making it that much harder to comply with. If Davies broke some of the school’s more unique rules would he really be a bad person? Would he be academically unfit? Would he be off the team at any other school? Even if Davies transgressed LDS Church doctrine — also more or less part of the Honor Code — aren’t those rules optional, with punishment meted out in heaven, for non-BYU Mormons?

Another problem this incident illustrates is that the Honor Code lumps all offenses under one umbrella. Davies could be a serial cheater, or a sloppy dresser. Who knows? As of Tuesday night BYU hadn’t said what Davies did, and I’d be surprised if the school ever divulges that information. But because this sort of feels like a KGB fantasy, where all offenses are treated as mortal sins against the regime, we’re left to guess if Davies did something serious or silly.

BYU’s decision to have a broad, extra-academic set of rules may have just wounded it on the basketball court. But the fallout isn’t limited to a shamed athlete and a disappointed fan base. After all, schools make a lot more money when their teams win. How much money will BYU lose if its team suddenly plummets? How much prestige will the school sacrifice to ensure the homogeneity of its student body? And losing face and finances doesn’t just hit the school on the basketball court, it has broad negative repercussions across all fields.

Earlier this year, in the wake of a Gawker article criticizing BYU, I wrote about the school’s image issues. This is a perfect illustration of that problem and makes the point that if BYU wants to compete — in athletics, academics, and research — it has to learn to be a school, not a monastery. It needs to modernize its Honor Code to focus on the things that matter in the university world.

In the end, could all of this have been avoided if BYU had an up-to-date code for student conduct? Possibly. Though I don’t know Davies personally, most students at the school are good people who would behave appropriately even without such stringent rules. As it is, the school sets itself up for failure when it makes it so easy to criminalize (and, therefore, victimize) its stars. It costs the school prestige, money, and influence. It scares future students away, and crushes some of those it already has — in this case, at a critical moment.

If BYU wants to succeed on the basketball court and elsewhere, it should let go of its antiquated Honor Code and focus on being an institution of higher learning.

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  • TXCoug

    Of course BYU’s honor code goes beyond academics and athletics. So does the school. It’s a religious institution and a private university. It can institute whatever rules it likes. The issue at hand is not the relevance of the honor code but personal integrity. No matter what the rules are when you sign on the bottom line you’re giving your word to follow them. Hopefully this isn’t a surprise but BYU’s mission is not to succeed in basketball. This unfortunate event is a reminder that personal integrity is more important than any kind of success on the court.

    • Dagsyo

      Being run by a religious institution and being a religious institution are two totally different things. BYU is the latter, not the former. If you are to follow your own definition for integrity, than BYU as an organization has none.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513093044 Jonathan Ulf Schwarzmann

        By what definition does BYU have no integrity? According to Oxford, integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. So yeah, BYU actually has integrity.

      • TXCoug

        What are you talking about? BYU did exactly what they said they would do when a student breaks the honor code. Seems like that’s the definition of integrity.

  • TXCoug

    Of course BYU’s honor code goes beyond academics and athletics. So does the school. It’s a religious institution and a private university. It can institute whatever rules it likes. The issue at hand is not the relevance of the honor code but personal integrity. No matter what the rules are when you sign on the bottom line you’re giving your word to follow them. Hopefully this isn’t a surprise but BYU’s mission is not to succeed in basketball. This unfortunate event is a reminder that personal integrity is more important than any kind of success on the court.

    • Dagsyo

      Being run by a religious institution and being a religious institution are two totally different things. BYU is the latter, not the former. If you are to follow your own definition for integrity, than BYU as an organization has none.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513093044 Jonathan Ulf Schwarzmann

        By what definition does BYU have no integrity? According to Oxford, integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. So yeah, BYU actually has integrity.

