BYU Honor Code: Was Brandon Davies unchaste, untrue or worse?
(CBS) - Following the dismissal of sophomore Brandon Davies, Brigham Young University has dealt itself a severe blow if it still has dreams of making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
But some things are more important than sports success - for example, honor. BYU has always operated under a simple, uncompromising honor code. What could Davies have done to violate that trust? Let us take a closer look at this long-standing document."We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men," the code begins. BYU has strict rules concerning proper dress and conduct for its students, in keeping with its mission to "provide an education in an atmosphere consistent with the ideals of principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
It is important not to judge Davies without all the facts, but looking at some of the more everyday rules in the honor code seems like a good place to start. No drugs or alcohol, obey the law and all campus policies. And of course, no premarital sex.
Not too hard to imagine where a young, successful athlete might slip up. But then, there are more arcane rules in the code. Could Davies have let his sideburns go beyond his ears? Did he get a body piercing? Perhaps he skipped out on attending church once too often.
Obviously it is a testament to the integrity of BYU and its student-athletes that the university has maintained an incredible level of athletic success while abiding by a centuries-old code of conduct. That the team was also willing to straight up drop one of the best basketball players in the country shows how seriously they take their honor code. But until someone starts talking we'll have to guess for ourselves what dishonorable conduct might have taken place.
Look over the Honor Code for yourself here.