College students in Utah have cried foul over their school's utter disregard for their well-being. The students have openly admitted they were raped on campus, but the school has dismissed the students' accusations and instead had them investigated for breaking its honor codes.
Admission Has A Stiff Price
When Madi Barney, 20, mustered the courage to tell the police she had been raped, Brigham Young University also sprang into action. However, instead of coming to the defense of their student, the school was more eager to find out if Barney had violated its honor codes before she was sexually abused.
According to The New York Times, Barney was aware of what her school might do. She was so scared of the repercussions that it took her four days before deciding to seek help from the police.
Students Must Adhere To Strict Honor Codes
It's worth mentioning that BYU is a Mormon college with deep religious beliefs. Students must first sign up to a strict code of conduct before enrolment.
They must promise to not smoke, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs. Wearing of above the knee-length shorts and skirts is not allowed while having a member of the opposite sex in one's room is a grave offense.
"I understand that this is disappointing to you and to Madison," the school's general counsel Stephen Craig told Barney's lawyer. "The university nonetheless enforces its Honor Code. All students, when enrolling in the university, agree to moral standards of conduct, and agree that the standard is a condition for remaining at the university."
Barney was told she could no longer enroll in any future classes while investigation on her honor code violations was still going on. As it turned out, she wasn't the only one. Other female students at BYU admitted the school had treated them the same way after they revealed they had been sexually abused.
BYU Honor Codes Outdated
Teresa Fishman, chief of the International Center for Academic Integrity, shared to BBC that BYU's honor codes aren't at par with mainstream culture. BYU's honor codes uphold ideals in fashion and sexual abstinence while majority of US schools have honor codes that are geared toward honesty and academic fairness.
