Christopher Peterman, founder of Do Right BJU, expelled 9 days before his BJU graduation.
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My name is Christopher Peterman and I was asked to share my story on SI. Since my expulsion on April 24, 2012 my story has been all of the world so this is basically just a rehash of everything you have probably already read.
One of my goals in sharing my stories is that I hope it can help BJU see the problems there and the overwhelming need for the grace of God to permeate that place. There is no grace at BJU. There is no love.
Probably my favorite song is Only Grace by Matthew West. I would love for the meaning of these words to effect the very core of BJU.
Matthew West’s Only Grace
There is no guilt here
There is no shame
No pointing fingers
There is no blame
What happened yesterday has disappeared
The dirt has washed away
And now its clear
There’s only grace. There’s only love
There’s only mercy and believe me its enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
And there’s nothing left now
There’s only grace
Your starting over now
Under the sun
Your stepping forward now
A new life has begun
Your new life has begun
And there’s only grace
There’s only love
There’s only mercy and believe me its enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
and there’s nothing left now
There’s only grace
And if you should fall again
Get back up, get back up
Reach out and take my hand
And get back up, get back up
Get back up again
Ooh get back up again
There’s only grace
There’s only love
There’s only mercy and believe me its enough, its enough
Your sins are gone without a trace
and there’s nothing left now
There’s only…there’s only grace
There’s only mercy and believe me its enough, its enough
Your sins are gone without a trace
And there’s nothing left now
There’s only grace….
So get back up, get back up again
Get back up, get back up, get back up again
––––––––––––––––––––––––—
My story
I grew up in Bradenton, Florida where I attended Community Baptist Church and Community Christian School my entire life. CBC is an independent, fundamental, Baptist church within the Bob Jones University network. So from a very young age I knew that I was going to attend BJU in Greenville, South Carolina. That was what was expected of me and that was my dream.
I graduated from high school in 2006 and was immediately accepted to BJU. I attended BJU from 2006 to 2009 and then, I stayed out of school working full time from 2009 through the first semester of 2010 to save enough money to return to school.
During the time I sat out of school I began to interact with people outside of the independent fundamental Baptist church. I realized that there were good Christian people outside of the IFB and I realized that being a Christian wasn’t about following the law; it was about loving others and loving God.
I returned the second semester of 2010 to Bob Jones University with a radically changed view of Christ and the power of grace and love in a Christian’s life. I now realized that because God loves, I am suppose to love everyone. This was a radical shift from my fundamentalist upbringing and from the views of Bob Jones University. But I still returned to BJU expecting to finish my degree in a year and a half and to then be done with BJU.
Little did I know my plans would soon be changed forever.
Before I went back to BJU for second semester 2010 my friend, Beth Murschell, called me and begged me not to go back to school. Even though my personal views had already radically shifted I still supported BJU and I told Beth that I wasn’t going to transfer anywhere else. She told me that there was so much that I didn’t know that she was just finding out and she pleaded with me to transfer.
I refused. I packed my bags, loaded the car, and headed up to BJU, but I continued to remember Beth’s warnings in the back of my head.
My first semester back at BJU was normal. I went to classes, made new friends, and I got no demerits the entire semester. No problems whatsoever … until I read about Tina Anderson.
The beginning of the end began the first semester of 2011. I came across some articles online about a scandal that was happening in Concord, New Hampshire at Trinity Baptist Church. I began to research what was happening and I soon discovered that there were significant issues with the former pastor.
Reverend Chuck Phelps was the pastor at Trinity Baptist Church when Ernest Willis, a 35-year-old man and member of the church, raped Tina Anderson, a 15-year-old member of the same church. This story attracted so much national media attention that http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/scarred-childhood-13334532: ABC’s 20/20 did an investigation on the abuse .
From my research I learned that Chuck Phelps was still on the Board of Trustees at Bob Jones University. It really troubled me that this man was being allowed to continue as a board member in good standing. I felt I had to speak out.
At first I posted links, articles, and even the 20/20 investigation link on my personal Facebook page, but I quickly was reported to the Dean of Men’s office. I was called into his office and the Dean of Men told me point blank that I had to stop talking about the Chuck Phelps situation on my personal Facebook or I would be expelled.
I left his office and immediately created a www.facebook.com/DoRightBJU: Facebook page called Do Right BJU where I wrote anonymously about the Chuck Phelps situation and organized a peaceful student protest. I called on students, faculty, staff and alumni to wear red in support of abuse victims. I also called on BJU to remove Chuck Phelps from the Board of Trustees and to begin educating the BJU students on abuse and signs of abuse.
The protest was held on December 12, 2011 — a handful of BJU students along with a group of alumni wore red that day. In solidarity, many people changed their profile photos to red, creating a virtual sea of red on Facebook.
BJU announced that there would be no consequences for those students organizing or involved with the protest. Chuck Phelps resigned and a committee was formed to investigate allegations of sexual abuse within BJU.
Everything was good, or so I thought. Our goals had been accomplished and the semester came to an end.
I came back for my final semester and that is when the problems began.
I was immediately required to have weekly meetings with the Dean of Men where it was implied that because I had questioned BJU’s authority and had gone against their wishes, I must have a deep spiritual problem that needed to be addressed and fixed. He required that I read an entire book of the Bible every day and write out my thoughts and devotions so I could talk to him about it.
As the semester progressed, the meetings changed from a spiritual focus to a focus on my social media activities. Also the frequency of the meetings increased, to the point where I was having midnight meetings.
