If Chad Hardy earned the required credits, passed the exam, successfully completed the required curriculum, paid all his tuition/fees and was awarded a diploma, how can they legally "yank" it? They can yank their ears, yank their nose even yank their pecker (which I'm sure they do regularly), but how can they "yank" his diploma? I think there are grounds for a law suit here. I hope Mr. Hardy sues them for millions. I heard the motto for Brigham Young was: "I don't care how you bring 'em, just bring 'em handsome and 'em young!" Mr. Hardy certainly is meets that criteria.

Chad was an idiot to ever go to that God forsaken shit hole in the first place. You have to sign a code of conduct contract with the Mormon Cult, which means they pretty much own your ass and can pull your diploma at will.
This cult has got to be put in their place. They're getting too big and too controlling.

Well, they think they can ex post facto baptize dead people, so I suppose it logically follows that they can retroactively de-diploma a legitimate graduate. It's an odd, odd, strange and extremely dangerous cult. Unfortunately it has a lot of money, a lot of land, and all the trappings of a "legitimate religion" (of course, I'm open to the suggestion that ALL religions are dangerous, insidious, illegitimate cults, but that's beside the point here). That means it can go around trampling on people's rights, lives, and the Constitution and claim immunity on account of "faith" being inarguable.

Bottom Line: The Mormons are horrible.

Other Bottom Line: It's a pity, cuz the boys in the calendar are li'l hotties, without their magic underwear on.

too bad the diploma or anything else coming out of that cult doesn't really mean much. They should have taken away his shoe laces, those at least do something for you.

if they make his diploma void, shouldn't they have to refund tuition?

If Brigham Young is an accredited institution of higher learning, then Chad Hardy's diploma will be widely recognized as legitimate whether or not BYU retroactively voids it. And if BYU isn't accredited, his diploma has always been nearly useless from a college credit/transfer standpoint. Of course, one could argue an education from BYU is basically useless regardless of its standing with the College Board, what with their stance on eugenics and all.

Sue Baby, Sue!

A degree is not just a piece of paper that hangs on a wall. The important part is an entry on a transcript. But that matters only when you apply for grad school, or when a prospective employer wants to verify your credential.

Any department in a university can place a "hold" on awarding of degrees, and on transmitting of transcripts, for a variety of reasons. If you owe the library a fine, or the return of a book, the library can place a "hold" on your degree. If you owe any other department for any of their customary usage charges, they can place a hold. Apparently at BU, the LDS church can place a degree-hold, too.

I wonder if he can get a transcript sent, to show his course work. The transcript would also show the "hold" status, and should state which department placed it and for what reason. For most employers, being excommunicated by the LDS church is not necessarily a bad thing.

As a gay man, an academic, and a former member of the Mormon cult – I think the entire church needs to be brought down. It's this type of bullshit (yes, it's an academic term)that is ruining our country's education system.

So the guy took some half-naked photos – big whoop. I bet if he had let the church take a cut of the profit they wouldn't have bitched so much.

I bet the real reason they're pissed is because there is no full frontal nudity in the calendar, and it clashes with their personal holier-than-thou hard drives.

isnt religion grand!