Here’s a contradiction found on The State newspaper website.
So which is it? Change, or no change?
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January 24th, 2005 at 7:47 am
Change, but not sweeping or radical change.
January 26th, 2005 at 10:09 pm
The change that needs to happen is that students should no longer be charged with monitoring the spiritual lifes of other students.
January 27th, 2005 at 1:09 am
Good point - too funny. What are your thoughts on how the school may change on down the road as a result of Stephen’s becoming president?
January 27th, 2005 at 8:03 am
I knew Stephen when he was in the elementary school. Nothing I knew of him then indicates to me how he’ll do as Universit President. (LOL) Since the death of my major teacher 3 years ago, I’ve had little contact with anyone at the University, and by there own well-publicised directives am not allowed on campus at the risk of being arrested (though I’ve been on campus several times.) I’ve never felt the problems at BJU stemed from their social rules - I really wasn’t hurt by not being allowed to hold my girl friend’s hand (chortle!). The problems came from (1) the pseudo-spritual atmosphere which treated everyone’s relationship with Jesus Christ as comptetive sport, and the fear which pervails as the result of 21 and 22 year olds monitoring the spiritual lives of their peers. If Stephen Jones wants to make a change, addressing those issues will have an impact. Allowing students a little more freedom won’t.
January 27th, 2005 at 7:48 pm
I happen to think offering them a little freedom couldn’t hurt, too! You know, let ‘em listen to a little rock ‘n roll. Wear jeans. Go to the movies. Dance occasionally. You know, join the 1950s at least.
And as long as we’re name-dropping, I know Stephen, too. I think he might be the most level-headed Presdient the shcool’s ever had, and I think his Presidency bodes well for the school’s future. Though I still doubt I cold ever send my kids there in my lifetime. I’d *love* for him to prove me wrong, tho.
January 27th, 2005 at 9:33 pm
Well, I’ve never met Steven. The extent of my contact with him is an occasional chapel message. He seems like a decent guy, but I don’t have any idea what changes he’ll effect.
Gordo: They won’t let you on campus any more? What’d you do?
As far students monitoring each other: I’m a town student, which grants me a great deal more freedom from the Big Brother effect. I don’t think I’d like being a dorm student; I like to be alone from time to time. It’s nearly impossible to be alone on campus. I think it’s wrong to say that if you know somebody’s doing something and you don’t report it, you’re as responsible as he is, but I don’t think that’s the rule at BJU. (It is at PCC, though.)
And I really haven’t noticed a competitive-sport-spirituality attitude, at least among the friends I keep there. Sure, they talk about God, their devotions, and spiritual matters on occassion, but it’s a religious univerisity after all.
Freedom is good, but I think that BJU is going to remain very, very slow to change. They’ve seen formerly religious universities get away from God, and they want to avoid the same mistakes. I’d be stunned if they allowed rock and roll; I don’t think they should. BJU plays to a niche market, and allowing rock music to be played would alienate that target market.
I don’t see why they wouldn’t allow people to wear blue jeans though.
January 27th, 2005 at 11:15 pm
Sorry about all the typos in my last post - I’m working in Iowa this week and getting up real early to get other clients’ work done before I go to work here. Sort of stressing out.
Its not about what I did, its about who I am; I’m gay. I’ve been back on campus several times since they made a big stink about things. But I’ve never taken my African-American partner with me - not that I could even make him go. He still doesn’t quite believe I’m a BJU grad.
At the risk of being labelled a real old fogey I’ll give you some history. Back as late as the 70’s, there was only one reputable fundamentalist college; BJU. Liberty was only a few hundred students when I was in college, PCC was very small, Tennessee Temple was bigger but didn’t have a good reputation, Cedarville was already suspect by hardliners. BJU had no competition. Then Liberty and PCC and others started getting their acts together and BJU was really hurt. For example, my freshman year there were 5 guys to ever dorm room. 5 guys! My sophmore year, Johnson opened and it was then 4 guys - and the girls were even more crowded. Now, I bet its 3 per room or less, and there are halls which are closed off. How many students are at BJU? They won’t give out accurate numbers - they’ll include the elementary school, etc; but - they’re real efficient about getting everyone’s picture and name in the year-book and you can count. I bet they’re a couple of thousand less students now than in 1980 when I graduated.
My point - and I do have one - is that their response to the rise of other reputable alternative colleges was to loosen up their rules; no more required sit down evening meals in suitcoat and tie, no more Saturday AM chapel in a tie, etc. They didn’t loosen up to improve the quality of life and experience of the students - they did it to compete. Oh yeah - and you have exams BEFORE Christmas, and you actually get Thanksgiving off. Amazing!