      • TXCoug

        What are you talking about? BYU did exactly what they said they would do when a student breaks the honor code. Seems like that’s the definition of integrity.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513093044 Jonathan Ulf Schwarzmann

    I can admit, the Honor Code at BYU is pretty ridiculous in some regards. The whole curfew is completely insane and the insistence on shaving is laughable. My criticism doesn’t run much deeper than that though. And while you point out that in this situation, a star athlete getting pulled for an honor code violation, is damaging to BYUs image… well, it’s just as laughable. Because while you may take a hater stance to this “arcane” system of standards, it does exactly what BYU and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, wants it to do. It gives the school the image of a strictly run private religious university.

    Any student walking into college life there knows the rules, they’re pretty darn well published. So to try and blame the institutions rules for an athlete not following them is idiotic. We might as well blame the pools “No running/Careful its wet” signs for people STILL slipping and falling. Can you see the fallacy in the argument? I’m not saying some of the rules aren’t idiotic either, but the idiot who breaks the idiotic rules is still an idiot. And you point out very well that you are ignorant of what he did, just like the rest of us. While I’ve jested about him getting yanked for something as simple as the curfew rule as well, I highly doubt BYU is going to kick him off the team for something as simple as that. I’ve had friends at BYU violate the honor code in fairly serious ways and all they hit was an academic speed bump.

    So don’t try and use this Davies as an example of why the honor code is kind of retarded sometimes. Just come out and say “I personally don’t think BYUs honor code should be as strict or as well enforced because my image of that school doesn’t fit what they are doing.” Well, that’s just too bad.

    On the note of “shooting themselves in the foot.” How often do universities let athlete performance off the field slide as long as they are making money for the school? From the stories and articles I’ve read through the years, probably a lot. So for BYU to make such a decision right before playoffs isn’t a bad thing as you say it is. It shows integrity. Though integrity isn’t as highly valued by some people these days.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513093044 Jonathan Ulf Schwarzmann

    I can admit, the Honor Code at BYU is pretty ridiculous in some regards. The whole curfew is completely insane and the insistence on shaving is laughable. My criticism doesn’t run much deeper than that though. And while you point out that in this situation, a star athlete getting pulled for an honor code violation, is damaging to BYUs image… well, it’s just as laughable. Because while you may take a hater stance to this “arcane” system of standards, it does exactly what BYU and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, wants it to do. It gives the school the image of a strictly run private religious university.

    Any student walking into college life there knows the rules, they’re pretty darn well published. So to try and blame the institutions rules for an athlete not following them is idiotic. We might as well blame the pools “No running/Careful its wet” signs for people STILL slipping and falling. Can you see the fallacy in the argument? I’m not saying some of the rules aren’t idiotic either, but the idiot who breaks the idiotic rules is still an idiot. And you point out very well that you are ignorant of what he did, just like the rest of us. While I’ve jested about him getting yanked for something as simple as the curfew rule as well, I highly doubt BYU is going to kick him off the team for something as simple as that. I’ve had friends at BYU violate the honor code in fairly serious ways and all they hit was an academic speed bump.

    So don’t try and use this Davies as an example of why the honor code is kind of retarded sometimes. Just come out and say “I personally don’t think BYUs honor code should be as strict or as well enforced because my image of that school doesn’t fit what they are doing.” Well, that’s just too bad.

    On the note of “shooting themselves in the foot.” How often do universities let athlete performance off the field slide as long as they are making money for the school? From the stories and articles I’ve read through the years, probably a lot. So for BYU to make such a decision right before playoffs isn’t a bad thing as you say it is. It shows integrity. Though integrity isn’t as highly valued by some people these days.

  • Zach
  • Zach
  • TLDB

    The problem that Jim Dalrymple has in this article is he insists on criticizing BYU on petty Honor Code rules, like shaving, being in a girls apartment past midnight, ordering coffee and as far as saying his close might have been too tight. Doing this is very silly and ineffective. From my experience BYU wouldn’t take such harsh measures on Davies if it was a little thing like shaving or the other little things mentioned. It must of been more serious or some recurring issue that Davies wasn’t willing to change. Yeah, losing Brandon Davies is tough for the basketball team, but he agree to the honor code when he signed the contract.

