Bob Jones University
 

I'm suddenly fascinated with Bob Jones University (BJU) and their societies.

Can anyone tell me about them?

Thanks.

http://www.bju.edu/campus/life/society.html

-Rudey

Do they have webpages for each society?

Is there anyone on GC who went to this school? Are they "top tier" etc or are they pretty much the same?

I'm just curious to know what peoples experiences have been at this school.

BJ U
 

har har har de har har
actually, Bob Jones U is noted for its fine theatre production department.
Liberty U in VA would look like a wild ass Animal House school,
replete with the Deltas, when compared with BJ.
If the school, dears, were even remotely suitable for ANY GLO,
Kappa Alpha Order and Pike would already be there.
Bob Jones U....har har har de har har

Most info I've found is at http://www.bju.edu/admissions/preview.pdf

Actually an interesting read in a bizarre way. For example, action can be taken against a student for wearing any article with an Abercrombie and Fitch Logo.


Randy

BJU is a small, ultra-conservative, far FAR right wing, super religous school. Fraternities and sororities would not be welcome.

BJU and many other religious universities of this type often REQUIRE pledging in one of these groups. Pensacola Christian College is another example of this. These groups, to my knowlege, mainly function as prayer groups or similer. I think it's a very interesting system, mainly because I think it's a little silly to force students to join any organization on campus. I believe that some participate in intermural sporting events at their campus, but again, because of the requirement of joining I don't see any similarity between these orgs. and any others of which I am aware.

Bob Jones
 

If you do not have an active testimony of Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, then you lied when you applied to the school...

This is the school that lost its tax exempt status over banning inter-racial dating and appealed all the way to the Supreme court in the early 1980s (and failed) and didn't allow interracial dating until 2000.

Randy

Oh my.

I won't wear pantyhose to work here in the "real world" - you'd have a very hard time forcing me to wear it every day until 5 pm and all day on Sunday.

SAIAlum, you're right. That link says, "As a new student, you’ll join one of the 49 student groups called societies." Interesting. It's funny though, b/c all of these societies have Greek-letter names.

Thanks for the link to the PDF. I find all of this fascinating. And the fact that the students abide by these rules is fascinating to me too.

I think I need to let all of this sink in because while I knew colleges (granted unaccredited ones) existed I have never had my hands on their manuals until now.

The last pages of the handbook are just scary. It even prohibits the music you can listen to - no New Age, jazz, rock, country, or contemp. Christian allowed. I guess hip-hop and techno are ok, though.

Here's a description of BJU society life:
http://www.blogjones.com/archives/2004_09.html
Go to the September 11 entry, or do a search on "sorority" and it'll take you to it.


ETA - the link

This place is scary to me! I couldn't imagine students willingly going to school there....especially when they put so many rules on you. I especially enjoyed the one about the work hours of 10:45 during the week and midnight on the weekend. Oh, and checking out before you leave campus....but remember you get to earn your way to getting more privledges!!! No way, no way!

NO DANCING?!

This is where the apocolypse will come from. BJU...Oh my god. I go to a small, presbyterian school, and I thought we were a little too religious. But NO...we're not. This terrifies me. People actually go here?

in the words of the great joey lawrence. . . WHOA!

So what DO they listen to? Hymns and classical?

I liked the Abercrombie & Hollister ban. I guess Rave is OK :)

One of the professors at my old college in south Carolina graduated from Bob Jones. I never had him, but he was one of the most awesome professors on campus. He was in his late 30s or 40s but he would hang out with students, even go to their parties if he was invited. I guess because he never really got to 'live it up' during his years at BJU.

You know, there is something about that place that appeals to me. From what I read, there's no emphasis placed on looks, clothes, popularity, money or athletic ability. It'd be pretty cool to be at school and not have to worry about anything except, well, school. And if you have enough pantyhose to last the semester!

Still, human nature being what it is, I the students must have some way or another to carve out a social pecking order, right? My guess is the quasi greek houses.

Or you could go to a large ass school with 30,000+ students where youre never really gonna see anyone you know... so you dont have to worry about what you look like.

BJU seems to me the kinda place that yes, wont judge you on what you wear, but will be the first to judge you on EVERYTHING else.

