Bob Jones University

I will admit initially when I visited BJU for Bible Conference, I was impressed with the maintenance of the campus. I liked the banquet style meals with the linens, candlelight, and real silverware. I did like the movies, Wine of the Morning and Sheffey which premiered that week. I did like my society and mission prayer band. i did have friends. I was aware of the rules too. But I realized that students came from different backgrounds and different churches and may/may not have been aware of the rules. The church which referred me was very strict, in some cases, probably stricter than the University. There are some rules I can understand in respect to problems with addictions such as not drinking, no drugs, etc... However, wine is in the Bible. So is dancing. Anyone who watches PBS has seen dancing and can define it, definitely critics and celebrities trained in the fine arts recognize dance. Choreography is the arrangement of dances.I don't object to choreography, but can understand restrictions provided it is defined as dance. I did like the rotating table assignments and the food. I did like the vespers. I would have changed the title of campus parent to campus sponsor. I don't want to replace my own family. I did have teachers I liked.

I didn't like the way that the students were represented by the administration in public. Students signed up to be good witnesses and productive members of their community. We didn't sign up to be labeled radical troublemakers. Many would work within the laws also. I think there was an attitude that the law could be excused for religous observances. I don't necessary agree with that interpretation as I read Romans. Anytime one disagreed, one was either labeled immature, rebellious, or inexperienced and ignorant of Biblical principles. They didn't accept other Christians from other backgrounds and those who came in without exposure or outside their Christian school network were treated on a separate tier from those who grew up in that environment. Also one could get in trouble for external matters whereas at other schools, including other Christian colleges and universities, one was only held accountable for one's conduct. One was also expected to control others and people outside the BJU network don't accept that control, especially when they dd not enroll or financially support BJU or their affiliated churches.

The college directories are very thick and there are many Christian affiliated colleges and universities listed. At the time I chose to attend the school, it was many directories but has since been removed. I do not think that BJU is the only representative of Christiany although they want you to believe their affiliated schools and universities and ministries are. I do not even feel that BJU represents many Baptists although again, they would like you to believe they are the only Bible practicing Baptists.

I did sign the petition although now I am aware of the controversy about Do Right BJU. I'm not going to make further comment since I do not know details. I was disturbed about what I was hearing with the news media. I also believe many attend colleges and universities to be trained in the work force.

I think recruiting and retention are problems at BJU. I also do not they provide enough services so that anyone who wants to succeed can. Also one can be removed at anytime or any reason without apology and very little notice up to the time of graduation. This doesn't happen at other schools except when there are felonies. Discipline could be very subjective and again could involve external matters beyond the control of the students.

We have the freedom of speech. TRACS can call itself whatever it wants. Also those who do not have traditional doctorates can act as though they do with honorary doctorates. I think at least, at minimium they should use the abbreviation h.c. to indicate these4 are honorary doctorates although I don't like the practice at all. Several institutions do not award them at all.

I did not work at the time so I can't make comments in respect to employment.
Students had very limited contact with faculty usually in vespers, assemblies, and advising or class instruction. It was very limited. Undergraduates did not mix with graduates unless they had special permission. DAting was very restricted. And one had to get permission to go off campus.

I don't think it's a bad idea to let somebody know where they are if they leave the campus just incase of some unforseen unfortunate event. However, we are adults.

I do feel that there was a lot of confusion in respect to convictions and rules. It may have been very apparent to those raised in that environment in supportive institutions; however, those who did not come from those backgrounds had more difficulty as did those who came from other denominations. Had the school been regionally accredited, it would have been much easier to transfer and pick up elsewhere. I think much of the bitterness has to do with the fact that the credits didn't transfer in many cases and that even other traditional schools were hostile to BJU, not just liberal schools. Students found themselves isolated. There really wasn't much network offered to help students outside of the BJU affiliated schools either. In some cases, the administration and faculty were hostile for those seeking instruction outside their institutions. I think there were other options in my case and I wish I had checked them out and spent at least enough time to finish my associate degree before I transferred. There should have been no reason to rush the completion of one goal before another, maybe even a year of work too. That would have given me time to read the news and become more oaware of the repuation. I just took the word of a minister who probably got his honorary doctorate recruiting naive students like me.

2nd Year Female -- Class 1982

Campus Aesthetics: A-, Education Quality: F

I can't get a teaching license because Bob Jones University is not regionally accredited. They did not tell me that tracs accreditation is worthless.

4th Year Female -- Class 2005

Scholastic Success: A, Education Quality: D

2nd Year Male -- Class 2016

Campus Maintenance: B+, Education Quality: F