LANE ANDERSO
At an opening retreat Friday night, new Honor Code Council members were treated to a night at Timp lodge, a turkey dinner and a taste of what upholding the Honor Code is all about.
While the issue of dress and grooming standards usually steals the spotlight, Council Chair Desmond Eppel, a sophomore from Randgurd, South Africa, majoring in comparative literature, and his colleagues wanted to emphasize honor, honesty, respect, obedience and other fundamental principles of the Honor Code to the new members.
Members were broken into groups to learn about their responsibilities. Only one-third of them will be involved in dealing with violation referrals. The other two-thirds will be involved in organizing firesides, forums, faculty lecture series and organizing campaigns that teach the principles of the Honor Code.
New members found that they are not allowed to report Honor Code violations, in most cases. Most referrals are made by those who provide service on campus such as employees in the library or the testing center.
New members learned that it is not the Honor Code Council, but the Honor Code Office, whose personnel consists of university employees who are responsible for any disciplinary action taken.
The Honor Code Council works with students who are referred for the first time and meets with them by appointment. They conduct group workshops with these students to help them understand the Honor Code and its importance.
Student Life Vice President Alton Wade spoke to the council about the unique environment that the Honor Code creates at BYU. 'Many of you could have chosen schools that are more acclaimed academically or offered scholarships,' Wade said. He believes it is the high moral standards and a spirituality that cannot be found elsewhere that attract students to BYU.
Some students feel the Honor Code, particularly the dress and grooming standards, violate the 'teach them correct principles and they will govern themselves' statement.
Wade disagrees. He refers to a speech given by then-BYU President Dallin Oaks, who admonished those who tried to subvert the rules to part peacefully and sample environments elsewhere. 'BYU is established to refine students, not reform them,' Wade said.
Rush Sumpter, the Honor Code Office director, feels that the Honor Code is in line with gospel principles.
While the Lord trusts us, he still sets guidelines for us, he said. Some guidelines we do not understand but follow anyway, which Sumpter believes is the attitude of most students toward the Honor Code. 'Most students give us their full support,' Sumpter added.
The Honor Code was initiated by students. In 1941, a student organization known as the Blue Key Society wrote up a code of conduct to preserve the academic society and high moral standards at the university and submitted it to the administration.
The idea was so well received that it was later institutionalized by Ernest Wilkinson.
Any student can be a member of the Honor Code Council, which is staffed by volunteers. The council is located in 366 SWKT.