In response to Kevin Witt's piece on the 'Honor Code is Costly' published in the Daily Universe on July 7th, I would like to point out a few things.
First, neither the Honor Code Office, the BYU Off-Campus Housing Office, nor any other BYU subsidiary office can be held responsible for Kevin's decision to abandon his rental agreement. He made a choice in virtue of his own will and judgment and he should bear full responsibility for his choice.
Secondly, he proceeds his reader's forum piece from the implicit assumption that he was forced to move out because he could not possibly tolerate what he perceived as a sin with the least degree of allowance.
Again, Kevin's attitude towards the matter is a result of his subjective interpretation of how he should have handled the situation best. The Honor Code helps us understand how we ought to interpret moral questions such as the one before us, but the Honor Code will never coerce any individual or party, especially not a non-BYU student. The same is true for all other Church related policies and procedures. Codes and policies are there to give us guidance on how to make moral judgments; they are not an end in and of themselves. The case Kevin decided to bring forward in the Reader's Forum of the Daily Universe is an example where Kevin could have been exemplary in solving a moral dispute diplomatically, reasonably, and peacefully. I believe that in the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation, the roommate could have had a moment of conscience reflection on his choices. In the process, Kevin could have made a friend whom he could have helped to repent. But mostly, what appears to be of primary concern to Kevin in this case is that he could have saved his $369.
Geoff Uyleman
Provo, UT