My husband and I are beginning school at Brigham Young University. They have a very strict Honor Code that all students must sign and agree to follow before being admitted. The Honor Code basically states that all students must live a Mormon lifestyle while attending the school.
You can see the honor code here:
http://honorcode.byu.edu/index.php?option=com_ezine&Itemid=4613
We have signed the Honor Code and have no problem with abiding by it's rules.
Our personal belief is that if the school is private, they have every right to set specific guidelines for their students public and private lives. As long as the students are told up front the rules and are required to sign a contract stating they will obey the rules, we feel there is no problem.
I am wondering what others think. Should private universities such as BYU, Notre Dame and others be allowed to set such guidelines? What about private high schools or grade schools?
2007-03-22 09:58:25 · 10 answers · asked by Raising6Ducklings! 6 in News & Events ➔ Current Events
I ask this question because a gay advocacy group was protesting at BYU today because they do not admit homosexual students.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=1019286
2007-03-22 09:59:15 · update #1
Actually BYU does have a handful of homosexual students, I knew some while I was going there - they're just not practicing while they are students...why? because they chose to sign that contract too, and chose to keep their word and honor of that contract.
I think when you're at the university level it's fine, because these students chose to go there. I mean BYU is really tough to get into, these kids could choose almost any other school they wanted if they didn't want to follow the rules.
2007-03-23 03:37:32 · answer #1 · answered by daisyk 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't think there's any question what the University's rights are in the matter. I suspect the demonstrators are aware of that too, and that this was not likely to force BYU to allow homosexual studies on campus. However, their demonstration probably served a larger cause for them in raising awareness of the issue.
BYU seems to me a strange choice of school to attend for someone that is homosexual and wants the school to recognize and accept their lifestyle. For that reason, I think that there are larger roots behind this, and that this is an issue that the Church will have to address more fully in the future. There is no way to reconcile homosexality itself with the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but these are still people that need to be heard and loved within the Mormon culture.
2007-03-23 10:56:53 · answer #2 · answered by cw35 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, that's why they are a "private" school, not public. Private schools, property, whatever, have that right I believe. Its the same as down town SLC on temple square, on the private ground the church owns, there are certain rules one must abide by (such as no smoking on the grounds). It IS lawful and they have every right to set the standards. No one is being forced to adhere to those, just as you stated, you signed the Honor Code, no one forced you to go to that school...
2007-03-22 17:41:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's called PRIVATE school for a reason, it's not open to just anyone. You pay to attend, you follow their rules. If you don't like that, you go on to a public school where there aren't many rules enforced, it's that simple.
If the homosexual students don't want to abide by the rules, then they can go on over to a community college, where they don't care about that sort of thing.
2007-03-22 17:08:20 · answer #4 · answered by Lisa 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I think they should have the right to put in rules regarding behavior, lifestyle, etc.
Even some public schools have started adopting some school dress codes. So if they can do, by all means it should be acceptable to do it in a public institution.
2007-03-22 17:03:40 · answer #5 · answered by Michael H 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If the school (elementary through college level) accepts no federal or state funding and is privately endowed, they can accept or reject students or faculty as they see fit. They can set any standards they see fit and if the prospective student doesn't like the rules or standards, they can go to another school.
2007-03-22 17:06:47 · answer #6 · answered by Country girl 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I heard that Oral Roberts University won't admit anyone who they feel is not attractive enough. Do they have that right? Bob Jones University doesn't admit blacks, or so I've heard.
Yes, IMHO, any private school has the right to discriminate aganst anyone they want, whether others like it or not. If you don't like it, then you don't have to go to that university.
2007-03-23 12:46:18 · answer #7 · answered by mormon_4_jesus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, private schools, whether they be universitites or elementary schools, have every right to set their own standards for those who go to their universities. If it were a public school or one which accepted public funding, than it would have less of a right to set its own standards.
2007-03-23 03:40:41 · answer #8 · answered by Laurel W 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, that is why they are private.
What an Honor to graduate from Bringham Young University..
Count your Blessings instead of your woes.
Count on God instead of yourself.
2007-03-22 18:04:07 · answer #9 · answered by NJ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the state. Utah's state anti-discrimination law does not cover sexual orientation.
Federal anti-discrimination laws (specifically Title IX) give exemptions to religious educational organizations whose religious tenents are at odds with the ruling.
However, in my opinion, schools--religious or not--that accept federal funding should not be allowed to discriminate, for whatever reason.
2007-03-22 17:12:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