Stacks of my Facebook and Twitter posts were printed out, highlighted, starred, and circled. I felt that I was being constantly watched, intimidated and harassed.
Surprisingly, only a year earlier, BJU had promised that they would not police students’ social media accounts when they unblocked them on the school networks, allowing us to use Facebook and some other social media sites on campus for the first time. Obviously, that had changed.
Around the final week of March I was called into the Dean of Men’s office for a tweet I had sent. This tweet was sent right before a required Bible Conference service, which is like a chapel service. According to BJU, students are allowed to use their phones up until the time the service actually begins. But I was given 25 demerits for “chapel misconduct” and that put me up to 55 demerits.
On April 12th I was called into the Dean of Men’s office again for allegations that I had been watching TV off campus. I was informed that I was receiving 50 demerits for watching the TV show Glee, but that I had the option to appeal these demerits in a Special Committee of the Discipline Committee. I pled my case that according to the Student Handbook of BJU it is not against the rules to watch TV off campus. There are no written rules about watching any shows while off campus.
The Special Committee heard my plea and then they deliberated on their verdict. They agreed with my assertion that it is not in the rule book that a BJU student can’t watch TV. But they still ruled against me, upholding the 50 demerits, because they said that the nature of Glee itself was so “morally reprehensible.” Specially, they disliked the cheerleader’s outfits, the music, the dancing and the homosexuality. I received 50 demerits for the content alone, even though there was no rule in the handbook about acceptable content.
That ruling put me at 105 demerits, much closer to the 150 limit than I had ever been. Two days later, on April 16th, I received 15 demerits for not shaving, putting me at 120. Now I was worried.
On April 24th I was called into the Dean of Men’s office at 11:00am for what became my final meeting. I was informed that I was receiving 50 demerits for posting lyrics to a Christian song, Matthew West’s “Only Grace,” on my Facebook. I was also informed that I was receiving 25 demerits for posting on Facebook during class.
These new demerits placed me at 195, well over the 150 limit. I was informed that I was expelled from Bob Jones University. I asked to appeal the ruling to the Special Committee and was told that the appeal would take place at 4:00 pm the same day.
Obviously, I was concerned. I had just been denied at my last appeal and the same people were going to be deciding whether or not I was able to remain in school.
I went back to my room and began preparing my defense. I researched information on TRACS, the national accrediting agency that BJU uses, and decided to contact them. I then called the Department of Education to see what my options were with them. I also called Congressman Buchanan (Florida), Senator Rubio (Florida), and Senator DeMint (South Carolina) to see if they could assist me in my predicament. Finally, I contacted the local news agencies that had covered the Do Right BJU story back in December. I informed them that BJU was planning to expel me and that I needed help. I was desperate.
The time for the Special Meeting quickly approached and I went into the meeting with almost full certainty that I was not going to come out of it a BJU student.
I pled my case to the Special Committee. I read the Student Handbook and showed that there were no rules about posting lyrics to songs on a student’s personal Facebook. I also informed them that because I stood to lose everything I had worked for I had contacted many agencies for help.
I left the room and waited for their decision. Once they deliberated and had come to a decision, I was brought back into the meeting and the Committee ruled that I would receive the demerits for posting a Facebook status in class and I would not receive the 50 demerits for the lyrics — bringing me up to 145 total demerits, five demerits shy of expulsion. I was shocked, overwhelmed and overjoyed. I even almost started to cry because I was so amazed. My prayers had been answered.
At this point all of the people on the Committee left the room except for the Dean of Men, the Dean of Students and myself. I assumed that they wanted to pray with me or that they wanted to clarify an issue. To my shock I was informed that I had tried to “intimidate” BJU by contacting outside agencies and that I was being expelled immediately. One moment I was safe and the next I was gone. A member of the Student Life staff followed me around campus until I had packed all of my bags packed and was completely off campus. It took a total of two hours.
Today I am barred from the campus of Bob Jones University, told that if I return I will be immediately arrested. I wasn’t expelled for breaking the rules, because most of my demerits are from arbitrary and capricious rulings. I believe I was expelled because I spoke out. I saw abuse happening and I talked about it. I didn’t back down when threatened. I didn’t give in when I felt stalked. I stood my ground and that, I believe, is why I was expelled just 9 days before my graduation.
One of my goals in sharing my stories is that I hope it can help BJU see the problems there and the overwhelming need for the grace of God to permeate that place. There is no grace at BJU. There is no love.
Probably my favorite song is Only Grace by Matthew West. I would love for the meaning of these words to effect the very core of BJU.
Matthew West’s Only Grace
There is no guilt here
There is no shame
No pointing fingers
There is no blame
What happened yesterday has disappeared
The dirt has washed away
And now its clear
There’s only grace. There’s only love
There’s only mercy and believe me its enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
And there’s nothing left now
There’s only grace
Your starting over now
Under the sun
Your stepping forward now
A new life has begun
Your new life has begun
And there’s only grace
There’s only love
There’s only mercy and believe me its enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
and there’s nothing left now
There’s only grace
And if you should fall again
Get back up, get back up
Reach out and take my hand
And get back up, get back up
Get back up again
Ooh get back up again
There’s only grace
There’s only love
There’s only mercy and believe me its enough, its enough
Your sins are gone without a trace
and there’s nothing left now
There’s only…there’s only grace
There’s only mercy and believe me its enough, its enough
Your sins are gone without a trace
And there’s nothing left now
There’s only grace….
