Comments on: An Open Letter to BYU Students & Administration, 2 June 2009

By: Bradford

Bradford — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:22:22 +0000

Mau, you don’t have to worry if you’re a visitor as far as I know. The honor code is only for students. And don’t feel self conscious either, the students at BYU are typically open minded and accepting of differences I’m glad you’re visiting, when are you coming? I’m an EE student at BYU so I’d like to see your presentation.

By: Mau

Mau — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:45:45 +0000

Dear Bradford,
thanks for your impressions. I am a PhD student in EE coming from Europe, I`m going to visit BYU because I was invited there for a presentation. Now my “problem” is that I have long hair (nicely tight in a pony tail, not too long though). Do you think I should expect problems when accessing the BYU? I mean, I`m going there just for a 1-day presentation, I am not a BYU student nor I signed any Honor Code.
Despite my appearance, I am a Christian and my faith is one of the most important things in my life – might that taken into account to judge on my moral integrity?
Thank you very much for your precious help.

By: Katie Tungate (Busby)

Katie Tungate (Busby) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:53:49 +0000

Thanks for that breath of fresh air!

By: Bradford

Bradford — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:33:30 +0000

Thanks all for your comments!

Dallin, I also have heard that visitors are impressed with our clean, beardless faces. On the other hand, when I visit other campuses it is very refreshing to see the spectrum from BYU approved appearance to beards and long hair. Perhaps its just because I’m in Provo and it’s a novelty, but it helped me feel like I was in an environment that would value what I contributed, not how many hours it had been since I shaved my face.

Winnie, thanks for your compliment.

Kimberly, I also agree – there is no monopoly on truth or good, even in the Church organization itself. I could go to (GASP!) U of U and have an excellent education without any negative side effects. It really is up to the individual student.

Thanks again to your comments, I like to see when others agree or disagree.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:36:15 +0000

Unrighteous! Heretical!

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:38:17 +0000

Some of the many reasons I chose to deny any acceptance to BYU related schools…
I know its a school with good programs and highly rated staff, but there are a lot of other schools with the same quality that allow their students to make choices in the world. BYU is definitely NOT like any other school, but that doesn’t mean that it has to be archaic or suppressive either.
I have plenty of gripes about the way BYU runs, but I think that in the end, people who care have to stand up for what is needed and right. Having an opinion is not against any standard in the church.
Be a revolutionary. Its ok.

By: winnie

winnie — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:34:15 +0000

I graduated from BYU and looking back I don’t miss the honor code. My biggest beef is with curfew. But remember, BYU is not like every other school. It truly is a blessing to be accepted. If you don’t like the rules, don’t go there. However, Bradford has expressed his opinion very cogently and I think he has some great points. Well done Bradford.

By: Dallin

Dallin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:06:33 +0000

You know, I couldn’t agree more that BYU is a bit messed up in how it treats its students and such. (I think in certain regards though the beard business is a good idea – when people visit BYU, they are normally highly impressed by the students and how they look clean, etc. Students in other universities can look pretty shaggy and unruly.)

However, it’s grown a bit out of control. The honor code was actually created by students, and I think it should stay in the hands of the students largely. A great example was when the leading candidate for BYUSA was taken out of the running by BYU – not the students – because his vice president was reported to be in an apartment after curfew chatting. I happen to have known this vice president and he was one of the nicest, most righteous guys I’ve ever known and that something so awful was done to him for something so small is really quite sad. What’s even worse was how it went down. Someone reported that he was in an apartment too late and the administration called him in. They asked him if he had and he very honestly said yes and for something such as that not only was he and his partner denied office but he was put on probation – even though I’m guessing no one except the anti social can say they’ve never been in an apartment past midnight, even if they try to follow the rule. There’s a huge list of problems with the honor code being disruptive to it’s goals and the bureaucracy at BYU that should be addressed. I know of nonmembers who were treated awful by BYU employees for having beards when visiting campus, which is completely against the purpose of having the rule.

By: Craig

Craig — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:29:55 +0000

AMEN!

By: Julie

Julie — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:21:07 +0000

It needed to be said and I hope it gets out there for more people to see!