  • TLDB

    The problem that Jim Dalrymple has in this article is he insists on criticizing BYU on petty Honor Code rules, like shaving, being in a girls apartment past midnight, ordering coffee and as far as saying his close might have been too tight. Doing this is very silly and ineffective. From my experience BYU wouldn’t take such harsh measures on Davies if it was a little thing like shaving or the other little things mentioned. It must of been more serious or some recurring issue that Davies wasn’t willing to change. Yeah, losing Brandon Davies is tough for the basketball team, but he agree to the honor code when he signed the contract.

  • Crowdog

    From the experience I have had with BYU, and our own version up here in Idaho, is that it becomes more about students reporting on each other, rather then abiding by principles and precepts. I think you can enforce principles, without delving into the minutia of the rules. I have never understood many of the rules like the facial hair. I can hold a prominent position in my Stake in Idaho, and *Gasp* I have facial hair. I understand code rules like being in females apartments and such. It does go to human behavior, and in direct opposition to church teachings of morality. Other such violations, as Jim said don’t actually go to the basis or even doctrine of the church.

    My concern really isn’t with Davies, but I agree with Mr. Dalrymple that BYU’s goal shouldn’t be just to enforce the rules, but to teach their students how to comply with the rules, so that all benefit. I am a behavioral therapist, and very few if any behaviors, happen in isolation. So Mr Davies was doing something before this, and was giving out signs of what was happening, but the University only found out about it Monday. I just think, if you are going to enforce the little things, that someone should have seen something like this coming, and worked with the young man to prevent the situation deteriorating to this point.

    Plus a lot of you, really need to get out of Utah…just sayin’!!

    • Scotcahoon

      For reals! Expand your horizons, Utahns: see Idaho!
      ;)

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513093044 Jonathan Ulf Schwarzmann

        So you’d prefer the university to actively seek out honor code violations when there are signs of bad behavior? Please.

        • Scotcahoon

          I was just poking fun at Crowdog’s final sentence there, tongue in cheek.

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513093044 Jonathan Ulf Schwarzmann

            Mine was meant as a reply to Crowdog.

          • Crowdog

            Jonathan, Yes, I do think if you are going to hold people responsible, you also need to teach them a way to fix the problem. I also work as a HR Director. I have leeway in company policies. Yes there are some things that are absolutes, which means they would be terminated immediately. So in Davies case if that is what is meant by the honor code, then dismiss him from the university. So as it is now, someone gives the honor code office a “tip”, and then they enforce the violation. So you would rather not teach people to behave, but rely on the Police to enforce all law violations. Where is the better neighborhood to live, the one in which everyone relies on the police, or people police themselves.

            To Scott: Yea Idaho rocks, but I am actually originally from Washington state.

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513093044 Jonathan Ulf Schwarzmann

            “… but to teach their students how to comply with the rules…” The basis for your argument appears to be that BYU has absolutely no role in helping develop a young adults moral sense. I guess all the religion courses BYU students are asked to take don’t do that. Or the weekly devotionals, the prayers at every meeting, etc, etc, etc.

            Of course, that might not be enough for some 19-25 year olds. They couldn’t possibly be expected to be able to discern between a situation that is against the rules and one that is not. Do you want BYU, and every other university with any sort of moral code for that matter, to have a “Life Lessons” course? I’d hope the professor would begin it by saying something like this, “If you still haven’t learned how to reason, think critically, and discern between what constitutes the violation of a rule and what does not, this course is for you.”

            By your argument, the federal and state governments should be spending tons of tax payers dollars to teach them how to follow all the laws. Well, they kind of are right? Public schools, community programs right? Well, everyones not following the rules, so it must be the governments fault that people are still breaking the law. What about the parents? That’s neither here nor there though.

            So “Crowdog,” if you really think BYU just sits on its hands waiting for someone to break the honor code, I feel bad for your shortsightedness. I have never attended classes at BYU, but have spent enough time in this community to know that BYU plays an active role in their students’ life. I’m sorry, but trying to say BYU isn’t trying to teach its students how to follow simple rules is ludicrous. It’s a horribly ignorant assumption.