So get back up, get back up again
Get back up, get back up, get back up again
––––––––––––––––––––––––—
My story
I grew up in Bradenton, Florida where I attended Community Baptist Church and Community Christian School my entire life. CBC is an independent, fundamental, Baptist church within the Bob Jones University network. So from a very young age I knew that I was going to attend BJU in Greenville, South Carolina. That was what was expected of me and that was my dream.
I graduated from high school in 2006 and was immediately accepted to BJU. I attended BJU from 2006 to 2009 and then, I stayed out of school working full time from 2009 through the first semester of 2010 to save enough money to return to school.
During the time I sat out of school I began to interact with people outside of the independent fundamental Baptist church. I realized that there were good Christian people outside of the IFB and I realized that being a Christian wasn’t about following the law; it was about loving others and loving God.
I returned the second semester of 2010 to Bob Jones University with a radically changed view of Christ and the power of grace and love in a Christian’s life. I now realized that because God loves, I am suppose to love everyone. This was a radical shift from my fundamentalist upbringing and from the views of Bob Jones University. But I still returned to BJU expecting to finish my degree in a year and a half and to then be done with BJU.
Little did I know my plans would soon be changed forever.
Before I went back to BJU for second semester 2010 my friend, Beth Murschell, called me and begged me not to go back to school. Even though my personal views had already radically shifted I still supported BJU and I told Beth that I wasn’t going to transfer anywhere else. She told me that there was so much that I didn’t know that she was just finding out and she pleaded with me to transfer.
I refused. I packed my bags, loaded the car, and headed up to BJU, but I continued to remember Beth’s warnings in the back of my head.
My first semester back at BJU was normal. I went to classes, made new friends, and I got no demerits the entire semester. No problems whatsoever … until I read about Tina Anderson.
The beginning of the end began the first semester of 2011. I came across some articles online about a scandal that was happening in Concord, New Hampshire at Trinity Baptist Church. I began to research what was happening and I soon discovered that there were significant issues with the former pastor.
Reverend Chuck Phelps was the pastor at Trinity Baptist Church when Ernest Willis, a 35-year-old man and member of the church, raped Tina Anderson, a 15-year-old member of the same church. This story attracted so much national media attention that http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/scarred-childhood-13334532: ABC’s 20/20 did an investigation on the abuse .
From my research I learned that Chuck Phelps was still on the Board of Trustees at Bob Jones University. It really troubled me that this man was being allowed to continue as a board member in good standing. I felt I had to speak out.
At first I posted links, articles, and even the 20/20 investigation link on my personal Facebook page, but I quickly was reported to the Dean of Men’s office. I was called into his office and the Dean of Men told me point blank that I had to stop talking about the Chuck Phelps situation on my personal Facebook or I would be expelled.
I left his office and immediately created a www.facebook.com/DoRightBJU: Facebook page called Do Right BJU where I wrote anonymously about the Chuck Phelps situation and organized a peaceful student protest. I called on students, faculty, staff and alumni to wear red in support of abuse victims. I also called on BJU to remove Chuck Phelps from the Board of Trustees and to begin educating the BJU students on abuse and signs of abuse.
The protest was held on December 12, 2011 — a handful of BJU students along with a group of alumni wore red that day. In solidarity, many people changed their profile photos to red, creating a virtual sea of red on Facebook.
BJU announced that there would be no consequences for those students organizing or involved with the protest. Chuck Phelps resigned and a committee was formed to investigate allegations of sexual abuse within BJU.
Everything was good, or so I thought. Our goals had been accomplished and the semester came to an end.
I came back for my final semester and that is when the problems began.
I was immediately required to have weekly meetings with the Dean of Men where it was implied that because I had questioned BJU’s authority and had gone against their wishes, I must have a deep spiritual problem that needed to be addressed and fixed. He required that I read an entire book of the Bible every day and write out my thoughts and devotions so I could talk to him about it.
As the semester progressed, the meetings changed from a spiritual focus to a focus on my social media activities. Also the frequency of the meetings increased, to the point where I was having midnight meetings.
Stacks of my Facebook and Twitter posts were printed out, highlighted, starred, and circled. I felt that I was being constantly watched, intimidated and harassed.
Surprisingly, only a year earlier, BJU had promised that they would not police students’ social media accounts when they unblocked them on the school networks, allowing us to use Facebook and some other social media sites on campus for the first time. Obviously, that had changed.
Around the final week of March I was called into the Dean of Men’s office for a tweet I had sent. This tweet was sent right before a required Bible Conference service, which is like a chapel service. According to BJU, students are allowed to use their phones up until the time the service actually begins. But I was given 25 demerits for “chapel misconduct” and that put me up to 55 demerits.
On April 12th I was called into the Dean of Men’s office again for allegations that I had been watching TV off campus. I was informed that I was receiving 50 demerits for watching the TV show Glee, but that I had the option to appeal these demerits in a Special Committee of the Discipline Committee. I pled my case that according to the Student Handbook of BJU it is not against the rules to watch TV off campus. There are no written rules about watching any shows while off campus.
The Special Committee heard my plea and then they deliberated on their verdict. They agreed with my assertion that it is not in the rule book that a BJU student can’t watch TV. But they still ruled against me, upholding the 50 demerits, because they said that the nature of Glee itself was so “morally reprehensible.” Specially, they disliked the cheerleader’s outfits, the music, the dancing and the homosexuality. I received 50 demerits for the content alone, even though there was no rule in the handbook about acceptable content.