You’re lucky to be a town student - your college experience will be radically different than your fellow students who are in the dorm and live their lives to a bell. You’re outside of the “politics” about who becomes an APC, or a PC or a monitor.
Without exception, when I get together with friends from BJU we have “The Talk” about how we’re processing those years - and we’ve been out 25 years now. This is true whether the friend is still walking the straight and narrow or taken other roads. There is a bond I feel with every other alumni because no one who didn’t go to BJU will ever quite understand those 4 formative years - both the good and the bad things.
Now - what changes will Stephen make? I don’t know. But I did know Bob III very well. My last two years at BJU I spent a couple of weekends a month with him on the University plane going to churches playing for musical groups. I spent a lot of time with him. We hung out sometimes at his sister’s house in Indiana when we had down time, and I watched many a movie with him and Larry Carver - the University pilot - in hotel rooms. The first time I saw Patton was with Dr. Bob - it was one of his favorites and he knew about every line. I remember getting snowed in somewhere for 2 days and just hanging in the hotel. Good times - I really liked the guy. But I also got a glimpse of how little power he felt he had. For example, once we talked about why he never gave an alter call in Chapel; he said “they won’t let me.” And, I got a good indication of the outside pressure from hardline Bojo ministers he was under. Those clowns who come and preach at Bible Conference and send a lot of students have influence. Bob III certainly didn’t feel that the University was his to take in whatever direction he felt led. Of that I’m 100% certain. I suspect that Stephen will feel something similar.
25 years out it becomes harder and harder to process my BJU experience. I’ve changed (a lot) and the times have changed. Its fruitless to ask, what if. Even now my BJU degree can occasionally help me as was the case in December at a potential client in Columbia SC where the CFO is a BJU grad, or hurt me as is more often the case since people associate BJU with racist, anti-catholic, right wing, etc. etc. Of this much I’m certain, if your goal is to have a big career in the field of international business, you’d be better off with a degree from someplace other than BJU. Just a suggestion……
May 7th, 2005 at 11:14 pm
I think most of you are over reacting! Stephen will not make drastic changes–not at least right away. Just to remind you his dad, Dr. Bob 3rd, is still going to remain on as Chairman of the Board–He remains in a good position. He IS STILL in charge! Not a bad thing since the new prez is only 35!
Stephen is a godly man: It will be interesting to see how he does in the long hall. Here is a long shot: who will be the prez after Stephen? a Jones or an insider but not a Jones. My guess is I do not know, but the Lord does, unless you are Clark Pinnock.
May 7th, 2005 at 11:19 pm
Sweeping or changing–I would rather have to change than have to sweep. I have a bad back! If I’m going to sweep I’ll do it lighly and take my time.
May 7th, 2005 at 11:53 pm
Hmm… I’d imagine one of Steven’s kids would take over, but who knows? Dr. Bob just finished a what–34 year presidency? We’re stuck with Steven for a while.
September 14th, 2005 at 12:14 pm
Part of the changes that came after the crowded dorms of the 70s is easily explained by population trends. We were baby boomers; the population of college freshmen has dropped dramatically across the board. It’s not just that other Christian colleges grew–the population changed. However, having lived in Greenville for 25 years (and now living elsewhere)I was constantly amused by the changes to rules and customs that had been fraught with spiritual import (like sit-down dinners and chapel on Saturday) If we (in the 70s) questioned these customs, serious questions arose about your spirituality and biblical import was given to every minuscule rule. I have learned that God’s grace is far broader and He is far more merciful than I ever realized. I agree completely and totally about the practice of young adults monitoring the spiritual lives of their peers. Most of the pcs and apcs I knew had feet of clay–just like the rest of us! One of my most memorable experiences was the time, as a freshman, I shared a prayer request in my prayer group, and the next day I was in the Dean of Women’s office. They were concerned about my attitude and spiritual condition. I learned then to keep any deep spiritual issues completely private. To this day, I am hesitant to share anything of huge spiritual import with anyone. BJU needs to concentrate more on Grace and Mercy and less on the Law and Rules. A wise pastor once said, “The FLESH loves rules and the law; it allows them to feel spiritual without a change of heart.” How right he is!
September 14th, 2005 at 10:19 pm
According to http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/school/past-schen.html - in the U.S. there were 11,387,000 college students in October, 1980. In October, 2003 there were 16,638,000 college students.
My guess is that BJU is about 40% smaller now than then, while the overall population of college students has increased by 47%.
Otherwise, Margaret, I agree with your post.
BJU’s confusion of spiritual issues and discipline issues is one reason why I will never recommend a student attend. I’ll be happy to pay for my niece and nephew’s college education anywhere they want to go except to BJU and PCC.