Dismissal of Brandon Davies Supported By BYU's Disappointed Mormon Students
Brandon Davies booted from team after admitting to sex with his girlfriend.
March 3, 2011— -- Sports mad students at Brigham Young University were stunned that the team's star player was dismissed for violating the school's honor code -- reportedly by having premarital sex— but said today they think it was right thing to do and endorse the strict code.
Brandon Davies, 19, a forward for the red-hot Cougars, admitted a failure to live up to the honor code and has been axed from the team for the remainder of the season, according to Michael Smart, a spokesman for BYU.
Smart said the university does not make public details regarding honor-code violations, but the Salt Lake Tribune reported that Davies told the college he had sex with his girlfriend.
The BYU honor code stipulates that students must "be honest, live a chaste and virtuous life…use clean language" and abstain from alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee and drugs. It also bars gambling, use of pornography and homosexual behavior, though "feelings or attraction" are allowed.
The tough action by the school is in stark contrast to the anything-goes attitude among much of top ranked college athletics as well as the social attitudes on most college campuses.
Davies, a sophomore who is a Mormon and a Utah native, is still a student a t BYU, although his status could change. "Some decisions regarding Davies' future on the basketball team and at the university are yet to be determined.," Smart said.
According to a statement from BYU Athletics, he had started 26 of 29 games this season and averaged 11.1 points.
The team has climbed up the rankings to No. 3 in the country, but in its first game without Davies, it lost badly to unranked New Mexico by a score of 82-64.
Nevertheless, Cougar fans said today that they supported they supported the school's decision.
"It was absolutely the right thing to do. We uphold the honor code. There are things that are more important than winning a basketball game," said Eric Christensen, 25, a BYU graduate student in information systems.
"I feel for Brandon Davies," he added and said that most students will support Davies and have shown their backing by creating a Facebook page "BYU Fans for Brandon Davies."
"I think it's a very hard decision because we're so proud of our team," said Kristen Scharf, 21, a junior studying advertising. "But I think BYU is all about honor and sticking to their values."
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