That ruling put me at 105 demerits, much closer to the 150 limit than I had ever been. Two days later, on April 16th, I received 15 demerits for not shaving, putting me at 120. Now I was worried.
On April 24th I was called into the Dean of Men’s office at 11:00am for what became my final meeting. I was informed that I was receiving 50 demerits for posting lyrics to a Christian song, Matthew West’s “Only Grace,” on my Facebook. I was also informed that I was receiving 25 demerits for posting on Facebook during class.
These new demerits placed me at 195, well over the 150 limit. I was informed that I was expelled from Bob Jones University. I asked to appeal the ruling to the Special Committee and was told that the appeal would take place at 4:00 pm the same day.
Obviously, I was concerned. I had just been denied at my last appeal and the same people were going to be deciding whether or not I was able to remain in school.
I went back to my room and began preparing my defense. I researched information on TRACS, the national accrediting agency that BJU uses, and decided to contact them. I then called the Department of Education to see what my options were with them. I also called Congressman Buchanan (Florida), Senator Rubio (Florida), and Senator DeMint (South Carolina) to see if they could assist me in my predicament. Finally, I contacted the local news agencies that had covered the Do Right BJU story back in December. I informed them that BJU was planning to expel me and that I needed help. I was desperate.
The time for the Special Meeting quickly approached and I went into the meeting with almost full certainty that I was not going to come out of it a BJU student.
I pled my case to the Special Committee. I read the Student Handbook and showed that there were no rules about posting lyrics to songs on a student’s personal Facebook. I also informed them that because I stood to lose everything I had worked for I had contacted many agencies for help.
I left the room and waited for their decision. Once they deliberated and had come to a decision, I was brought back into the meeting and the Committee ruled that I would receive the demerits for posting a Facebook status in class and I would not receive the 50 demerits for the lyrics — bringing me up to 145 total demerits, five demerits shy of expulsion. I was shocked, overwhelmed and overjoyed. I even almost started to cry because I was so amazed. My prayers had been answered.
At this point all of the people on the Committee left the room except for the Dean of Men, the Dean of Students and myself. I assumed that they wanted to pray with me or that they wanted to clarify an issue. To my shock I was informed that I had tried to “intimidate” BJU by contacting outside agencies and that I was being expelled immediately. One moment I was safe and the next I was gone. A member of the Student Life staff followed me around campus until I had packed all of my bags packed and was completely off campus. It took a total of two hours.
Today I am barred from the campus of Bob Jones University, told that if I return I will be immediately arrested. I wasn’t expelled for breaking the rules, because most of my demerits are from arbitrary and capricious rulings. I believe I was expelled because I spoke out. I saw abuse happening and I talked about it. I didn’t back down when threatened. I didn’t give in when I felt stalked. I stood my ground and that, I believe, is why I was expelled just 9 days before my graduation.
- 204 views
Dan, have you seen the following screen shots taken from CP’s twitter and FB pages? You act like poor Chris had no other choice but to be expelled, when his posting shows that he pretty much knew what he was doing. I think it’s safe to say that Chris isn’t the poor innocent that you think he is. Of course, if he would actually come back SI and explain who faked these images and why, then maybe I could buy into the “I was wrongfully expelled for retaliation” excuse.
There’s more photos at http://thehidalgograincompany.wordpress.com/2012/05/03/the-oracle-of-tr… the Hidalgo http://thehidalgograincompany.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/christopher-pete… Grain blog . These are just the more…helpful…screen captures. Especially the one about being told not to talk while he pursues legal redress.
There’s more photos at http://thehidalgograincompany.wordpress.com/2012/05/03/the-oracle-of-tr… the Hidalgo http://thehidalgograincompany.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/christopher-pete… Grain blog . These are just the more…helpful…screen captures. Especially the one about being told not to talk while he pursues legal redress.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
Yup … it’s pretty STUPID to call your schools CEO an [expletive]
I’m pretty sure [red] [GREAT GUY] was not the intent! (commenting on Jay’s screen shots in the previous post!)
I’m pretty sure [red] [GREAT GUY] was not the intent! (commenting on Jay’s screen shots in the previous post!)
Someone linked to the Student Handbook; here are the photos of what Chris was required to read and agree with every semester at BJU:
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
[Rev Karl] Several years after graduating, my dear wife had opportunity to talk with the Dean of Women at The University. During that conversation she told my wife that *her* class (Freshman Class 1977) was “the first of the bad years.” The Bad Years were those in which the students began to ask questions, instead of just accepting what the faculty/staff/admin said as gospel and law.Actually, those were the first of the good years, although I can understand why the Dean would think of it as the bad years. BJU should have known all the way back then that they were training young people to go out and serve, which means that they would need to teach them to Scripturally discern and understand, not just accept rules and policy. So while I think it is far easier to teach people to obey, that isn’t the point of an education. I hope that mindset has challenged and changed, because it took me a long time to learn how to do that instead of just regurgitating the rules I’d been taught.
I am involved in this site because I want people to think, reason, and discern - to ‘test the Spirits’, as I John says. BJU is not blameless - not by a longshot. Phelps should never have been on the Board of Trustees (or whatever it was) as a quick example. It’s when people can’t (or won’t) learn to exercise their God-given mental faculties that we get cases like the ‘poor Mr. Peterman’, who was expelled because he dared to ‘speak the truth to Power’ or whatever that slogan is.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
We (Jim Peet) and I solicited Christopher to share his story here. Calling him “stupid” is uncalled for.
