Honor Code

Obey the Law

Members of the university community are expected to adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, and, in the same spirit, to follow all institutional policies.

Sexual Assault and Rape

• Because BYU's Honor Code requires all members of the university community to respect the personal rights of others and to obey the law, any violation of another individual's right to be free from forcible and nonforcible sex offenses constitutes a serious violation of the Honor Code which may result in immediate suspension or dismissal from the university.
• A victim of a sexual offense by a student may choose to report an alleged perpetrator to the Honor Code Office
• In order for the university to investigate and, if justified, sanction the accused, the accuser must identify the accused and provide sufficient details of the event in writing to allow the university to make an evaluation of the facts.
• The university will act responsibly to respect the privacy, welfare, and safety of the accuser.
• If the accused admits to the facts as presented by the accuser, a determination will be made as to an appropriate course of action.
• If the accused denies the allegations and states in whole or in part they are not true, the Honor Code Office will investigate before determining the course of action.
• If it is not feasible for the university to come to a determination with respect to the allegation and the accuser pursues legal redress through the criminal or civil courts, the university determination may be deferred pending the outcome of the legal process, but the sanction imposed may be retroactive to the date of the sexual offense.

Assault and Battery

• Assault and battery is a violation of the Honor Code as well as a violation of the law.
• The Honor Code Office takes actions independent of any judicial action.
• Examples of serious assault and battery behavior include but are not limited to the following:
  • Acting with intent to kill, injure, or harm another person
  • Using physical force to coerce or to retaliate for a real or imagined offense
  • Threatening to inflict injury upon another person
  • Using a dangerous weapon

Verbal Assault

• To threaten to kill or to inflict injury upon another person is a breach of the BYU Honor Code, whether the ability to carry out the threat is apparent and present or not.
• Racial slurs and the use of disparaging or derogatory epithets motivated by racism or anger is ugly, against the law, and a violation of the Honor Code. Such violations are considered as serious as any physical assault and may result in probation, suspension, or dismissal.

Fighting

• Fighting is not permitted on or off campus except in officially sponsored events, such as WAC wrestling matches, intramurals, and club or BYUSA events.
• The Honor Code Office personnel interview participants and witnesses to determine the extent of student involvement.
• Students found to have been involved in fights will be placed on probation or suspended for a minimum of one year.
• The specific course of action chosen will be determined by the crudity or inappropriateness of the language used, the seriousness of the threats, the level of violence, and the extent of the injuries.
• Subsequent involvement in fights is likely to result in suspension of the students involved.

Firearms

• Brigham Young University prohibits the possession (on or near the university campus, including residence halls) or use of firearms.
• A firearm is any device which can expel a projectile, and/or other dangerous weapons, including knives, explosives, or other items which, in their intended use, are capable of inflicting serious injury.
• Such possession of any facsimile of a firearm or other dangerous weapon is a violation of the Honor Code.
• Because these items pose a clear risk to the persons and property on the BYU campus, violation of this policy may result in suspension from the university, prosecution in the courts, and/or a $300 fine.
• Both single and married students residing in an on-campus residence area who wish to bring hunting or target weapons with them to school should check them in with the management of the area immediately upon arriving at school and may check them out just prior to their use, but at no time shall a weapon or firearm be in an on-campus residence.
• No tenant (both students and nonstudents) in an approved, off-campus, single-student housing unit may store, keep, or maintain any firearm in the apartment without the prior written consent of the landlord and all other tenants in the unit.

Discharge of Air Guns, Sparrow Guns, Flippers, BB Guns, etc., Prohibited

University policies preclude the discharge of any contrivance which is capable of projecting a missile that can harm or injure a person or property. Violation of this policy is a violation of the Honor Code.

Discharge of Fireworks, Bottle Rockets, etc.

• The law prohibits fireworks with a limited exception during the Fourth and Twenty-fourth of July celebrations.
• Discharge of bottle rockets and similar devices are considered a serious violation of the Honor Code.

Malicious Mischief, Vandalism, and Reckless Burning

• Respect for other's persons, property, and possessions is fundamental to the environmental expectations of Brigham Young University; disrespect in any of these dimensions is a violation of the Honor Code.
• Examples of serious behavior related to malicious mischief, vandalism, and reckless burning include but are not limited to the following:
• Intentional or reckless endangerment (such as pennies in doors, lighting a fire in a garbage can, burning a candle, etc.) or causing of injury.
• Damage, defacement, or destruction of the property of the university or of another individual.
• Disregard of the rights of others.
• When mutual vandalism has occurred at two or more educational institutions, a cooperative agreement will be worked out with the other school(s) in which the students will make restitution. This restitution can be through work or the payment of money. Work is preferred. The work hours will be equivalent to costs based on the minimal wage level. The students will be placed on university probation until completion of the restitution or longer.

Residential Living Standards and Single Student Housing Policy

• The university expects single students, whether they live on or off campus, to adhere to the Residential Living Standards (Undergraduate Catalog).
• Minor violations of the Residential Living Standards are generally not handled through the Honor Code Office; persons wishing to make referrals are encouraged to work with housing managers, ecclesiastical leaders, and roommates before the problems escalate to the level that the Honor Code Office becomes involved.
• On-campus visiting hours vary in different housing areas, but essentially require visitors of the opposite sex to leave by 12 midnight on every night except Friday, when they may remain until 1:30 a.m. Students should determine when visiting hours begin in the mornings.
• Off-campus visiting hours begin at 9 a.m., and they specify that visitors of the opposite sex must leave the apartments no later than midnight except for Fridays when they extend till 1:30 a.m. Landlords are authorized to restrict these hours if they desire. Members of the opposite sex should never enter the bedroom or other private areas of an apartment; their visits should be limited to more appropriate areas such as the kitchen or living room.
• Entering the bedroom of a person of the opposite sex to study, to type a paper, to talk privately, or for any other reason never justifies the breach of one's word of honor and contractual agreements.
• Though students stay in the apartments of members of the opposite sex beyond authorized visiting hours for reasons that have no sexual undertones, honorable students will respect all residents in the apartment and not impose their need to visit above the contractual rights of others.
• Students who fail to comply with the residential living standards are usually placed on probation or suspended.

Other University Policies

• Public Expressions. The university controls public demonstrations on campus. Applications for approved public expressions can be obtained in the Dean of Students office.
• Controlled Access to Private Property. The university grounds and buildings are private property. Areas that are locked, or unlocked but posted, are controlled areas. Students and guests should not enter these areas without permission; they should assume signs mean what they say. Visitors in housing areas should obtain permission from housing administrators before going beyond the public or reception areas. Mechanical areas should not be accessed by unauthorized individuals. Sports areas should be used only with permission. Individuals who enter controlled areas without proper authority may be cited for trespass.
• BYU Computer Network Patron Policy. (See University Electronic Handbook , 1 September 1992.)
• BYU Academic Honesty Policy. (See Undergraduate Catalog, Brigham Young University.)