Stop leaving Chapel early.

No longer content to talk over or simply ignore the daily speaker, many of you have taken your disrespect for ACU’s daily meeting and devotion to the next level: you walk out.

The dishonesty you showcase puts you on the same level as a student who forges a paper or cheats on a test. In effect, all of you who try to slip out early are cheating in Chapel.

According to ACU policy, this kind of academic dishonesty counts equates with plagiarism and falsifying information.

When you cheat on exams and papers, you lie-an abomination to the Lord And you lie again when you leave Chapel early.

In previous years, students who left early or before the dismissal would simply leave. Now, knowing they won’t receive credit until an administrator slides the master card, students have taken to congregating at the top of the exits.

Congratulations; you’ve found a way to slip through a loophole in the Chapel requirements. You receive credit for attending Chapel, when in fact, you did not stay for its entirety. In addition, you took away from Chapel by causing distractions at the exits, hovering and chattering.

This kind of juvenile behavior embarrasses ACU and leaders on stage and distracts students who truly appreciate Chapel.

The five extra minutes you gain by slapping down the stairs and meeting your friends at the card reader is not worth the distraction caused.

If Chapel becomes so unbearable that you cannot wait for five more minutes, just leave. Take an absence and get out of Moody. Or better yet, don’t come. At least then you wouldn’t be violating the very basic rules of courtesy and honesty.

Maybe you “hoverers” don’t realize you are violating ACU policy, and maybe you don’t realize the distraction that you cause.

Now you know the truth and we implore you: stop leaving Chapel early.