You guys are arguing all kinds of things about which I have no interest in arguing. However, there is one issue that I think IS important to discuss, and I’ll repeat it in case people continue to want to engage on the subject that I personally think is most important here.
Is it OK for an accredited Christian school to expel a student even though they did not previously have enough demerits to be expelled for contacting outside governing agencies? I still think (and no one has presented a reasonable argument against) that it is unethical to expel a student for contacting outside organizations to find out their rights when they are under discipline.
You guys are arguing all kinds of things about which I have no interest in arguing. However, there is one issue that I think IS important to discuss, and I’ll repeat it in case people continue to want to engage on the subject that I personally think is most important here.
Is it OK for an accredited Christian school to expel a student even though they did not previously have enough demerits to be expelled for contacting outside governing agencies? I still think (and no one has presented a reasonable argument against) that it is unethical to expel a student for contacting outside organizations to find out their rights when they are under discipline.
You just can’t let go, can you? What happened between you and BJU? Did you ever get expelled from BJU or something?
You keep acting like Chris didn’t do anything wrong and was an innocent victim who was expelled because he dared to ask a question. Far from it.
Is it OK for an accredited Christian school to expel a student even though they did not previously have enough demerits to be expelled for contacting outside governing agencies? I still think (and no one has presented a reasonable argument against) that it is unethical to expel a student for contacting outside organizations to find out their rights when they are under discipline.You’ve missed (or ignored) my point. The purpose in those photos, Dan, is to demonstrate that Chris was willfully disobeying the school and flaunting it. He got expelled because BJU basically had no other choice to, and from what I’m seeing, he’s lucky he lasted as long as he did.
You keep acting like Chris didn’t do anything wrong and was an innocent victim who was expelled because he dared to ask a question. Far from it.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
Jay, I’m pretty sure he got demerits for every last thing they could give him demerits for and he STILL didn’t meet the 150 demerit mark.
Nothing happened between me and BJ. You just can’t except that I’m not some bitter person with an ax to grind. But the truth is that the way BJ handled first the Phelps situation and now the final expulsion of Chris reflects very poorly on the gospel of Christ. THAT is the reason, not any bitterness with BJ, that causes me to raise this issue.
Nothing happened between me and BJ. You just can’t except that I’m not some bitter person with an ax to grind. But the truth is that the way BJ handled first the Phelps situation and now the final expulsion of Chris reflects very poorly on the gospel of Christ. THAT is the reason, not any bitterness with BJ, that causes me to raise this issue.
I said:
Frank Dan … can we agree that calling the CEO (is that the Pres? Chancellor?) a foul name was NOT a wise thing to do?
Yup … it’s pretty STUPID to call your schools CEO an [expletive]I’m sure he is a reasonably sharp individual.
Frank Dan … can we agree that calling the CEO (is that the Pres? Chancellor?) a foul name was NOT a wise thing to do?
Who said:
But you are saying that this is what pushed him from 145 to 150+
That’s not clear to me.
Did he get any demerits for calling the CEO (who is BJ’s CEO anyway?) a foul name? You have not interacted with that!
I still think (and no one has presented a reasonable argument against) that it is unethical to expel a student for contacting outside organizations to find out their rights when they are under discipline.OK I can agree with you on this point: He had a right to contact TRACS (this is in the BJU handbook!) (and I suppose as an US Citizen a right to call his congressman / senator)
But you are saying that this is what pushed him from 145 to 150+
That’s not clear to me.
Did he get any demerits for calling the CEO (who is BJ’s CEO anyway?) a foul name? You have not interacted with that!
It’s unethical to sign a covenant, violate it, and then try to play the victim because you are now faced with the consequences. It’s unethical to claim to be concerned about sexual abuse and immorality when you yourself are entertained by it. Those ethical issues are as much at the heart of this as how BJU admin handled the situation.
The We Shall Destroy BJU At All Costs Club shoulda’ picked a different poster boy.
The We Shall Destroy BJU At All Costs Club shoulda’ picked a different poster boy.
[Dan Frank] Jay, I’m pretty sure he got demerits for every last thing they could give him demerits for and he STILL didn’t meet the 150 demerit mark.Dan, if he got 50 demerits in one shot for watching Glee, what keeps BJU from bumping that up the excess 5 to give him the boot? I am pretty sure that there’s no rule saying that you can’t call the CEO a _________ (whatever it was), but that ought to be good for at least 15 demerits right there. The other problem with what you’re saying is that all of it is based on Chris’s report. We don’t know what demerits were taken off or dialed down that would have pushed him over 150. We do know that he managed to get at least a few demerits taken off as a result of the disciplinary committee meeting. Did BJU do that maliciously too, with the intent of nailing him just a little bit closer to the graduation?
Nothing happened between me and BJ. You just can’t except that I’m not some bitter person with an ax to grind. But the truth is that the way BJ handled first the Phelps situation and now the final expulsion of Chris reflects very poorly on the gospel of Christ. THAT is the reason, not any bitterness with BJ, that causes me to raise this issue.
As for the axe to grind - almost every post you’ve made on SI has been to castigate BJU for one reason or another…I’ll accept that you say you don’t have an axe to grind, but your posting history demonstrates otherwise. Anyone who wants to verify that claim can look it up.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
Looks like this story just hit CNN.com
[Jim Peet] I said:Yes.Yup … it’s pretty STUPID to call your schools CEO an [expletive]I’m sure he is a reasonably sharp individual.