Email
 

They do have email, so it can't be all bad.

Back in the day when I used to read Jane Pratt's Sassy magazine they had an article where they sent a reporter to BJU. It went through the whole "holy shit, I'm a liberal NYer and you're a conservative!" thing. They detailled the university and its policies and shadowed a student. What I found most interesting is the insight the reporter had at the end: that they both pitied eachother.

I find it amusing that men aren't allowed facial hair.

It says that they are discouraged from bringing tvs. Why wouold anyone go here?

ETA What is wrong with contempary christian music

ever see the movie Saved?

Sometimes the super religious can be super judgemental about how Christian a person is.

Guess it's just human nature

The biggest thing I noticed is that it reminds me of a boarding school much more then a college...

It has been said that Christians are the only ones who shoot their wounded - meaning, Christians (the ones who are only cultural Christians, not those who truly follow Christ) build up a fortress around themselves and kick out those who don't fit the qualifications.

Wow. I think I'm speechless.

How much do people pay to matriculate at BJU?

According to their website, it is about $12,720/ year which includes room and board since you have to live on campus (unless you live with your family, then it is $7,980/year)...

I like how their societies all have nicknames.

I thinkt its funny its called BJU though

I always find it funny how people will make fun of schools like Liberty, Bob Jones, Wheaton, BYU, etc. It's not like anyone is putting a gun to someone's head and saying that they have to go there, it's the mutual decision of the applicant and the school.

If someone wants to go to a religious school of any sort, yes, chances are that they will have to fit into that particular culture. Probably most of these people have gone to parochial elementary or high school in the first place, to even be interested.

That said, I do have misgivings about some of BJU's philosophies - but I also didn't apply there.


I didn't find the bit about "don't bring a television". I did see that there's a whole discipline/school on Film, Video, and Broadcasting.

"They do have email, so it can't be all bad."

Yeah, but the college filters their e-mail. They can't have any other e-mail but the school's.

Deleted because I didn't read the previous post correctly... Oops...

I think she means that they can't have, say, a hotmail address in addition to their school address in order to receive email that isn't monitored by the school.

har har har de har har
 

One of the most intelligent colleagues I ever had received his
second PhD at OU with me. He was an undergrad at BJ and
got a PhD there. He belonged to the Freewill Baptist Church
and the only one at OU with higher grades than him...was me. He became a dean at a major Texas school (TCU)
We would laugh at BJ's rules about males & females swimming
in the same pool, no more than holding hands while dating, the
saying of "he-cow" instead of a bull...other things. But, within
that small cadre were some real dedicated people, albeit not the
ones who'd join the Elks, Masons, Jaycees.
However, he was still loyal to BJ but able to make the transition.
I guess they are entitled to their space, too, as there is room in
this USA for a bunch of real weenies.
Har har har de har har.
HOWEVER, it was not too long ago that dancing was forbidden at
Furman, Baylor, perhaps others. Now they have 'us.'
Who knows...maybe the Union Triad will arise and pioneer there.
Har har har de har har
But, kids, back in the 50s some of the even-state supported schools had mandatory chapel and bible reading before student
council meetings...where? Well, Slippery Rock, Clarion, to name
two....then we started the Greeks there....I know, I was there.
Also, their is Oral Roberts U (girls, stand when young Roberts enters the room), lordy, you-all likely know of some snake-handling baptist places or other 'charismatic' schools.
Accredited?
Har har har de har har

My personal favorite was the bit about having to be in your room at 11, and lights out by midnight.

Re: har har har de har har
 

You do know why Baptists never have sex while standing up, don't you?

Because it may lead to dancing!


I can say that, I'm a casserole-toting Baptist!

This would be a great setting for a romance drama.....

Or a action shootout with Vin Diesel as the Dean...

Re: Re: har har har de har har
 

Co-sign, and I add this:

Jews don't recognize Christ as the Messiah.
Protestants don't recognize the Pope as the head of the church.
Baptists don't recognize each other in Hooters or the liquor store.

i thought it was interesting they discourage parents from helping their kids move in. moms are discouraged from setting up the dorm room, and they're only allowed in their son's dorm at certain times.

i don't know what i would've done without my parents helping move in. i needed all the extra hands i could get!