    • Hannah

      good point–”if you are going to enforce the little things, that someone should have seen something like this coming, and worked with the young man to prevent the situation deteriorating to this point.”

      i’m not a big sports follower but i have been following john galliano’s recent firing from dior for his anti-semitic outbursts in paris. a journalist at the new yorker (who profiled galliano in 2003) wrote today that “Galliano’s act of self destruction was about as shocking as the widespread discovery, also this week, that Charlie Sheen is a vulgar fool.” he was a drug abuser, a sex addict, completely OCD in many aspects of his life and people dismissed it as part of his creative genius… and that finally crashed down on him because for some reason, being a drug/sex addict is ok if you’re an artist but being an anti-semite is not. unfortunately, he just happens to be an utter genius when it comes to design and will be missed in the fashion world.

      this is not all to say that brandon davies was a drug/sex addict or whatever, but i think it’s an apt comparison. small behaviors should have been attended to beforehand, which is why it’s great that worked into the honor code there is a responsibility for everyone to make sure that their fellow cougs are following the rules too—which ends up being awkward sometimes but i think it’s a great system of checks and balances so that the university isn’t babysitting, like people seem to think the honor code is all about. plus, it’s not like the church is being completely arbitrary about any of the small rules either. that’s fodder for a whole other discussion though and my comment is already the length of a short novel.

      and i agree with the other commenters that it’s doubtful that he was dismissed for something like overgrown facial hair or staying at someone’s house past midnight. it’s like everyone suddenly forgot the football incident in 2004, which was only public information because what the football players did was completely illegal. i have a sneaking suspicion they would have been dismissed even if the girl they raped wasn’t underage.

      this is all to underscore the fact that the honor code is not a secret. everyone reads and signs it and cannot walk anywhere on campus without being overly aware of it. of course it’s not without it’s problems as far as enforcement goes (how about the BYU athlete that sexually assaulted a girl while i was working for BYU, which she didn’t want to report to the honor code office because she thought that SHE would get in trouble for having him in her room?) or as far as zealotry is concerned among some groups of people, but the fact that they are cracking down is to be applauded, NOT condemned.

      this article just seems like a ploy to stir controversy and get comments (good job with that part—i sure fell for it).

  • Crowdog

    From the experience I have had with BYU, and our own version up here in Idaho, is that it becomes more about students reporting on each other, rather then abiding by principles and precepts. I think you can enforce principles, without delving into the minutia of the rules. I have never understood many of the rules like the facial hair. I can hold a prominent position in my Stake in Idaho, and *Gasp* I have facial hair. I understand code rules like being in females apartments and such. It does go to human behavior, and in direct opposition to church teachings of morality. Other such violations, as Jim said don’t actually go to the basis or even doctrine of the church.

    My concern really isn’t with Davies, but I agree with Mr. Dalrymple that BYU’s goal shouldn’t be just to enforce the rules, but to teach their students how to comply with the rules, so that all benefit. I am a behavioral therapist, and very few if any behaviors, happen in isolation. So Mr Davies was doing something before this, and was giving out signs of what was happening, but the University only found out about it Monday. I just think, if you are going to enforce the little things, that someone should have seen something like this coming, and worked with the young man to prevent the situation deteriorating to this point.

    Plus a lot of you, really need to get out of Utah…just sayin’!!

    • Scotcahoon

      For reals! Expand your horizons, Utahns: see Idaho!
      ;)

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513093044 Jonathan Ulf Schwarzmann

        So you’d prefer the university to actively seek out honor code violations when there are signs of bad behavior? Please.

        • Scotcahoon

          I was just poking fun at Crowdog’s final sentence there, tongue in cheek.

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513093044 Jonathan Ulf Schwarzmann

            Mine was meant as a reply to Crowdog.

