By Avery McKinney
The Student Honor Association sent two BYU students to the Class of 1970 National Conference on Ethics in America at West Point this week.
The annual conference, attended by 160 students from more than 60 colleges and universities, runs today through Thursday, Nov. 6.
'The students will be talking about ethics, honor codes and the difference it makes in students'' lives,' said Jeannie Papic, coordinator of the Student Honor Association.
Papic said BYU has been sending students to the conference every semester for at least the past seven years.
Ruth Cuevas, a senior from Santa Monica, Calif., majoring in public relations, has worked with the Student Honor Association since her freshman year. This year Cuevas will be attending the conference.
'We''re working on putting together materials and packages for anyone interested in our Honor Code,' Cuevas said. 'Some of the schools going already have Honor Codes and some don''t.'
Cuevas said that other schools'' Honor Codes are different from the BYU Honor Code.
'Most schools have academic-based Honor Codes,' Cuevas said. 'They deal solely with things like plagiarism and cheating. Our Honor Code is different then other schools'' in that it is based on gospel principles,' Cuevas said.
Le''o Latu, a senior from Provo, majoring in music and piano, will also be attending the conference. Latu said she wants students from other universities to know that anyone can abide by the Honor Code.
'The Honor Code is something that everyone can live, regardless of their religion or race,' Latu said.
Latu said BYU''s Honor Code is also different because students do it willingly.
'Keeping your commitments and abiding with the Honor Code is not something that students get paid to do or are forced to do,' Latu said. 'Everyone agrees to do it willingly, and they commit to do it on their own. That''s the whole miracle of the Honor Code here at BYU.'
Papic said that other schools are curious about the Honor Code.
'Other schools are really interested in our Honor Code,' Papic said. 'They are amazed our students will live the standards.'
Papic said students respect BYU for its Honor Code.
'They think it''s wonderful,' Papic said. 'Other schools are losing kids to drugs, STDs, pregnancy, academic dishonesty, and alcoholism. They are in awe of BYU.'
Cuevas said while she thinks this will be an opportunity to share the gospel, that will not be the primary focus of the trip.
'We''re taking Books of Mormon, so it''s kind of a missionary experience, though that''s not the primary focus,' Cuevas said.
Cuevas said the Student Honor Association will use much of what they learn in presentations on campus. The Student Honor Association promotes the Honor Code on campus through posters, firesides and various activities.