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Page 10
THE BATTALION
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19,1971
From tent meetings to classrooms
School stresses discipline, fundamentalism
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP)-Bob
Jones University, which prides itself on
taking the revival spirit from tent
meetings to the classroom, holds onto
a religious fundamentalism that is
diminishing in the South.
The university strives to train
young men and women in its
philosophy of life, which includes a
literal interpretation of the Bible and a
rejection of liberal church doctrine.
To that end, the university has
created an environment where opera
and fine arts are respected, but where
smoking, dancing, card-playing and
movies are forbidden.
It is also a university that boasts a
cosmopolitan student body from 20
countries, but where unmarried blacks
are not admitted.
Because single blacks are excluded,
the Justice Department considers the
admissions policy racially discrimi
natory. Since the university receives no
federal funds, lifting its tax exempt
status is the government’s only means
of forcing change, the department says.
On that issue, the U.S. Supreme
Court recently ruled in favor of the
Internal Revenue Service, a decision
which will in effect strip Bob Jones
University of its tax exempt status.
Learning has a special flavor at Bob
Jones, which calls itself “The World’s
Most Unusual University.” Liberal arts
and sciences are mixed with a heavy
dose of old-time religion.
Regular attendance at a fundamen
talist church, one that adheres to
conservative Protestant beliefs and
militantly rejects liberalism is expected
of every student. Applicants must
name their church and pastor on the
admissions form.
University officials refrain from
talking to newsmen, claiming the press
has distorted the image of the school
over the years.
“The press has sometimes
compared us to the snake eaters in the
mountains, and made fun of our
rules,” a spokesman said. “They don’t
talk about the positive things. This is a
high quality, Christian schooL”
According to the student hand
book, students are encouraged to
refrain from listening to contemporary,
pop, rock or country and Western
music in favor of classical or church
music.
To make sure they have access to
acceptable music, the school operates
an AM-FM radio station, which broad
casts opera and other serious music
along with conservative political
commentary.
The school’s racial policy, which set
it on the collision course with the
federal courts, stems from what it
interprets as a Biblical admonition
against interracial marriage. According
to a spokesman, the university accepts
Orientals and married blacks.
He did not say whether any blacks
are now enrolled.
“We will accept Orientals,” he said,
“but they must not date out of their
race.”
Candidates for admission must state
their race on the application and, if
admitted, must refrain from any
involvement in civil rights activity. The
rule is stated broadly, and presumably
would apply to participation in rallies,
marches or any overt activity.
The university was founded in 1927
by the Rev. Bob Jones, Sr., a widely
known conservative evangelist. In 1933
it was moved from northwestern
Florida to Cleveland, Tenn., and in
194 7 to Greenville, a textile
manufacturing city in the state’s north
west Bible Belt.
The founder died in 1968. His son.
Bob Jones, Jr., is the chancellor, and
his grandson. Dr. Bob Jones, III, is the
president
The university makes no apologies
for its unabashed fundamentalism. “We
think the Scripture has not changed
and the Christ of the Bible has not
changed,” the spokesman said. “So we
have not changed.”
As a bulwark of fundamentalism,
BJU hires only fundamentalists for its
faculty. Each year faculty members
must sign a statement affirming their
belief in the tenets of fundamentalism.
These include the absolute authority of
the Bible, the divinity of Jesus and the
Virgin Birth. About 85 percent of the
faculty hold degrees from BJU.
The art museum includes som)
galleries, filled primarily with ieii^ n 1974 sho
paintings from various Italiai jj
Dutch schools. Most were donaletli ipposing of
friends of the university.
The university’s Shaktipaj itherlett er
repertoire group, the Gassic Hayeip jii
listed by the international Shakesptj ege
Survey as one of the country's
worthy classic repertoire companis
The new (not yet) blue water tower... going up
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