First of all, we wanted to let our readers know that a one-hour special about BYU basketball star, Jimmer Fredette, will air tonight on BYU-TV (byu.tv) at 7:00 p.m., MST. It will be rebroadcast at 10:00 p.m. It can also be seen on Wednesday at 1:00 a.m., 6:30 p.m., and 9:30 p.m., and on Thursday at 12:30 a.m. (See more information: BYUtv Gets Jimmered.) You can also see another interview by Kathy Aiken with Jimmer, where he talks about basketball and about his faith and life goals: “Jimmer Mania” on Mormon Times. A previous True Blue story on Jimmer can be found here.

As to BYU and its honor code, of course, not all the attention is positive, but there are people who have found this decision by BYU — at the time where BYU was poised to make a mark during NCAA March Madness — “refreshing” (as Chris Broussard said on ESPN). Following are some stories with a similar feel. (p.s. Be sure to watch the video at the end of this post and see the support of the fans for Brandon Davies at Saturday’s game — Davies was part of the net-cutting ceremony after the game.)

ESPN: BYU Puts Principle Over Performance: Pat Forde says: “I can’t relate to the Brigham Young University honor code. But I can respect it…. [T]oday I am impressed by the school’s commitment to its rules, even at a potentially tremendous cost to its basketball team.”

Sean Gregory of Time Magazine quotes Steve Young, Shawn Bradley and other former BYU athletes about the standards BYU upholds. Gregory says, “[Y]ou have to admire an institution that sticks by its principles.”

This story from ABC News includes videos that explains and explores the BYU Honor Code. Hear from a former BYU football player, Reno Mahe, who went through something similar during his time at BYU. The article’s author, Ellen Tumposky, notes: “The tough action by the school is in stark contrast to the anything-goes attitude among much of top ranked college athletics as well as the social attitudes on most college campuses.”

Vai Sikahema, former BYU athlete and current Sports Director and Anchor at NBC10 Philadelphia, as well as host of the “Vai & Gonzo Show” on ESPN Philadelphia Radio, is interviewed in this NBC10 Philadelphia story.

Sikahema shares a little about an experience he had with the Honor Code at BYU. After getting into a fight, he was evicted from on-campus housing. Sikahema says, “This was the first time I was ever held accountable and suffered consequences. It was a seminal moment for me and helped change the trajectory of my life. If BYU had not done that, I’m certain I would’ve been in a dozen more fights or worse. But I was well served by the BYU Honor Code.”

At the Huffington Post, Rabbi Joshua Hess says this: “As collegiate athletic teams around the country are violating significant NCAA rules without punishment or penalty from their universities, except when they need to save face, it’s great to see BYU restore some integrity and morality to its broken system. These types of decisions give us hope that Athletic Directors can choose right over wrong, in a field that so often chooses wrong over right.” He also brings a religious perspective into the conversation, drawing parallels to his own Jewish faith about how difficulties in life can draw us closer to God.

Read “On Faith” panelist Michael Otterson’s thoughts at the Washington Post website. Otterson directs public affairs for the LDS Church. He supports BYU’s decision to stand on principles and also makes it clear that people at BYU and elsewhere will be standing by Brandon Davies to support him through this difficult time.

You can see that support in this video taken at the end of the game on Saturday.

Other articles can be found at the following news sites:

Business Insider: BYU’s Honor Code Is Too Strict For Most, But The School Deserves Credit For Sticking By It and Why BYU’s Honor Code Outranks March Madness

USA Today: A toast to BYU, where winning isn’t the only measure of honor

The New York Times: Honor Code Separates B.Y.U. From Other Teams

Yahoo News

New York Daily News

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Read more at Mormon Women: Who We Are about the BYU Honor Code

The post More BYU Basketball Buzz appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

The internet is abuzz with the recent events with BYU’s basketball program. Emotions are high, and opinions are flying. I find many of them rather extreme, especially those that are either overly critical of BYU or overly critical of Brandon Davies.

I was interested to read what those closest to the situation had to say. For example, while this article from ESPN Sports focuses a lot on the confidence Coach Dave Rose has in the team in their ability to “bounce back,” there are some other facets further on in the article that I think are noteworthy. First of all, you can read comments on the importance of the BYU Honor Code from coaches and others, including former BYU basketball player and current Boson Celtics president of basketball operations, Danny Ainge. (I’d also invite you to read Brenda’s post yesterday on the Honor Code.)

Here, I want to highlight one comment in particular from the ESPN article. Davies’ teammate, Charles Abouo, says this about Brandon:

“He’s a great friend, like a brother to me….Everyone makes mistakes in their lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with him. We’re reaching out, trying to help him get through this.”

Indeed, we all make mistakes. And when we do, we need love and support. I am grateful to hear that Brandon Davies has a circle of support around him in his coaches and teammates. He’s also reached out to his teammates in sorrow for what happened.

I hope BYU fans will also rally around Davies, as well as anyone else who has been affected by this story.

I also think Brandon Davies can be commended for his courageous decision to be honest. I think it shows integrity on his part, all the more so at such a time in the season as this, during such a season as this.

