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College basketball star suspended for allegedly having premarital sex
Brigham Young University has suspended a star basketball player for violating the school’s strict code of honour by allegedly having premarital sex with his girlfriend.
The Utah-based school, owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said in a statement that BYU Cougars’ centre Brandon Davies will not play with the team for the remainder of the 2010-11 season due to a “violation” of the university’s honour code.
“Some decisions regarding Davies’ future on the basketball team and at the university are yet to be determined,” said the statement, which noted that the school does not publicly disclose details regarding honour code violations.
Davies’ stunning suspension proved a blow to the No. 3-ranked Cougars, who lost 82-64 to New Mexico on Wednesday in a game many expected BYU to win easily. The 19-year-old 6-foot-9 sophomore has started 26 of 29 games for the Cougars. He is averaging 11.1 and a team-leading 6.2 rebounds per game.
Davies was “extremely remorseful, heartbroken” and apologized to his teammates, according to Salt Lake Tribune, which first reported the alleged transgression, citing “multiple sources.” The story has since made headlines across the country.
As of Thursday afternoon, the Star’s multiple requests for an interview with a BYU spokesperson had not been granted.
Cougars’ coach Dave Ross told reporters after Wednesday night’s defeat that Davies’ suspension was a “surprise to everyone,” and that he believes his star centre will play again for BYU.
Teammate Charles Abouo said the team considers Davies a brother and would defend him.
“Everyone makes mistakes in their life,” Abouo said. “We are reaching out and trying to help him get through this.”
The school’s Honour Code Office is reviewing Davies’ case and could decide to expel the student should the alleged transgression be deemed severe enough.
As a condition of enrolment and employment, students and employees at BYU must commit to the school’s honour code, which requires followers to “live a chaste and virtuous life,” “participate regularly in church services” and “abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee and substance abuse,” among other things.
Men are not allowed to grow beards, while women are prohibited from wearing sleeveless, revealing or form-fitting clothing. Not every student, however, must be a Mormon.
While the code may sound unreasonably strict to many, it is actually progressive when compared to the codes of honour at many evangelical and fundamental Christian colleges and universities in the United States, says Carl Raschke, a professor of religious studies at the University of Denver.
“There are schools that will expel students if they even hear a rumour that they’ve been drinking,” he told the Star. “It all depends on what sort of religious group is at the school. Brigham Young is actually fairly progressive in terms of their policies, compared to some of these more strict, evangelical colleges.”
Raschke said he doesn’t believe BYU went too far by suspending Davies because the player knew what was expected of him as a student at the school.
“Severely disciplining people who break codes of honour, no matter how they are defined, is pretty common and is expected of schools,” he said. “It’s not really that extraordinary.”
The key issue now, Raschke said, is to make sure due process is followed when making any decision on Davies’ future at BYU.
Brigham Young University has suspended a star basketball player for violating the school’s strict code of honour by allegedly having premarital sex with his girlfriend.
The Utah-based school, owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said in a statement that BYU Cougars’ centre Brandon Davies will not play with the team for the remainder of the 2010-11 season due to a “violation” of the university’s honour code.
“Some decisions regarding Davies’ future on the basketball team and at the university are yet to be determined,” said the statement, which noted that the school does not publicly disclose details regarding honour code violations.
Davies’ stunning suspension proved a blow to the No. 3-ranked Cougars, who lost 82-64 to New Mexico on Wednesday in a game many expected BYU to win easily. The 19-year-old 6-foot-9 sophomore has started 26 of 29 games for the Cougars. He is averaging 11.1 and a team-leading 6.2 rebounds per game.
Davies was “extremely remorseful, heartbroken” and apologized to his teammates, according to Salt Lake Tribune, which first reported the alleged transgression, citing “multiple sources.” The story has since made headlines across the country.
As of Thursday afternoon, the Star’s multiple requests for an interview with a BYU spokesperson had not been granted.
Cougars’ coach Dave Ross told reporters after Wednesday night’s defeat that Davies’ suspension was a “surprise to everyone,” and that he believes his star centre will play again for BYU.
Teammate Charles Abouo said the team considers Davies a brother and would defend him.
“Everyone makes mistakes in their life,” Abouo said. “We are reaching out and trying to help him get through this.”
The school’s Honour Code Office is reviewing Davies’ case and could decide to expel the student should the alleged transgression be deemed severe enough.
As a condition of enrolment and employment, students and employees at BYU must commit to the school’s honour code, which requires followers to “live a chaste and virtuous life,” “participate regularly in church services” and “abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee and substance abuse,” among other things.
Men are not allowed to grow beards, while women are prohibited from wearing sleeveless, revealing or form-fitting clothing. Not every student, however, must be a Mormon.
While the code may sound unreasonably strict to many, it is actually progressive when compared to the codes of honour at many evangelical and fundamental Christian colleges and universities in the United States, says Carl Raschke, a professor of religious studies at the University of Denver.
“There are schools that will expel students if they even hear a rumour that they’ve been drinking,” he told the Star. “It all depends on what sort of religious group is at the school. Brigham Young is actually fairly progressive in terms of their policies, compared to some of these more strict, evangelical colleges.”
Raschke said he doesn’t believe BYU went too far by suspending Davies because the player knew what was expected of him as a student at the school.
“Severely disciplining people who break codes of honour, no matter how they are defined, is pretty common and is expected of schools,” he said. “It’s not really that extraordinary.”
The key issue now, Raschke said, is to make sure due process is followed when making any decision on Davies’ future at BYU.
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