You can't make this stuff up!

Plenty of crazy things have happened in New York.  Come on, it's New York, and people are outrageous.  But, Erin just told me something that takes the cake!


Today she will be taking her first exam for her independent study program.  She has been doing online courses through the BYU independent study program, and today she will go to take her math exam.  For those of you that don't know, BYU is Brigham Young University and is located in Provo, Utah. 


"It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.

Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students are members of the LDS Church, and one-third of its American students come from within the state of Utah. BYU students are required to follow an honor code, which mandates behavior in line with LDS teachings (e.g., academic honesty, adherence to dress and grooming standards, and abstinence from extramarital sex and from the consumption of drugs and alcohol). Many students (78% of men, 10% of women) take a two-year hiatus from their studies at some point to serve as Mormon missionaries. ... A BYU education is also less expensive than at similar private universities since approximately 70% of tuition is funded by LDS Church tithing funds." {source}

Luckily, my friend Bri is a high school guidance counselor and very familiar with online schooling.  When I initially asked her about the options for Erin, she said, "don't laugh, but she has to do the BYU program.  It's absolutely the best."  Being two people who went to school in the midwest we understood BYU.  We knew people who went there, transferred from there, were kicked out, etc.  So, the idea of my sister going to the school was a little humorous.

But it just got funnier.

Did you read that part of the description saying "students are required to follow an honor code, which mandates behavior in line with LDS teachings?"  That's right, Erin is a student.  And guess who has to follow a dress code to take her exam tomorrow?  Ding ding ding!  You are correct!  Erin!

She received an email with exam instructions, including specific instructions to follow the honor code required of all BYU students.  As she will be representing BYU tomorrow at her exam, she must dress the part.  This entails:


Conservative Hair Styles- hairstyles should be clean and neat with no extreme styles or unnatural colors


Looks like she can't play the messy pseudo- curly game.

Clothing- skirts, dresses, or shorts must extend at least to the knee and shirts and tops must cover the stomach and back; clothing should cover the shoulders; clothing that is low-cut in the front or back, tight, or revealing in any other manner is unacceptable. "Leggings" are not considered appropriate for "Sunday or Best Dress" at EFY. Please also be aware that the wearing of "leggings" does not allow for any exceptions to the Especially for Youth Dress and Appearance policy. Footwear should be appropriate for the activity (i.e. Sunday attire should not appear as though we are on our way to the beach or an athletic activity). Faddish clothing (i.e. Gothic, Emo, etc.) is not appropriate. Only one pair of earrings in your ears; no other body piercing. Hats are not to be worn indoors. {source}


Faddish clothing?  That probably includes hipster, and Erin will be out of luck.  Not surprising in the least however, is that all of my clothes fit this dress code!  Okay, that's a little bit of an exaggeration, my shorts come above my knees, and I show my shoulders on occasion, but I wouldn't have a tough time fitting in.  


It looks like Erin will be shopping in my closet today!  Haha!