Frank Dan … can we agree that calling the CEO (is that the Pres? Chancellor?) a foul name was NOT a wise thing to do?
Link:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/08/us/bju-student-suspension-irpt/index.html…
Comment: Started as an IReport (The “I” would be Peterman who uploaded his videos)
But some interested stuff about BJU responding:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/08/us/bju-student-suspension-irpt/index.html…
Comment: Started as an IReport (The “I” would be Peterman who uploaded his videos)
But some interested stuff about BJU responding:
[Peterman] claims to have been forced out of school in retaliation for his activism against Chuck Phelps, a former BJU Board of Trustees member who was accused of covering up a sex-abuse scandal at the church where he served as pastor.
Carol Keirstead, BJU’s Chief Communications Officer, denied these allegations.
Keirstead said that BJU was not commenting on specific allegations made by Peterman.
…
Keirstead declined to comment on these allegations.
…
When asked for comment, BJU’s Chief Communications Officer confirmed that Peterman was suspended for these infractions, but said that the suspension was not connected to his activism against Chuck Phelps. “If we had been going to suspend him for that, we would have suspended him right then and there. He wouldn’t have been back this semester,” she said. “The suspension had nothing to do with the protests.”
[Jim Peet] Who said:Yes, that’s what pushed him from 145 to 150. You can see his demerit record http://www.bobfelton.com/?p=17618] here .I still think (and no one has presented a reasonable argument against) that it is unethical to expel a student for contacting outside organizations to find out their rights when they are under discipline.OK I can agree with you on this point: He had a right to contact TRACS (this is in the BJU handbook!) (and I suppose as an US Citizen a right to call his congressman / senator)
But you are saying that this is what pushed him from 145 to 150+
That’s not clear to me.
And here is Chris’ own words from his initial post.
On April 24th I was called into the Dean of Men’s office at 11:00am for what became my final meeting. I was informed that I was receiving 50 demerits for posting lyrics to a Christian song, Matthew West’s “Only Grace,” on my Facebook. I was also informed that I was receiving 25 demerits for posting on Facebook during class.
These new demerits placed me at 195, well over the 150 limit. I was informed that I was expelled from Bob Jones University. I asked to appeal the ruling to the Special Committee and was told that the appeal would take place at 4:00 pm the same day.
Obviously, I was concerned. I had just been denied at my last appeal and the same people were going to be deciding whether or not I was able to remain in school.
I went back to my room and began preparing my defense. I researched information on TRACS, the national accrediting agency that BJU uses, and decided to contact them. I then called the Department of Education to see what my options were with them. I also called Congressman Buchanan (Florida), Senator Rubio (Florida), and Senator DeMint (South Carolina) to see if they could assist me in my predicament. Finally, I contacted the local news agencies that had covered the Do Right BJU story back in December. I informed them that BJU was planning to expel me and that I needed help. I was desperate.
The time for the Special Meeting quickly approached and I went into the meeting with almost full certainty that I was not going to come out of it a BJU student.
I pled my case to the Special Committee. I read the Student Handbook and showed that there were no rules about posting lyrics to songs on a student’s personal Facebook. I also informed them that because I stood to lose everything I had worked for I had contacted many agencies for help.
I left the room and waited for their decision. Once they deliberated and had come to a decision, I was brought back into the meeting and the Committee ruled that I would receive the demerits for posting a Facebook status in class and I would not receive the 50 demerits for the lyrics — bringing me up to 145 total demerits, five demerits shy of expulsion. I was shocked, overwhelmed and overjoyed. I even almost started to cry because I was so amazed. My prayers had been answered.
At this point all of the people on the Committee left the room except for the Dean of Men, the Dean of Students and myself. I assumed that they wanted to pray with me or that they wanted to clarify an issue. To my shock I was informed that I had tried to “intimidate” BJU by contacting outside agencies and that I was being expelled immediately. One moment I was safe and the next I was gone.
Jay and Jim, I just went back to look at the facebook post calling the CEO an expletive — that was AFTER he was expelled!
He received the Glee demerits something like 10 days before he was expelled. That put him at 105 demerits.
He received the Glee demerits something like 10 days before he was expelled. That put him at 105 demerits.
[Dan Frank] I just went back to look at the facebook post calling the CEO an expletive — that was AFTER he was expelled!Interesting observation.
[Dan Frank] Jay and Jim, I just went back to look at the facebook post calling the CEO an expletive — that was AFTER he was expelled!So why, then, http://sharperiron.org/comment/42990#comment-42990] would he say “…the CEO is a _____________ that wants me to get kicked out of BJU” if he’d already been kicked out?
Also - there’s an awful (and I do mean awful) lot of “Late to Class” “Absent from Class” zeroed out demerits on that link you posted. And for the record, the final entry on the list (another 50 d’s) is for “Disrespect/Insubordination”, which sounds about right to me, based on the other stuff I’ve seen and posted. So we have:
50 - insubordination/disrespect
15 - not shaving (questionable, but it is the second listed shaving infraction, and it is different from ‘failure to shave’)
50 - unaccepable music/video/reading materials
25 - class / chapel misconduct (questionable)
10 - failure to obey instruction minor
05 - late leaving/returning to residence hall
05 - late to chapel / society
05 - failure to shave
Total - 165 demerits. And it looks like there’s more listed in Student Central, but the image is cut off. So that’s not even a complete list.
