Things that need to change:

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Somebody forgot to inform Curtis that religion is just a metaphor. Poor guy -- making life unnecessarily difficult for himself.

That, and it seems like he makes sure he checks off all the "being high-minded" boxes. That's fine and all and I don't think BYU should kick someone out for that, far from it. But this guy should have just transferred and called it good. I'm not sure why you'd want to jump om the feminist, gay, bi, tranny, and atheist trains and want to stay at BYU. He could go to countless other campuses where everyone is all about feminism and LGBT all the time. In fact, many of these campuses have larger Tranny Studies faculties than they do for engineering, math and science.

[Paperback Writer]

There was a Benson scholar from my high school that left the church on his mission and was still able to return.

Did he keep his Benson Scholarship? One of my HS classmates was a Kimball Scholar as a Freshman and returned from his mission about two months early. He lost his scholarship and would have had to wait another semester before re-enrolling at BYU. He wanted to return to BYU and double major what he was studing with the language he used on his mission until he learned he wouldn't keep his scholarship. He ended up transferring for financial reasons and was excommunicated not long after. Always thought that if he could have kept his BYU scholarship, his path may have been different.

[Shaka]

Did he keep his Benson Scholarship? One of my HS classmates was a Kimball Scholar as a Freshman and returned from his mission about two months early. He lost his scholarship and would have had to wait another semester before re-enrolling at BYU. He wanted to return to BYU and double major what he was studing with the language he used on his mission until he learned he wouldn't keep his scholarship. He ended up transferring for financial reasons and was excommunicated not long after. Always thought that if he could have kept his BYU scholarship, his path may have been different.

Not sure if he kept the schollie or not. I was under the impression that he did. I can't imagine him returning if he hadn't because this guy was accepted by several Ivy League as well as Stanford and Cal.

His little brother didn't get a Benson Scholarship but did have some sort of academic schollie. He did the same thing as older bro on his mission and ended up transferring schools. It's somewhat funny to me because these were the seminary council type of guys who would hassle me for ditching seminary to weight lift or ski. They also lived in fear that I wouldn't serve a mission.

[Donuthole]

Did he keep his Benson Scholarship? One of my HS classmates was a Kimball Scholar as a Freshman and returned from his mission about two months early. He lost his scholarship and would have had to wait another semester before re-enrolling at BYU. He wanted to return to BYU and double major what he was studing with the language he used on his mission until he learned he wouldn't keep his scholarship. He ended up transferring for financial reasons and was excommunicated not long after. Always thought that if he could have kept his BYU scholarship, his path may have been different.

You, with a friend who had a negative experience with BYU? Imagine that.

[Green Monstah]

Really? When was this?

I'm pretty sure if you leave the church now--even if for another religion--you're out of byu. I read a big blog post where a BYU law grad discussed the issue with a bunch of byu administrators and while they had different reasons for the policy, no one denied that it was policy.

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I had a co-worker at BYU who was a student when he left (became a member of the B'hai Faith). He was from Kenya, and BYU Administration did him a solid by letting him finish up. He simply had to pay non-LDS tuition and completed his degree. I'm not sure a non-football playing, caucasian male from the intermountain west gets the same treatment, but I hope I'm wrong on that.

Then how did Luke Ashworth do it? If BYU is going to hammer guys like Davies, Unga, and Spencer Hadley for stuff, then they wouldn't have any qualms about kicking a no name like Ashworth out, yet he was allowed to finish out despite leaving the church during his time at BYU and joining an evangelical faith of some sort.

Not sure, but it was the right thing to do. I give Luke props for sticking with BYU (and vice versa). It couldn't have been easy. I'm sure there were additional terms to allow him to stay on because it was absolutely impossible to find a quote from Luke about his exit from the Church (at least, it was for me).

[The_Douger]

I had a co-worker at BYU who was a student when he left (became a member of the B'hai Faith). He was from Kenya, and BYU Administration did him a solid by letting him finish up. He simply had to pay non-LDS tuition and completed his degree. I'm not sure a non-football playing, caucasian male from the intermountain west gets the same treatment, but I hope I'm wrong on that.



Not sure, but it was the right thing to do. I give Luke props for sticking with BYU (and vice versa). It couldn't have been easy. I'm sure there were additional terms to allow him to stay on because it was absolutely impossible to find a quote from Luke about his exit from the Church (at least, it was for me).

Completely agreed, it's just weird how these anecdotes all seem to have a different ending to me.

[Goatnapper'96]

Completely agreed, it's just weird how these anecdotes all seem to have a different ending to me.

The only anecdote that I find consistent is that in my anecdotal experience string pulling pussies like to whine like the women of Srbrnca. So while you might notice the different endings, this only demonstrates that you are not amongst the SPP's of the world.

[Indy Coug]

Nothing needs to change. Don't like it? Choose one of 10,000+ other institutions of higher learning.

[Northwestcoug]

Is there any potential issue for future accreditation? BYU is a private university, but accredited by the Northwest Commission. According to Wikipedia, although issues of academic freedom routinely come up, the commission allows BYU to restrict academic freedom as long as the rules are clearly stated.

But can someone make a winning case, that if a member student who is in otherwise good standing stops believing in the church, that even a religious institution shouldn't punish based on belief? And that accreditation might hinge on that?

I agree with what has been stated above, that if someone who leaves the church but still wants to attend, just charge them non-LDS tuition.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Is there any potential issue for future accreditation? BYU is a private university, but accredited by the Northwest Commission. According to Wikipedia, although issues of academic freedom routinely come up, the commission allows BYU to restrict academic freedom as long as the rules are clearly stated.

But can someone make a winning case, that if a member student who is in otherwise good standing stops believing in the church, that even a religious institution shouldn't punish based on belief? And that accreditation might hinge on that?

I agree with what has been stated above, that if someone who leaves the church but still wants to attend, just charge them non-LDS tuition.

Not a chance.

[The_Douger]

I just don't get why this guy can't attend as a non member student and finish up.

[Northwestcoug]

Not a chance.

Is it because the accreditation committee gives BYU a lot of leeway? Or is that for religious institutions in general?

Again, I get the private university angle. It just seems that expelling a former member because of lack of belief might run afoul of accrediting bodies. Or at least it might with the right case.

[Indy Coug]

Is it because the accreditation committee gives BYU a lot of leeway? Or is that for religious institutions in general?

Again, I get the private university angle. It just seems that expelling a former member because of lack of belief might run afoul of accrediting bodies. Or at least it might with the right case.

One can only hope and pray.

[Mrs. Funk]

I met Curtis a couple of weekends ago at a conference. I'm sad for the pain he's experiencing and hope he finds a path that brings him happiness.

[Harry Tic]

Nothing needs to change. Don't like it? Choose one of 10,000+ other institutions of higher learning.

Said the freshman student, writing to the Daily Universe.

Is it because the accreditation committee gives BYU a lot of leeway? Or is that for religious institutions in general?

Again, I get the private university angle. It just seems that expelling a former member because of lack of belief might run afoul of accrediting bodies. Or at least it might with the right case.

BYU's religious affiliation does not give it carte blanche to do whatever it likes. I believe that Northwest would hold it accountable for defining its student admissions criteria in a clear and transparent way and then enforcing its own standards impartially. If any particular student could demonstrate that BYU was not consistent in enforcing its own standards, it could be open to a lawsuit. I doubt that this student would have a case here.

BYU worries very much about accreditation and it's probably good that there are some external checks and balances.