The Importance Of Honor Code

Honor Code

Disclosure I did not read all five pages of the BYU-I Honor Code before attending this university. It also never occurred to me that I would have complete access to the Honor Code, just as I have complete access to AR670-1. I honestly assumed that the Honor Code was made up of nine key points:

“Be honest, live a chaste and virtuous life, obey the law and all campus policies, use clean language, respect others, abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee and substance abuse, participate regularly in church services, observe dree and grooming standards, encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code.”

To my dismay this was not the case and I did not have a full understanding and knowledge of the Honor

Code. The school’s website states that “When you were admitted to BYU-Idaho, you promised, with your signature, to live the Honor Code. So it’s important that you truly understand what the Honor Code is and why we agree to live it”. In this analysis I will be going over the Honor Code in order to fully understand why it is in place and correct any misconceptions that I may have concerning it.
The second page of the Honor Code covers a variety of issues, including principles of personal honor, good Honor Code standing, university standards and policies, and academic honesty. Principles of personal honor means being “true at all times”. The following is what the Honor code says will help build an individuals personal honor.
“Personal honor is integrity in fulfilling commitments, responsibilities, and covenants. Personal honor begins with willing obedience and is fully developed when we consistently govern ourselves by true ministry of the Holy Ghost. Personal honor is central to every aspect of our lives, including the BYU-Idaho experience. Personal honor brings us joy and happiness; deepens our desire to love, serve, and life others; and ultimately helps us to become more like the Savior. (P.2)”
We are personally responsible for having integrity with fulling are convents and church responsibility’s, and we must have obedience. By maintaining our personal honor our spiritual strength will increase, and we can find joy and happiness. Being in good Honor Code standing means that the personal conduct is obeying the Principles of Personal Honor, the Honor Code, The Family: A Proclamation to the World, For the Strength of Youth, and the University Standards and Policies.
If an individual is a registered sex offender, excommunicated, disfellowshipment, or disaffiliation this will lead to an automatic loss of good Honor Code standing.

Academic Honesty requires honesty in all things, students should not participate in plagiarism, fabrication or falsification, cheating, and academic dishonestly. If a student is involved in any of these acts the student Honor Code office should be notified. There is a procedure in place for handing situation of this nature.

There is a paragraph in the Honor Code that covers all forms of harassment. It states that all forms that hinder someone’s safety or emotional health is a direct violation of the Honor Code. The Honor Code even gives ways of reporting such behavior. The numbers are 208-496-9300 (Student Honor Office) and 208-496-9200 (Dean of Student Office) both offices can be found in the Kimball Building rooms 270 and 290.

Students should not participate in any overnight actives not sponsored by the school. This includes camping, staying at a hotel or even spending the night in St. Anthony at the sand dunes. If this is true, then attending drill and staying overnight at a hotel must be against the Honor Code. Students should respect the curfew and quiet hours. All students should be in their own apartment by midnight on Sundays-Thursdays and at 1 am on Friday. The quite hours include 10pm- 8am Monday-Saturday and all day on

Sunday.
All students must never partake in any drugs or alcohol. This is a direct violations of the commandments. But there are times when individuals go through rough situations in their life and in order to escape the harsh reality they use drugs and alcohol, because its essentially easier then admitting to our heavenly father that we need help, and we were wrong.
Only uplifting type of entertainment should be viewed or listened to. Only trained government officials, and trained BYU-I security officers can carry a firearm. Also members of the ROTC can carry firearms and weapons with firing pins, as part of official ROTC functions only when it is authorized by the Captain Watkins. The ROTC program is also allowed to store “unloaded paint ball training equipment” in a storage area, under lock and key on campus.
Other things that are not permitted at BYU-I include, Pets, Pornography, overnight guests, and sexual misconduct. Pets are not allowed and more information on this subject can be found at the apartment living standards policies on the BYU-Idaho website. Pornography is not permitted, it is considered a serious sin and can lead to sexual transgressions. Pornography should be avoided at all costs. The reason overnight guests are not allowed is because it can be an “interruption and inconvenience to others”, if someone is spending the night then the apartment manager should be notified and all roommates should be notified. One thing that should be dully noted is that their can be no overnight guest of the opposite sex. This is because it can lead to sexual transgressions, and possible sexual harassment or assault. Sexual misconduct is prohibited in order to keep all students safe. To go along with overnight guests there are visitation guidelines (by the opposite sex) that should be followed. First guests are only allowed from the hours of 10a.m. until curfew. Guest of the opposite sex should never enter a bedroom or cross the line of Chasity.
Under the Dress and grooming standards on page five of the Honor Code it states that “Shorts are not appropriate campus attire.

Do not disfigure yourself with tattoos. Body piercings are not appropriate.” This is the line I should have read when I decided to attend this university. I understand that at this point in time it was probably not the best idea to get a tattoo. I have read what the church has to say about tattoos, it states that it is discouraged, and the individual should consider removing the tattoo. Due to the fact that it was only discouraged and not completely against church policy I got a second tattoo. It should be noted that before getting my tattoo I did in fact read AR670-1 carefully, so that my tattoo would be within

regulation.
The dress and grooming standards go into detail on what is appropriate for women and men to wear on an everyday basis. It then goes into detail on what an individual should wear during dances. It then covers swimwear. This part was interesting to me because the average temperature in this state is beyond freezing, so why would anyone in their right minds want to go swimming in these conditions.
The last two topics of Honor Code are continuing ecclesiastical endorsement, and church attendance. Every year all students are required to undergo the continuing endorsement process with the student’s bishop. The bishop verifies the following:
“If LDS, the student is in fellowship in the church, the student lives a chaste and virtuous life, including avoidance of pornography, abstinence from sexual relations outside of marriage, and abstinence from homosexual conduct, the student lives the Word of Wisdom by abstaining from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, coffee, tea, and other harmful substances, the student demonstrates appropriate and consistent church activity, and the student is honest.” (p.5)
The ecclesiastical endorsement helps students build honor and integrity. All students are assigned to a specific ward, and are required to attend in order to stay in good standing. There are some exceptions for example going out of town, and every once in a while attending a friend’s ward, however this should not be made a habit. When a student returns to their home town they are also expected to attend their home ward.
The Honor Code was put in place to protect every student, and further assist them in living a virtuous life. We have a religious responsibility to obey these commandments. Knowing what I know now I’m not entirely sure that I would have signed the Honor Code, if it meant that at any moment any, I could risk losing my endorsement and risk getting kick out of this university. I am not say that I wouldn’t want to attend this university. This university has helped me come to have a greater understanding of the gospel. Essential I believe that this is why this university and its sister schools were created.
How ever it is much more then just that. The Honor Code helps students build their honor and integrity key attributes that leaders need to acquire, especially United States Army officers. I have personally violated my integrity and honor. I realize that as a future officer I have essentially risked my whole career by obtaining a tattoo and partaking in other acts that are deemed unworthy by the CES Honor Code. After reading the BYU Idaho Honor Code I know have a fuller but not complete understanding of the Honor Code. I understand that all students are required to follow all the rules and regulations stated in the Honor Code, whether they are attending on or off campus, whether they are on campus or away from campus off track.