For being the middle of winter, there is a lot of flesh being exposed.
Then again, for being the middle of January, it feels a lot like the middle of May. No matter, at a time when turtlenecks and long sleeves should dominate campus, scantily clad students abound.
We are not the only ones who have noticed. President Bateman made modesty one of his key points at Tuesday's devotional. He expressed concern that the 'world's dress fashions for women are becoming tighter and more revealing.' The male students got a similar reprimand for their long hair and lax clothing.
With all the recent emphasis that has been placed on modesty, one would think that it is a new concept. Yet, modesty is as old as man. The ancient Greek orator Demades said, 'Modesty is the citadel of beauty.' That was 350 B.C.
Today, modesty remains a struggle, despite its many-touted virtues. Sometimes, it is just an issue of personal judgment. After all, some alumni are still reeling from BYU's decision to allow women to wear pants. Obviously, modesty is subject to new trends, but it must not be their victim. Permitting shorts on campus is entirely different than allowing hot pants.
The sad reality, however, is that many students push acceptable modesty levels just for the sake of pushing. BYU students seem to get a thrill out of toeing the lines of decency. Many are concerned with how much they can do without breaking concrete commandments, while others are obsessed with how little they can wear without bringing an honor code citation upon themselves.
This epidemic of 'legal rebelliousness' is spreading across campus. It permeates every facet of student life. There are the students who observe the minimal requirements of church attendance. There are the students who encourage sin, while fearfully abstaining. There are the students who embrace casual cursing.
While a few bad words seem harmless, and occasionally humorous, what is really accomplished? Does the student body stop in awe and marvel at the independence of such individuals? To modify the classic question: If a person loses his integrity when no one is watching, does he still make a point?
The lines of decency are so thin that we are forced to be our own judges. Many students run with this freedom, blurring standards at their convenience. Yet, would it not be easier, more practical and, ultimately, more virtuous to draw a conservative black line for ourselves?
We are not here to condemn, but to propose a solution. Maybe students could get excited about being as good as possible, rather than the opposite. Instead of taking a foot when we're given an inch, we could find happiness in an honorable centimeter. It might not be much, but it's a modest start.