Calendar creator's appeal for BYU diploma denied

Brigham Young University has denied an appeal to award a diploma that the creator of a Mormon beefcake calendar says he earned.

Chad Hardy's diploma was withheld by BYU last fall after he was excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns and runs the school. Hardy was excommunicated during the month between completing his courses and graduation ceremonies.

Hardy appealed and met with Dean of Students Vernon L. Heperi on Feb. 13. In the meeting, Heperi sought to determine whether Hardy's life is guided by the school's honor code, which reflects the values of the Mormon church.

BYU requires students to be in academic and ecclesiastical good standing in order to obtain a diploma. That includes keeping the tenets of a school honor code that reflects the values of the church. Excommunication would leave a student at odds with the honor code.

Hardy received a letter from Heperi on Monday, saying his appeal was denied.

"I conclude that you have not demonstrated conduct and personal behavior in harmony with the principles and values reflected in the honor code, including the principles of living a chaste and virtuous life, respect for others and participating regularly in church services," Heperi wrote.

Hardy, who said he was not surprised by the decision, had hoped BYU would end the dispute and give him his diploma.

"They obviously are choosing to dig their heels in even deeper," he said.

The ruling ends Hardy's avenues of appeal with the school. However, he could reapply for graduation if he regained his membership in the church.

That's unlikely to happen. Hardy said he voluntarily became an inactive member of the church in 2002.

Heperi cited in the letter Hardy's failure to both attend regular church services and to actively seek re-entry into the faith as other reasons for his decision.

The dean also took exception with Hardy's "Men on a Mission" calendar, which features photographs of 12 bare-chested returned Mormon missionaries. Heperi called the calendar offensive and disrespectful because it depicts missionaries in an "inappropriate light."

"Your continued involvement with these calendars as well as apparent plans for future calendars of similar content only demonstrate to me your ongoing disregard for those principles of the honor code," he said.

A lifetime member of the Mormon church, Hardy was excommunicated in July 2008 by a council of Las Vegas-based church leaders.

Officially, the loss of membership was for conduct unbecoming a church member. The charges were rooted in his failure to pay tithing, a lapse in other religious obligations and, according to a senior church elder, his involvement with the 2008 "Men on a Mission" calendar.

"I think it's interesting that now the calendar appears to be the reason BYU is not giving my diploma," Hardy said.