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Does signing the Honor Code make us our “brother’s keeper”?
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Editor’s Note: Staff editorials are written to present a national or campus opinion in a persuasive manner. Although the editorial board approved printing this article, it does not represent the official opinion of the board, BYU-Idaho or Scroll. |
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Fullmer
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For centuries, intellectuals and commoners alike have been debating the question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
This debate might seem a little out of place at BYU-Idaho, but it is something most students will end up facing sometime in their college career.
Let’s look at a hypothetical situation: Say there is an apartment of six roommates and one of them consistently has a problem with viewing highly inapproprate movies. What should the roommates do?
Part of agreeing to attend BYU-I includes signing a code of honor. We agree to live principles of righteousness, adhere to curfew, dress modestly, attend church meetings regularly.
We are also asked to “encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code.”
So the roommates address the issue of abiding by the rules and talk about the dangers of viewing inappropriate material.
But is talking about the problem enough to fulfill our duty? Should we live our lives in accordance with the rules so others will be encouraged to do the same simply by our example? Or on the other end of the spectrum, should we be Honor Code police, constantly on the lookout for rule breakers and ready to turn them in to the dean?
When students violate the Honor Code, they understand there are consequences for their actions. But what happens when we observe others breaching the rules — and do nothing about it.
Some students may argue that they shouldn’t have to worry about the actions of others, that everyone has their agency and it is not a peers place to take it away.
Again, the question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
The answer is yes.
If one roommate continues to violate the rules of the Honor Code, his or her roommates are supposed to inform the Dean of Students of the problem. If they do not and the dean finds out from other means, all individuals in the apartment will be held responsible.
We don’t want to find ourselves sitting in the dean’s office in trouble for rules we didn’t break. So where can we go from here?
There needs to be a balance between doing nothing and being Honor Code police, a balance students must strive to find on their own.
The Honor Code has become deeply integrated into the culture of BYU-I. It dictates daily student actions and encompasses every aspect of campus life.
It shows us how to dress modestly, how to avoid temptation and how to avoid sticky situations.
The rules of the Honor Code are not a restriction on our freedom. They help provide an environment paralleled with the standards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an environment in which students can gain an education without the influence of the ills of the world.
Elder David A. Bednar, former president of BYU-I, said, “The Honor Code is a lesser law in preparation to enter the house of the Lord and make sacred covenants, and the dress code is a lesser law in preparation for how you will dress and should act after you have entered into those covenants.”
But perhaps the best solution to this ethical dilemma is to govern ourselves and use our agency wisely.
Don’t make others have to be your keeper.
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