By SHANNA GHAZNAVI
shanna@du2.byu.edu
The relationship between the Honor Code Office and ecclesiastical leaders might be well defined on the books, but more than 65 percent of BYU students say they don't fully understand that relationship.
In a recent Daily Universe survey, 65.9 percent of students thought LDS bishops reported Honor Code violators to the Honor Code Office, even though only 34.4 percent said they thought bishops were required to.
One respondent to the survey expressed the common misperception that 'the bishops are required to report violations to the Honor Code Office, but they shouldn't be.'
Alton Wade, Student Life vice president, said, 'It's really an exceptional case when a bishop reports anything like that to the Honor Code Office.'
The problem is one of misperception and miscommunication, Wade said. He said those student perceptions are not supported by either the number of students referred to the Honor Code Office or the expectations of the office.
Bishops are only required to report to the Honor Code Office if they are withdrawing a student's ecclesiastical endorsement, said Steve Baker, director of the Honor Code Office. Baker said he discourages bishops from volunteering any other confidential student information.
Excommunication, disfellowshipment and disaffiliation are possible reasons for withdrawal of an ecclesiastical endorsement and the only official reason for a BYU bishop to contact the Honor Code Office.
With a turnover of about 100 bishops every year, it is sometimes difficult to educate all BYU bishops sufficiently concerning their relationship to the Honor Code Office. 'There are probably a few bishops who don't know what's appropriate, but we're working on that,' Baker said.
Student misperceptions, however, may prove to be a larger problem than bishops' misperceptions.
S. Taylor Smith, bishop of the BYU 40th Ward, said he thinks some students delay the part of their repentance process that involves consulting with their bishop because they fear their bishop will report them to the Honor Code Office.
Smith said he did not know if he was required to report violators to the Honor Code Office, but he said he has never done so.
Ronald Chapman, bishop of the BYU 109th Ward, agrees that fear exists among students, but is he sure bishops will use their discernment on whether to report to the Honor Code Office on any particular case.
'My role as bishop is to help the students in my ward develop the characteristics and develop the personal lifestyle that is consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ,' Chapman said. Sometimes referral to the Honor Code Office needs to be part of the repentance process, he said.
Nolan Reed, associate dean of students, said the Honor Code Office cannot take responsibility when students 'wait until the end of the semester to clean up their lives,' because 'that's an ecclesiastical problem.'
Two meetings are held each year in an effort to orient new BYU bishops. At those meetings, Wade, BYU President Merrill J. Bateman, the LDS Church area presidency and others attempt to inform the bishops of their relationship to the Honor Code and the Honor Code Office.
Mark Rowe, coordinator for activities involving the 20 BYU stakes, said, additionally, that stake presidents train bishops within their stakes.
BYU's official policy concerning the relationship between the Honor Code Office and ecclesiastical leaders can be found at www.byu.edu/honorcode/office/. The information found at this Web site is also used as part of bishops' training, Rowe said.
Once bishops are educated, they need to inform their ward members that they do not report to the Honor Code Office, Wade said.
Although bishops do not report to the Honor Code Office, students can involve their bishops in their dealings with the office if they sign a waiver allowing them to do so.
Baker said the office tries to involve bishops every time it is appropriate. 'We are trying to do what's best for the person, balanced out with the needs of the university,' he said.
Chapman, who is also the director of the Counseling and Career Center, said he knows people in the Honor Code Office are concerned about students and their welfare.