It is generally understood that Brigham Young University (BYU) was founded:
To provide an education in an atmosphere consistent with the ideals and principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [i.e., the Mormons]… We believe in being honest, true, CHASTE, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men. . . .
(byu.edu)
Therefore, students know, or should know, going in that the sexual experimentation that is a rite of passage on most university campuses in America is a cardinal sin at BYU.
Yet, even by BYU standards, what happened to its star basketball player, Brandon Davies, seems surreal. For the university kicked him off the team on Tuesday for having sex with his girlfriend. (Actually, unconfirmed reports are that he cheated on his girlfriend with another girl and got her pregnant. But all of that is beside the point. The violation was the sex itself … with whomever.)
Now, to appreciate how truly puritanical and ascetic this disciplinary action is, consider that it alone will effectively cost BYU, currently No. 3 in the NCAA rankings, its best chance in history of winning the holy grail of college basketball – the national championship. And, perhaps to prove the point, BYU proceeded to lose to lowly, unranked New Mexico the very next day (Wednesday).
Frankly, I admire that BYU is so committed to its ideals and principles that it forfeited a once-in-a-lifetime chance at NCAA-tournament glory (with all of the riches that entails) just to punish a kid for doing what most young kids do on college campuses every day. This stands in stark contrast to the likelihood that any other school in the top 25 would have bent over backwards to keep its star player on the court, especially at this critical juncture in the season, even if that player were accused of rape.
(Coincidentally, according to a report in today’s edition of the Washington Post, a recent survey conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services found that 72 percent of people in their late teens and early 20s are sexually active. Which I suppose explains why nobody is casting moral aspersions at the parents of 16-year-old Justin Bieber for allowing him to have well-publicized assignations with his 18-year-old girlfriend, Selena Gomez, in the penthouse suites of swanky hotels.)
I am also mindful that, as a private university, BYU can impose any punishment for violations of its honor code, including expulsion, as long as it does so in a fair and non-discriminatory manner. The university has yet to decide whether Brandon will be expelled. But I think being kicked off the team is punishment enough.
No doubt some will argue that this is a really tough lesson for any young kid to learn. However, BYU can stand firm on its moral high ground by replying that this lesson is far tougher on the university than it is on Brandon.
Indeed, nothing indicates what a sacrifice this is for BYU quite like students and alumni alike taking to Facebook and Twitter to chastise, not the all-star Brandon, but his girlfriend (or the groupie) for ruining their university’s chance of winning a national championship this year.
In any event, if this 6’9″ sophomore has any hoop dreams of playing professionally, he would be well advised to trade on this notoriety to enter this year’s NBA draft.
After all, the scarlet letter BYU has placed on his chest is probably worth at least a few million in endorsements, and his skills probably won’t improve much over the next two years (assuming BYU reinstates him next season or he transfers to another school to finish his junior and senior years). Not to mention that, instead of being a cardinal sin, sexual promiscuity, which includes impregnating groupies, seems to be a badge of honor in the NBA.
NOTE: It is no more absurd for BYU to forbid pre-marital sex by its students than it is for the U.S. government to forbid drinking alcohol by anyone under 21. But I submit that, if 18-year olds are mature and responsible enough to go to war, they are mature and responsible enough to have premarital sex and to drink alcohol.