—edit—
There is definitely more that’s not listed, since my total of 165 doesn’t match with the 170 that the Student Central image displays.
BTW - this would have been Chris’ 8th semester at BJU. So some of this stuff should have been kind of obvious, methinks.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
[Dan Frank] Jay and Jim, I just went back to look at the facebook post calling the CEO an expletive — that was AFTER he was expelled!It’s the same date (4/24). It is cuckoo-talk if he’s already been expelled when he wrote that — why would he have been talking about graduating in ten days if he’d already been expelled? Obviously he hadn’t been yet. You got the dates wrong.
**
He contradicts himself in the CNN article. He says he was expelled because of the Phelps protest, then he says he started racking up demerits because he wouldn’t shut up. Which was it? I’ll take the latter. He wouldn’t shut up and kept doing stupid things. It wasn’t about Phelps at all, it was about everything he did this semester. The Phelps thing drew attention to himself, but it was his behaviour this semester that gave them reason to keep watching.
He comes back to school and knows they are watching him because he’s got a new roommate, or something. OK, so what’s his first move?
January 20th, he’s threatening them to put anything they say on YouTube — and we all know stuff can be doctored or edited creatively, so that would have not exactly made them happy. He says he’s not a friend of BJU. Hello? You’ve been back less than two weeks and you are doing this? These are not the things to be putting out there for people to see unless you WANT to get expelled. You wonder why they are talking to you about what you are posting? Really?
February, he’s starting a “life after BJU” blog for those who have been shipped. That’s a good idea.
So, did he want to be shipped, or was he just being really, really stupid? It’s one or the other. Maybe he thought he could write a book or something. I wonder if the people who put him up to this even care about him enough to buy it when it’s published.
I received 2 emails from blogger Hidalgo Grain Company
Blog: http://thehidalgograincompany.wordpress.com/
Comment: I think it is important to clarify a misconception:
Blog: http://thehidalgograincompany.wordpress.com/
Comment: I think it is important to clarify a misconception:
“Did he get any demerits for calling the CEO (who is BJ’s CEO anyway?) a foul name?”AND
Mr. Peet — I’ve got to stop you — Chris Peterman was referring to ME —
I am the CEO of The Hidalgo Grain Company. I had just written a blog about how much BJU had “changed” - 30: An Open Letter to Dr. Bob III
Chris was upset because I used many of his posts, quotes & videos as “proof” that BJU no longer enforced their old “out-dated” rules. Chris came on Facebook and made the “expletive” comment & took a couple of shots at my wife (not sure why - to make me mad, I guess).
Anyway - I’m the CEO — Chris was not referring to anyone at BJU in the “expletive” FB post.
GEaston -
“the CEO”, The Hidalgo Grain Company
Mr. Peet — You guys are wrong again —
Peterman made the expletive post on April 23, 2012 at 10:37PM the night before he got shipped.
He was shipped on April 24 around 11AM.
The date April 24, 2012 appearing on the screenshot was the date it was sent to me. You can see the post was 11 Hours old then.
Maybe I should join SI?
GEaston
[Jim Peet] I received 2 emails from blogger Hidalgo Grain CompanyI’m glad he clarified that. I just figured that out myself. It became clear when I started to research it on the Hidalgo Grain Company which first posted the screen shot of the comment.
Blog: http://thehidalgograincompany.wordpress.com/
Comment: I think it is important to clarify a misconception:
“Did he get any demerits for calling the CEO (who is BJ’s CEO anyway?) a foul name?”
Mr. Peet — I’ve got to stop you — Chris Peterman was referring to ME —
I am the CEO of The Hidalgo Grain Company. I had just written a blog about how much BJU had “changed” - 30: An Open Letter to Dr. Bob III
Chris was upset because I used many of his posts, quotes & videos as “proof” that BJU no longer enforced their old “out-dated” rules. Chris came on Facebook and made the “expletive” comment & took a couple of shots at my wife (not sure why - to make me mad, I guess).
Anyway - I’m the CEO — Chris was not referring to anyone at BJU in the “expletive” FB post.
GEaston -
“the CEO”, The Hidalgo Grain Company
Slightly less egregious, if not directed at someone at BJU.
But it really doesn’t matter who it was directed at. Knowing they were monitoring his posting, he posted THAT? Threatening to spread expletives as soon as he graduates? I think that would have picked up a few more demerits when they found it. He only needed five more, right? This dude was trying to get himself shipped, or he was completely out of his head (or both).
But it really doesn’t matter who it was directed at. Knowing they were monitoring his posting, he posted THAT? Threatening to spread expletives as soon as he graduates? I think that would have picked up a few more demerits when they found it. He only needed five more, right? This dude was trying to get himself shipped, or he was completely out of his head (or both).
[JG] Slightly less egregious, if not directed at someone at BJU.Actually, in terms of BJU, it’s not egregious at all. Chris shows that he is desperately trying to NOT get kicked out of BJU and he’s horrified that the guy at Hidalgo Grain Company is posting things about Chris right before graduation that seem an attempt to get Chris kicked out. He’s emotional and high spirited, but he had a lot to lose.
But it really doesn’t matter who it was directed at. Knowing they were monitoring his posting, he posted THAT? Threatening to spread expletives as soon as he graduates? I think that would have picked up a few more demerits when they found it. He only needed five more, right? This dude was trying to get himself shipped, or he was completely out of his head (or both).
