As the BYU Honor Code has been in the headlines this week, I thought it would be a good time to share with you my personal experience, as I was once found in violation of the Honor Code. (Say it ain’t so! Sadly, it is true)
I was an 18 year-old Freshman, living in the dorms at BYU. A lovely young lady had just asked me to the Winter Formal dance, and I needed to respond to her invitation. So, I put together a little bouquet of balloons, with my affirmative response. Knowing full well that it was against the rules, I proceeded to deliver them to her. To her dorm room. On the sixth floor. At midnight. Using the stairs. Unaccompanied.
The delivery went well, absolutely no hankypanky. Mission accomplished in 60 seconds. No big deal. Turns out the dorm RA told the “dorm mother” found out what had happened. She was a tough old lady, all that she lacked was a bicycle with a basket.
A week later I was summoned to the Standards Office. Oddly, I didn’t know why. I checked my hair length, shaved, and went in. The Standards Office official reviewed the accusation, which I affirmed. He counseled me to behave, and sent me away with a warning. But before he did, he informed me that my parents and my home Bishop would be receiving a letter from the Standards Office detailing my nefarious infractions. (OK, he didn’t use the word nefarious, I just like that word a lot.)
About a week later, I get a call from my mother. I could tell by the tone in her voice that she had been crying. Oh no. She had received the letter. It turns out the crying was from laughing too hard. Apparently, the person that sent “The Letter” to my parents and Bishop forgot to choose the correct gender when printing out the form letter.
Everything about it was wrong: We regret to inform you that your daughter has been found in violation of school standards – she was caught entering the girl’s dormitory – please discuss this matter with her, etc. (I still have the letter as a souvenir.)
My parents thought it was funny, enjoyed a good laugh, and that was the end of it. And I want you to know that from that moment on, I never, ever, took the stairs to go to a girl’s dorm room again.
There was one lasting consequence that I couldn’t go back and repair:
I never did play in the NCAA Basketball Tournament, or the Holiday Bowl. Ever.
Aha! Your sordid past finally comes out! That is hilarious.
Well, that royally stinks that you lost your eligibility. Funny story, but you have detailed exactly why I could have never gone to BYU.