In a recent study by the Princeton Review, a company which reviews and rates universities, Brigham Young University was rated the most “stone cold” sober university in America. The study was taken from a sample of 115,000 college-level students all over the nation.

Where would BYU-Idaho, which maintains a more comprehensive honor code than its Provo companion, rank on that list of sober schools?

Though BYU-Idaho does have a strict honor code that is upheld by its students, it isn’t a sin-free university.

“Before I got married, I had a roommate who would casually smoke pot, on and off campus,” said Andrew Bracken, a senior from Austin, Texas.

Many other students who Scroll spoke to gave similar stories.

Scroll talked to 110 BYU-I students. Eighty-one of those who were questioned responded that they had personal knowledge of what Scroll deemed “serious honor code infractions”.

Students were asked, “Do you personally know a BYU-I student who is not in compliance with BYU-I’s policy regarding chastity and substance abuse?”

Scroll also asked students whether they knew if these infractions took place while students were on track and currently attending BYU-I or when students were away. The majority of respondents said that infractions took place away from BYU-I.

“This last summer, I saw BYU-I students who were like ‘eat drink and be merry’. They would do things like drinking and clubbing,” said Christa Nyleen, a sophomore from Vale, Ore.

Lastly, Scroll asked students what they felt was their responsibility when it came to helping their peers keep the Honor Code. Students were given three choices:

1. I should encourage my friends to keep the Honor Code.

2. It is my responsibility to tell the Dean when I hear of an Honor Code infraction.

3. I should be an example and keep a “hands-off approach.”

While it is stated in the Honor Code that students will “encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code,” Mike Lehman, an assistant dean of students, said that the Honor Code does not require students to proactively “rat out” others.

Jim Sessions, dean of students, says students can help their friends by working with and supporting them, going to the bishop with them or turning them into the Honor Code office.

Lehman also mentioned that students were expected to be honest when asked about Honor Code infractions and that “covering up” for others would bring serious consequences.

“Kids in school are taught to ‘tattle’ if what their friend is doing will harm them and or others,” said Jessica Smith, a sophomore from Sandy, Utah.

“The Honor Code says the student has a responsibility [to fellow students]. It doesn’t do anything with snitching,” said Sessions.

Sessions advises students to work with their friends, tell them you will go to the bishop with them or turn them into the Honor Code office.

One worry of students who are involved in things like pornography, drugs and immorality is that if they confess, they will be kicked out of school.

Also, because of this, students may be doubtful to tell the bishop on a friend or turn them into the Honor Code office if they think that it will get their friend kicked out of school.

On that matter, Sessions said there are some behaviors and actions that cause an automatic suspension, but most behaviors only land students on probation.

“The ecclesiastical leader has inspired discretion,” said Mike Cannon, a stake president of BYU-I 2nd Stake and professor in the Communication Department.

Priesthood keys the bishop holds help determine between the interests of the student and maintaining the integrity and purity of BYU-I, Cannon said.

Perhaps wisdom on these questions can be found in the second great commandment, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

Students need to be helped if they are struggling with immorality, pornography or drug addictions.

Cannon said watching a friend make serious mistakes and not doing anything about it is like watching them drive over a cliff and not trying to stop them because you don’t want to get involved.

It is not a requirement for students to tell on friends, but it is their responsibility to look out for each other.