          • Crowdog

            Jonathan, Yes, I do think if you are going to hold people responsible, you also need to teach them a way to fix the problem. I also work as a HR Director. I have leeway in company policies. Yes there are some things that are absolutes, which means they would be terminated immediately. So in Davies case if that is what is meant by the honor code, then dismiss him from the university. So as it is now, someone gives the honor code office a “tip”, and then they enforce the violation. So you would rather not teach people to behave, but rely on the Police to enforce all law violations. Where is the better neighborhood to live, the one in which everyone relies on the police, or people police themselves.

            To Scott: Yea Idaho rocks, but I am actually originally from Washington state.

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513093044 Jonathan Ulf Schwarzmann

            “… but to teach their students how to comply with the rules…” The basis for your argument appears to be that BYU has absolutely no role in helping develop a young adults moral sense. I guess all the religion courses BYU students are asked to take don’t do that. Or the weekly devotionals, the prayers at every meeting, etc, etc, etc.

            Of course, that might not be enough for some 19-25 year olds. They couldn’t possibly be expected to be able to discern between a situation that is against the rules and one that is not. Do you want BYU, and every other university with any sort of moral code for that matter, to have a “Life Lessons” course? I’d hope the professor would begin it by saying something like this, “If you still haven’t learned how to reason, think critically, and discern between what constitutes the violation of a rule and what does not, this course is for you.”

            By your argument, the federal and state governments should be spending tons of tax payers dollars to teach them how to follow all the laws. Well, they kind of are right? Public schools, community programs right? Well, everyones not following the rules, so it must be the governments fault that people are still breaking the law. What about the parents? That’s neither here nor there though.

            So “Crowdog,” if you really think BYU just sits on its hands waiting for someone to break the honor code, I feel bad for your shortsightedness. I have never attended classes at BYU, but have spent enough time in this community to know that BYU plays an active role in their students’ life. I’m sorry, but trying to say BYU isn’t trying to teach its students how to follow simple rules is ludicrous. It’s a horribly ignorant assumption.

    • Hannah

      good point–”if you are going to enforce the little things, that someone should have seen something like this coming, and worked with the young man to prevent the situation deteriorating to this point.”

      i’m not a big sports follower but i have been following john galliano’s recent firing from dior for his anti-semitic outbursts in paris. a journalist at the new yorker (who profiled galliano in 2003) wrote today that “Galliano’s act of self destruction was about as shocking as the widespread discovery, also this week, that Charlie Sheen is a vulgar fool.” he was a drug abuser, a sex addict, completely OCD in many aspects of his life and people dismissed it as part of his creative genius… and that finally crashed down on him because for some reason, being a drug/sex addict is ok if you’re an artist but being an anti-semite is not. unfortunately, he just happens to be an utter genius when it comes to design and will be missed in the fashion world.

      this is not all to say that brandon davies was a drug/sex addict or whatever, but i think it’s an apt comparison. small behaviors should have been attended to beforehand, which is why it’s great that worked into the honor code there is a responsibility for everyone to make sure that their fellow cougs are following the rules too—which ends up being awkward sometimes but i think it’s a great system of checks and balances so that the university isn’t babysitting, like people seem to think the honor code is all about. plus, it’s not like the church is being completely arbitrary about any of the small rules either. that’s fodder for a whole other discussion though and my comment is already the length of a short novel.

      and i agree with the other commenters that it’s doubtful that he was dismissed for something like overgrown facial hair or staying at someone’s house past midnight. it’s like everyone suddenly forgot the football incident in 2004, which was only public information because what the football players did was completely illegal. i have a sneaking suspicion they would have been dismissed even if the girl they raped wasn’t underage.

      this is all to underscore the fact that the honor code is not a secret. everyone reads and signs it and cannot walk anywhere on campus without being overly aware of it. of course it’s not without it’s problems as far as enforcement goes (how about the BYU athlete that sexually assaulted a girl while i was working for BYU, which she didn’t want to report to the honor code office because she thought that SHE would get in trouble for having him in her room?) or as far as zealotry is concerned among some groups of people, but the fact that they are cracking down is to be applauded, NOT condemned.

      this article just seems like a ploy to stir controversy and get comments (good job with that part—i sure fell for it).

