Rewrite Honor Code
Students made the Honor Code and I think it is time that we as students be given the power to rewrite it. The reason is simple; it is unnecessary to have a code of conduct that hedges the law we have been given from God. I think it is haunting how easy it is to draw a parallel between the Honor Code and the many rules of the Pharisees that hedged the law of Moses. That hedge became the focus instead of the law's intent.
The Honor Code's intent, I most sincerely hope, is to commit students to honesty in their school work. But the focus has become the hedge on the law. When you think of the Honor Code, do you think of beards and curfews, or do you think of not cheating on quizzes and tests? I know some of you are thinking that without these rules many of us would commit grievous sins. But the truth is there already are commandments that teach us how to live. So let's get rid of everything else, and let the church teach us the principles and commandments, 'so that we may govern ourselves.'
However, I do agree that we all should have a dress code prescribed by each school according to the professionalism they desire of the students in their school. And, most importantly, the Honor Code should simply be a contract to deal honestly in our school work so the school can have legal and moral authority to discipline or expel the violators. But sadly enough, in my years at BYU, I have seen more cheating than beards.
Adam Belnap
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Too many men lack respect
I would like to thank Clayton B. Hess for his wonderful article about men and the Honor Code. It is refreshing to see a man stand up for what a man should be here at BYU. Now some men might be thinking, 'here's a bitter woman who never gets dates getting her two cents in.' But I am not bitter, and I have a boyfriend. I would just like to say that I have had my share of bad experiences with boys at BYU and returned missionaries in general who do not live up to the Honor Code or even a shadow of what they were or should have been on their missions.
Too many men around here have a lack of respect for women as well as a lack of social skills (hence the stalking mentioned by Clayton Hess), job skills and future husband skills. I realize women have the same responsibility to follow the Honor Code and make something of themselves but I see a lot more women stepping up to the plate then men.
Michelle Wimber
West Valley City
Gambling letter too clich?d
I am conflicted. On the one hand, I enjoy a good laugh from the crazy letters that get published in the Reader's Forum. On the other hand, I also enjoy intellectually stimulating debate. It's gotten to the point that some of the clich?d letters need to stop, though. Friday's 'Gambling madness' letter is a perfect example of one of the worst clich?s: students being 'shocked' by something so 'clearly evil' as NCAA tournament brackets appearing in The Daily Universe. Never mind the fact that The Universe has been doing this for years without being stricken by a plague of locusts or a reprimand from the board of trustees.
BYU students need to stop trying to be the arbiter of the will of the prophets. The prophet is perfectly capable of issuing such proclamations. That's the great thing about having a living one. And as for the idea that participating in a game of chance is 'indirect rebellion to President Hinckley's council,' I suppose it's a good thing that little children can't be condemned for playing such insidious games of chance as Candy Land and Hungry Hungry Hippos. At least until they turn eight.
Tom Sauser
Farmington, Minn.
It's true, it is gambling
In response to the recent comments concerning gambling I would like to quote a passage from 'True to the Faith.' 'Gambling is motivated by a desire to get something for nothing. This desire is spiritually destructive ... Those who participate in gambling soon discover the deception in the idea that they can give little or nothing and receive something of value in return.'
Competitions such as essay contests and BYUSA elections require participants to give of themselves, unlike the Bookstore's March Madness bracket contest. I agree with Seth Springer's call to put a stop to this madness.
Brian Rollins
Misawa, Japan
This letter is a gamble
Attention all NCAA tournament fans! Contrary to what you read in Seth Springer's 'Gambling madness' letter, there is no need to turn in your temple recommend with your bracket predictions. The March Madness bracket contest sponsored by the BYU Bookstore is just that, a contest. The winner gets a prize. This does not resemble gambling in any way. When I was 10, I entered a Thanksgiving grocery bag design contest at the local grocery store. I lost. Unfair? Maybe, but it's not gambling. My entry wasn't as good as the other ones.
This contest is no different. The winner or winners will have submitted the best bracket predictions. The losers will have lost nothing. If every contest that selected a few winners from many applicants were considered gambling, anyone applying to college is gambling. Every year, thousands of qualified applicants are denied entrance into BYU and many other competitive schools. Is this gambling? Of course not. By Mr. Springer's standards, he himself is guilty of gambling with the very act of writing a letter to the Daily Universe editor. Think of all those who lose and are not published. So unfair. Mr. Springer, in his 'call' to all (even President Samuelson) to repent, has grossly misinterpreted President Hinckley's inspired counsel.
Mason Schneider
Maple Valley, Wash.
Put aside prejudice against Utah
In defense of Mr. Reid ('BYU needs med school,' March 13), I think the argument he is making is that people from Utah have one option for medical school in the state. I am not from Utah and only really lived there during my time as a BYU student, but the responses seem to display the underlying prejudice that many BYU students from outside Utah have against Utah and the people that choose to make that state their home.
It is interesting that we do not criticize our other friends for going to school in state because they want to stay close to home, and yet we think the people who make that same decision in Utah are unwise or missing out on something. Our friends who stayed home too are, in a way, 'limiting their view' to that which they have always known. In fact, if there were only one medical school in Ohio (to choose a state at random), at the University of Ohio, and a student wrote a similar letter at Ohio State, it would probably be given more weight in that community because it is not 'Utah.'
It is wonderful that people from Utah have the same connection to their community that we do in Minnesota, Alabama, California or otherwise. I recognize that the dynamics at BYU are unique, with it being a church school, but I think it is time we put aside some of our prejudices against the state and respect others' desire to make it their home.
Robert Rogers
Barcelona, Spain
Get ready to enlist...
As a conservative Libertarian, I tend to agree with the Republicans more often than with the Democrats. However, Monday's Republican viewpoint was just dangerously stupid thinking.
The argument boiled down to this: Freedom is a priceless gift. We should be willing to pay any price necessary to achieve freedom for our Iraqi brothers. Add some flowery rhetoric, dozens of exclamation points, no mention of a specific plan and that's about it.
It is ignorant to think that since we had to fight a war to achieve freedom in our country, then democracy can only be achieved through war. If we buy into this crusader mentality, then whenever we finish with Iraq we'll have to send our troops to Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Sudan, Zimbabwe, China and so on.
It's easy to talk about being willing to pay the highest price when your life isn't on the line. If David Hunsaker really believes what he wrote, he'd better get ready to enlist, because we're going to need him by the time we occupy Myanmar.
Cliff Clive
Summit, N.J.