I think there is a lot to reflect on here. Rules and laws do exist. They exist for our benefit. Love should not be confused with excusing wrongful choices. Repentance can be very, very hard. But the (sometimes very difficult) reality of consequences must never overshadow the power and necessity of genuine compassion and loving support that we should extend to each other. Because, again, we all make mistakes.

This has all unfolded in the context of BYU basketball, but I’m left reminded of the core message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which includes both a consistent invitation to recognize our mistakes and and seek to become better, coupled with the reality that God our Father and His Son Jesus Christ love us perfectly. When we can mirror both elements — encouraging people in their efforts to improve and extending love and compassion — I think we can reflect (and feel!) some of the wonder of God’s amazing grace.

The post “Everyone Makes Mistakes in Their Lives” appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

It’s a good day to be a Cougar fan.

In fact, every day is a good day to be a Cougar fan.

Of course I am saddened by the dismissal of Brandon Davies from the BYU Basketball team for an Honor Code violation. I was getting pulled into the hype of the season. I found myself watching ESPN (gasp) voluntarily! I spent time watching Jimmer Fredette backstory videos and watching for tweets to pop up from celebrities giving him props for his scoring skills. Last night’s loss was tough. Really tough. Obviously Brandon Davies is a game changer, but the loss last night doesn’t change my love for BYU one bit.

I didn’t choose to go to BYU for its sports programs.

I didn’t choose to go to BYU for its academic chops.

I didn’t choose to go to BYU for its low tuition and housing rates.

Nope, I chose to go to BYU because of the Honor Code.

Growing up in California there were a handful of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at all of the schools I attended. For whatever reason there were few my age or in my grade and I rarely had a best friend that was also LDS. All of my high school friends were members of other faiths or no faith at all. They are all fun, outgoing and moral people but I always longed to be around people with my same standards. I was uncomfortable when my homecoming date threw the school kegger after the dance and I had to find my own way home. I was uncomfortable when a friend of mine frequently dared me to say @#$%@. “Come on Brenda, just say it, it’s not even that bad of word.” I was uncomfortable when my friends decided to watch a porn movie and I had to leave the room until my ride showed up.

When I arrived at my dorm room and met 5 other girls with my same standards, who had had very similar experiences growing up, it was like I walked into an oasis of light. I would go back and relive those four years of my college life again in a heartbeat. I was so happy, and I owe so much of my success in life to BYU. I felt the love of God during my years on campus and when I visit as an alum. That is what makes me a Cougar Fan.

There are currently a lot of questions surrounding the Honor Code and what life is like at BYU.

What is the Honor Code?

The Honor Code is as follows:

As a matter of personal commitment, faculty, administration, staff, and students of Brigham Young University, Brigham Young University—Hawaii, Brigham Young University—Idaho, and LDS Business College seek to demonstrate in daily living on and off campus those moral virtues encompassed in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and will

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 the Dress and Grooming Standards

Encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code

Yes.

Are there sorority and frat parties?

No.  There are no sororities or fraternities on the BYU campuses. In lieu of the Greek system of organization we are organized into wards [church congregations] where social experiences are planned at least weekly. Wards are organized geographically so you socialize and worship with people who live near you. I made a lot of friends in my classes as well.

What do kids do for fun if they aren’t drinking?

I can only give you my experiences. We loved to dance, so we would attend the campus dances. There were also comedy troops that performed live shows on campus and at local clubs. Those were fun. We would frequently go up Provo canyon and have bonfires. We played a lot of games, went disco rollerskating, planned picture scavenger hunts, attended ward (church) activities, and attended to local music concerts. I had something fun to do nearly every night of my collegiate life. It was hard to carve out time for my studies.

What happens if you are found to be in violation of the Honor Code?

Well it depends. The severity and or frequency of the violation impacts the Honor Code Office’s decisions. Most violations only get a warning. Violations of dress and grooming standards typically get a warning. But I did have a friend who was suspended one semester for a chastity violation.

Who turns students into the Honor Code?

There are students who feel that it is their religious duty to become a vigilante. But honestly I think most of the major honor code violations are actually confessed to by a person who wants to come clean not only with the school but with God. BYU students really are a different breed. There may be some students who are motivated by guilt but most are driven by a duty to God. My friend who got suspended took his lumps, learned from the experience and moved on. Some students who have run ins with the Honor Code decide that BYU is not the school for them and transfer to someplace that feels more comfortable. Others find like-minded friends and disregard the honor code without ever being found out. You can probably find a little of everything at BYU, especially with over 25,000 students, but my experience was that a vast majority of the student body were living by the honor code.

Are all BYU students Mormon?

No. In fact my trend of having friends of other faiths continued at BYU. But most students at the BYU campuses are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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There was only one college I wanted to attend when I was filling out my college applications my Senior year of high school: BYU. I wanted the whole experience. I wanted to be surrounded by people with my own standards. I wanted to take religion courses as part of my academic experience. I wanted to worship God openly with my classmates. I wanted to make lifetime friends who I could trust and rely upon for the rest of my life. I got all that and more from BYU.

The sports pundits and bloggers can talk to they’re blue in the face about how rigorous moral standards will reduce the quality of talent attracted to BYU, but today is a good day to be a Cougar fan.  As long as BYU continues to hold it’s standards, regardless of consequence, every day will be a good day to be a Cougar fan.

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