  • Patty

    In a world where people increasingly lay the blame for their actions at others feet, and refuse to face up to the consequences by seeking a scapegoat, I applaud BYU for not jumping into the murky waters of trying to be “politically correct” and to seek popular approval.
    BYU is an institution for higher learning, not an athletic club only. And they not only focus on learning and academics, but on character development as well. The into from the BYU athletic department mission statement is as follows; “Our mission is to conduct the Athletics program in a manner that will develop student-athletes of excellence in academics, athletics, faith, and character, and to contribute to the mission of the LDS Church through the visibility of our positive example and our accomplishments.”
    It is a matter of opinion that their Honor Code may be antiquated, but there are a great many people in the world who think the Beatitudes of the New Testament are out-dated also.
    While it is regrettable that Davies made the choices he did, they are, ultimately, HIS choices. I would assume he made those choices knowing full well the possible consequences of them. It is sad that he would do so, and let his team down like he did. A true team player thinks of the team first, placing himself second.
    I say Kudos to BYU for having a higher standard!!

  • Patty

    In a world where people increasingly lay the blame for their actions at others feet, and refuse to face up to the consequences by seeking a scapegoat, I applaud BYU for not jumping into the murky waters of trying to be “politically correct” and to seek popular approval.
    BYU is an institution for higher learning, not an athletic club only. And they not only focus on learning and academics, but on character development as well. The into from the BYU athletic department mission statement is as follows; “Our mission is to conduct the Athletics program in a manner that will develop student-athletes of excellence in academics, athletics, faith, and character, and to contribute to the mission of the LDS Church through the visibility of our positive example and our accomplishments.”
    It is a matter of opinion that their Honor Code may be antiquated, but there are a great many people in the world who think the Beatitudes of the New Testament are out-dated also.
    While it is regrettable that Davies made the choices he did, they are, ultimately, HIS choices. I would assume he made those choices knowing full well the possible consequences of them. It is sad that he would do so, and let his team down like he did. A true team player thinks of the team first, placing himself second.
    I say Kudos to BYU for having a higher standard!!

  • Perry Moppins

    BYU should focus on being an institution of “higher learning” if it wants to succeed on the basketball court? This, I am sorry to say, is a rather ignorant statement. BYU is nationally recognized for its excellence in the academic field. #1 accounting undergrad, #5 public relations program, #10 in graduates going on to receive doctorates. The list goes on and on. BYU has proven itself as an institution of higher learning without the help of the athletic programs. I would say that being an institution of higher learning is their main priority. Too many schools focus too much on being an institution of great athletics. Which is better? Is it the greater sin to help students/atheletes hide their problems by sweeping them under the rug so that the athletic program (or any other program for that matter) is preserved or to hold your students to a higher, not unobtainable, standard and have them take responsibility for their actions? The honor code is a set of rules that are not affected by any time line. They are rules that encompass many good values and are for the benefit of the students. Yes, some seem silly. Clearly the most mocked of them all is the facial hair rule. Do I agree with it? Does it matter? I applied to BYU because it is a great school. It was not my only option. I could have gone elsewhere but I chose BYU AND its honor code. Just as a last thought, the statement about BYU lumping all offenses under one umbrella is also way off. Jim, do you go to BYU? Have you done any research on this? If you attend(ed) BYU or know of anyone who does or has, can you really make that statement? I haven’t shaved in over two weeks (I know, SHAME ON ME!) and even though I pass faculty all day, I am not being threatened with suspension from the university. Just like any set of rules, I think the honor code is dealt with according to severity of the offense.

