Inspired by a 1978 talk called “On My Honor” given by President Spencer W. Kimball, the Student Honor Team Manager Rishon Prasad said he used the talk’s title as the theme for BYU–Hawaii’s Honor Week to focus on how the students embrace the Honor Code.
Honor Week will be hosted by the Student Honor Team to promote the Honor Code and encourage students to heed it, said Ara Meha, the Office of Honor manager. “This is one way to help us remember and maintain our integrity to keep our commitments.” He said activities for students throughout the week will include a Block Party, Aloha Honor Race, On My Honor Photo Booth, devotional, movie night, and an On My Honor Essay Contest with cash prizes for the top three winners. Honor Week will be held on Sept. 9 to 16, Meha said.
ON MY HONOR
The phrase “on my honor” denotes the personal commitment BYUH students make, said Prasad, a junior from Fiji majoring in political science and peacebuilding. “To me, the students are what makes the school, and without any students, there won’t be any school.” He also shared this theme has not been used before.
“This institution has no justification for its existence unless it builds character, creates and develops faith, and makes men and women of strength and courage, fortitude, and service,” President Kimball said about BYU in Provo in his 1978 talk “On My Honor.”
The Honor Code is a part of the institution of BYUH that isn’t just a rule to be followed, but a virtue and a love language, said Ya-Yun Lin, a senior visual arts major from Taiwan. She said following the Honor Code motivates her to better herself to represent BYUH.
HONOR WEEK EVENTS
Friday, Sept. 9: Block Party
Meha said a block party will be hosted on Friday, Sept. 9 by Seasider Sports and Activities and co-sponsored by the Student Honor Team.
The event will take place from 9 p.m. to midnight at the Aloha Center Ballroom, according to the BYUH website.
Prasad said there will be a dance-off portion of the Block Party to open Honor Week.
Students who want to attend the Block Party are expected to follow dressing and grooming standards or else they won’t be allowed to attend, Meha shared.
Saturday, Sept. 10: The Aloha Honor Race
Meha said in this activity, groups of students will need to find Honor Code-related clues around campus. Whichever team finds the clues in the fastest time, will win prizes, he added. He said this will be on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 8 a.m. to noon and will start at the Aloha Center.
The race will cover the Polynesian Cultural Center, BYUH campus and the Laie Hawaii Temple, said Prasad. He said there will be 10 different clues pertaining to eight different locations in the relay. The Marriott Hotel has provided prizes for the event, he added, including tickets to the PCC night show, Pounders, Gateway buffet, and more.
Lin, a design specialist for the Student Honor Team, said the Aloha Honor Race will incorporate the principles stated in the Honor Code.
The BYU–Hawaii website lists eight principles of the Honor Code:
- Be honest.
- Live a chaste and virtuous life, including abstaining from any sexual relations
outside a marriage between a man and a woman. - Respect others, including the avoidance of profane and vulgar language.
- Obey the law and follow campus policies.
- Abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, vaping, and substance abuse.
- Participate regularly in Church services (required only of Church members).
- Observe Brigham Young University–Hawaii’s dress and grooming standards.
- Encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code.
Monday, Sept. 12: On My Honor Photo Booth
On Monday, Sept. 12, Meha said a photo booth will be set up in front of the Aloha Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. He said this should help students understand how they promote the standards of the Honor Code.
There will be a dry-erase board for students to write messages about how they keep the Honor Code, said Meha, including props and national flags students can pose with for photos. He said a photographer will be taking photos to be shared on the Office of Honor Instagram page and the BYU–Hawaii's Facebook page.
Tuesday, Sept. 13: University Devotional
Meha said the Student Honor Team will be encouraging and inviting students to attend the weekly devotional on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 11 a.m. in the Cannon Activities Center.
According to the school website, the speaker for the devotional will be Nate Stephens, dean and professor in the Faculty of Business and Government.
Thursday, Sept. 15: On My Honor Essay Contest
The top three winners of the On My Honor Essay Contest will be announced on Thursday, Sept. 15, said Meha. The first-place winner will earn $300; second place, $200; and third place, $100, he added.
The On My Honor Essay Contest started on Aug. 29 and will last for two weeks, Meha shared. Those who enter the contest must write a 700-word essay about what the Honor Code means to them, he added.
This is the first time the Student Honor Team is hosting the On My Honor Essay Contest, Meha said. He shared the idea for the contest was inspired by BYU’s George Brimhall Scholarship Contest, which awarded a sum prize of $1,000 to competing BYU in Provo students.
In the future, Meha said their goal is to incorporate other mediums for students to express themselves through poetry, short stories, music, and videos.
Friday, Sept. 16: Movie Night
To close out Honor Week, Meha said there will be a movie night at the Hale Pavilion from 7 to 9 p.m.