This week my husband and I have been discussing Brandon Davies. I have been debating if I wanted to address this issue or not. There have been hundreds, maybe even thousands of tweets about Brandon Davies. Then there are the several articles and blogs that have voiced their opinion of the situation. Due to my strong feelings on standards, I have decided to venture out and discuss my opinions.
For those of you that have not heard, Davies was suspended after breaking the Brigham Young University, BYU, Honor Code. The main highlights of this code are as follows:
· “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”
As many articles, blogs, tweets and other forums of gossip have explained, Davies slipped under the category of living a chaste and virtuous life. To live a chase life means to have a sexual pure life or to put it bluntly, not to have any sexual relations before marriage and to only have sexual relations after marriage with your spouse. If you would like to read the definition from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, click here. There are only a few ways that religious leaders and educational authorities could have found out Davies broke this portion of the code:
· His girlfriend became pregnant (like many rumors say) and the was visual evidence
· Someone walked-in on them during sexual relations
· Davies and/or his girlfriend voluntarily spoke to their religious leaders about their transgression and in doing so understood there would be consequences for their actions
The Honor Code it something that the BYU athletic recruiters put on the table first when talking to possible recruits. They spend time going over the Honor Code to make sure the athletes understand what it entails and are willing to follow.
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I strongly believe in the Honor Code BYU has, even though I have never attended their university. The managing director of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Public Affairs Department, Michael Otterson in the On Faith blog of the Washington Post:
“Brandon Davies is more than a trending topic on Google. He is a young man full of energy, talent and opportunity, all of which remain present as he moves through what is undoubtedly a difficult time in his life… Those that care for him, including his church leaders, are reaching out to help, guide and support. Friends, family and true fans likewise. There are a lot of people at BYU who will do all they can to help Brandon get through this trial in his life and come out on top. He isn't just an athlete, but a child of God.”
I was not surprised to read Otterson’s comment about Davies. I was not surprised to see that many articles, blogs, tweets and other posts have supported BYU’s decision.
I was on the other hand surprised to see how many times other universities look away when their athletes break the law and how many athletes have a criminal record. I was surprised at all those that have bashed BYU to simply keeping their part of an agreement made between each student and the university.
Show a little compassion for Davies, he has a lot he is going through right now.
Show a little compassion for BYU, they are standing for what they believe and they actually care about the well-being of their athletes and all their students.
Show a little compassion for all the universities that foolishly look the other way instead of caring for their athletes.
I fully support the BYU and feel that they did the best thing, not only for them as an institution, but for Davies as a child of God, for everyone in the world to realize that standards still are alive and for all those that fight each day to hold their standards high above a dark world where standards are rarely seen.
Sarah Kathryn
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