In a recent article I read about Brandon Davies being dismissed from the team, the author stated that BYU’ honor code was even stricter than that of the LDS church and in his words described it as the LDS church on steriods. He goes on to allude that BYU is ruthless and that if BYU wanted to help the basketball player, they would have kept him on the team and helped him with his issue.
Other people such as the broadcasters on Sportscenter the other day applauded BYU for upholding their standards in a time when many schools would not have, given all that was on the line.
I feel that the first author could have had a valid point since part of the honor code at BYU is “trivial” things (in my opinion) such as if you have shaved that day, cheated on a test, had a cup of Joe, or was dressing inappropriately. If Davies would have been removed from the team for a smaller violation such as one of these, I think that could have been justified, but it would have been much too harsh. In a situation such as that, they could have taken him in and helped him, assuming that he was willing to work on it and not do it. Perhaps suspended him for a game or something of that nature.
However, now that the word is out that he was having sexual relations the consequences are much higher and he is therefore off the team. I agree with the team for doing that because in the long run, it helps Davies if he will allow it to.
When one is baptized into the LDS church on of the covenants they make with God is that they will be sexually pure before marriage as well as faithful to their spouses after marriage. The consequences for violating this are similar to what happened to Davies in that an individual would most likely be excommunicated from the church and would need to go through the repentance process of purifying their lives before the Lord and then being re-baptized.
I am assuming that Davies could be reinstated onto the basketball team if he chooses to go through the repentance process and discontinue sexual relations outside of marriage. If he does this, and BYU doesn’t let him back onto the team for that reason, I would agree with the first author that the Honor Code is going too far. However, I must agree with the sportscenter folks for now and applaud BYU for upholding the honor code. In the long run it will help Davies become a better man, if he allows it.
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March 4, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Deidra
I’m of the strong opinion that if you don’t like the honor code or dont want to follow it, don’t go BYU. It shouldn’t be a surprise to what the terms are, or that they’re enforced. Whether they are too strict or not shouldn’t be the issue. They set the terms and you agree to them. If you agree, it’s just like any other contract– you break the terms you pay the price.
And with that said, go Aggies! I wasn’t letting BYU tell me what I could or couldn’t do while going to scool.
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March 5, 2011 at 1:09 am
Doug
It warmed my heart to see a school count the cost and raise the bar anyway. I say-way to go BYU!
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March 7, 2011 at 6:21 pm
LuluBelle
I say put a big Sarlet Letter A on his forehead and make him walk around campus for a month. Maybe even consider a good old fashioned stoning. I am sooo proud of BYU! Let’s HUMILIATE (publicly) anyone who dare defy the HONOR CODE. After all, having consensual se* with another adult has got to have a punishment that fits the crime. A good public flogging will help.
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