to be reformed. Do people realize just how damaging, academically, getting kicked out of school is? For example, in my field, I think it'd be very hard to get into medical school if you had been expelled, despite it possibly being for something (i.e. sex) many other applicants do on a regular basis.
I love the core of the HC and what it represents. I came to BYU because I wanted some standards in my life. But I think the punishments are too extreme and there is too much potential for permanent damage.
I do not know the intricacies of the HC office as I've never had run ins with it, but the impression I gather by talking with others is that you are at significant risk for expulsion even for first-time offenses of certain types. Even if this is exaggerated, the fact that this many people are worried about it happening if they mess up is a shortcoming on the part of the HC office.