  • Perry Moppins

    BYU should focus on being an institution of “higher learning” if it wants to succeed on the basketball court? This, I am sorry to say, is a rather ignorant statement. BYU is nationally recognized for its excellence in the academic field. #1 accounting undergrad, #5 public relations program, #10 in graduates going on to receive doctorates. The list goes on and on. BYU has proven itself as an institution of higher learning without the help of the athletic programs. I would say that being an institution of higher learning is their main priority. Too many schools focus too much on being an institution of great athletics. Which is better? Is it the greater sin to help students/atheletes hide their problems by sweeping them under the rug so that the athletic program (or any other program for that matter) is preserved or to hold your students to a higher, not unobtainable, standard and have them take responsibility for their actions? The honor code is a set of rules that are not affected by any time line. They are rules that encompass many good values and are for the benefit of the students. Yes, some seem silly. Clearly the most mocked of them all is the facial hair rule. Do I agree with it? Does it matter? I applied to BYU because it is a great school. It was not my only option. I could have gone elsewhere but I chose BYU AND its honor code. Just as a last thought, the statement about BYU lumping all offenses under one umbrella is also way off. Jim, do you go to BYU? Have you done any research on this? If you attend(ed) BYU or know of anyone who does or has, can you really make that statement? I haven’t shaved in over two weeks (I know, SHAME ON ME!) and even though I pass faculty all day, I am not being threatened with suspension from the university. Just like any set of rules, I think the honor code is dealt with according to severity of the offense.

  • Anela

    Hey Jimmy, I liked actually liked your article, and it brought back memories lol. haha. So true that the rules are way too strict & its so easy to be completely imperfect with them. -Anela

  • Anela

    Hey Jimmy, I liked actually liked your article, and it brought back memories lol. haha. So true that the rules are way too strict & its so easy to be completely imperfect with them. -Anela

  • Jon Brame

    I disagree completely. The point isn’t the petty, minute details of the honor code (and I will admit some of them are a bit over the top). The point is in the name-HONOR code. By setting a standard, requiring the students to live it, and enforcing it when broken, BYU tells the world that integrity is more important than prestige, money or influence. In a world where athletic programs lie, cover up, mitigate and excuse major infractions, I am proud to be an alum of a school that lives up to it’s own standards rather than trying to escape punishments meted out by others.

  • Jon Brame

    I disagree completely. The point isn’t the petty, minute details of the honor code (and I will admit some of them are a bit over the top). The point is in the name-HONOR code. By setting a standard, requiring the students to live it, and enforcing it when broken, BYU tells the world that integrity is more important than prestige, money or influence. In a world where athletic programs lie, cover up, mitigate and excuse major infractions, I am proud to be an alum of a school that lives up to it’s own standards rather than trying to escape punishments meted out by others.

  • Meredith

    Nice piece of writing, Jim. I could care less about the disproportionate success of college and professional athletes (which doesn’t seem like it’s changing any time soon), but you bring up some interesting questions. I think most of the commenters here are missing the part about updating the code and are instead jumping to defend why they didn’t enter a girl’s room (?) for four years.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513093044 Jonathan Ulf Schwarzmann

      Yeah, because it’s as baseless and thoughtless as that. Actually, I didn’t miss the part about updating the code. Because you’re right, that’s the point. BYU shouldn’t have to update their code. It’s worked just fine for the hundreds of thousands of students that have gone through the University, and the few who can’t A) live by it, or B) are smart enough to hide their infractions, have gotten what they deserved for knowingly adopting those rules as part of their college life.

      If you think otherwise, I’d hate to know what other ground you’re willing to give just to be mainstream.

  • Meredith

    Nice piece of writing, Jim. I could care less about the disproportionate success of college and professional athletes (which doesn’t seem like it’s changing any time soon), but you bring up some interesting questions. I think most of the commenters here are missing the part about updating the code and are instead jumping to defend why they didn’t enter a girl’s room (?) for four years.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513093044 Jonathan Ulf Schwarzmann

      Yeah, because it’s as baseless and thoughtless as that. Actually, I didn’t miss the part about updating the code. Because you’re right, that’s the point. BYU shouldn’t have to update their code. It’s worked just fine for the hundreds of thousands of students that have gone through the University, and the few who can’t A) live by it, or B) are smart enough to hide their infractions, have gotten what they deserved for knowingly adopting those rules as part of their college life.

      If you think otherwise, I’d hate to know what other ground you’re willing to give just to be mainstream.

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