And, even though BJU was monitoring that as you say, they did not give him any demerits for it (or even seem to bring it up). No, in the last two weeks of school, the ONLY demerits he got (and the ones that resulted in his expulsion) were the ones for contacting outside agencies.
I believe the CEO Chris Peterman is referring to is the CEO of the Hidlago Grain Company blog. This blog, while not a strong BJU supporter, has pointed out the inconsistencies and contradictions in CP’s many posts.
"Some things are of that nature as to make one's fancy chuckle, while his heart doth ache." John Bunyan
[Ron Bean] I believe the CEO Chris Peterman is referring to is the CEO of the Hidlago Grain Company blog. This blog, while not a strong BJU supporter, has pointed out the inconsistencies and contradictions in CP’s many posts.Scroll up to: Updated info with correction
My bad. You can delete this and my previous errant post.
"Some things are of that nature as to make one's fancy chuckle, while his heart doth ache." John Bunyan
[Dan Frank] Actually, in terms of BJU, it’s not egregious at all. Chris shows that he is desperately trying to NOT get kicked out of BJU and he’s horrified that the guy at Hidalgo Grain Company is posting things about Chris right before graduation that seem an attempt to get Chris kicked out. He’s emotional and high spirited, but he had a lot to lose.Chris Peterman — “I don’t care about civility not when the CEO is an [expletive] that wants to get me kicked out of BJU. And on May 4th after Commencement I can come back and tell you exactly what expletives I would use to describe the CEO.”
And, even though BJU was monitoring that as you say, they did not give him any demerits for it (or even seem to bring it up). No, in the last two weeks of school, the ONLY demerits he got (and the ones that resulted in his expulsion) were the ones for contacting outside agencies.
So, he’s saying he’s thinking swear words and is going to start slinging swear words around as soon as he graduates. He’s doing it in a public forum. He’s saying the only reason he isn’t doing so now is because it will cost him something. You’re trying to tell us BJU wouldn’t consider that demerit-worthy? I don’t think you understand BJU, if that’s what you think.
Possible reasons they didn’t give him demerits for it:
1. They perhaps hadn’t seen it yet. It was posted less than 24 hours before he got shipped. They probably weren’t monitoring him in real time, you know.
2. They had seen it but decided they didn’t need it. There was sufficient grounds anyway.
3. They had seen it, misunderstood it as referring to someone at BJU, and included it under the “threatening” behaviour. (This isn’t as likely, but could have happened. People here on SI, including you, initially thought that was what it was.)
The likelihood that they had seen it and decided it wasn’t demerit-worthy behaviour is extremely low.
Excerpt from the BJU Handbook:
BJU expects students to use social media and blogs responsibly, following biblical principles and maintaining content that promotes a consistent, positive Christian testimony. Language should not violate scriptural commands regarding abusive, slanderous, complaining, profane, blasphemous or tale-bearing speech, and content should be biblical and avoid promoting a lifestyle contrary to principles taught in Scripture or at the University.Busted. He’d have had at least 5 demerits for that if they had seen it, and at that point it would have been enough to finish the job. Dude had no self-control.
But you’ve already told us you think BJU is 100% responsible and he is completely innocent (posts 52 & 53 on this thread). They just made up the demerits. So I’m wasting my time even discussing it with you, probably.
But since you think whistleblower laws may have been violated, why don’t you take it up with the authorities, rather than talking about it on the Internet? I’m sure they’ll be glad to hear from you.
The screwup with the expletive CEO image is mine and mine alone. I linked to them privately in the mod forum a few days ago, and then I decided to make them public since Chris hasn’t bothered to respond since starting this thread. I thought it was pretty clear that he was talking about Steven Jones, who is the CEO of BJU (although he’s been laid up with some kind of illness), or possibly the acting CEO of BJU, but I was mistaken. My apologies to the CEO at Hidalgo.
As for this:
As for those final, fateful five demerits - by the screen shot that Dan posted, Peterman was at either 115 or 120 demerits before he got 50 for insubordination. So it’s not like BJU just needed some kind of excuse to give him just five more. He could have skipped a class (and done more) and still graduated, since he was 25-30 demerits away from expulsion, and less than ten days from graduating. You think he didn’t know that?
When he got close to the 150 demerits, he went to the news media and his congressional officers, and lied about why he was in trouble. Then he lies about about why he was expelled to others, including the readers of this website, after he is expelled. Chris is also accusing BJU of covering up criminal sexual abuse on this website. Now he’s talking about suing the school on Twitter.
Dan, let me ask you this - does Chris accept ANY responsibility for anything he does? Or does he depend on misguided people to carry his water for him so that he can play the victim card all the time? If the latter, do you really want to help him or defend his actions?
As for this:
Actually, in terms of BJU, it’s not egregious at all. Chris shows that he is desperately trying to NOT get kicked out of BJU and he’s horrified that the guy at Hidalgo Grain Company is posting things about Chris right before graduation that seem an attempt to get Chris kicked out. He’s emotional and high spirited, but he had a lot to lose.And, even though BJU was monitoring that as you say, they did not give him any demerits for it (or even seem to bring it up). No, in the last two weeks of school, the ONLY demerits he got (and the ones that resulted in his expulsion) were the ones for contacting outside agencies.All I have to say about that is that it’s kind of a really odd way to try not to get kicked out of BJU. He listened to We The Kings, a rock band, during the semester and bragged about it on Twitter, drawing BJU’s ire, and then threw it in their face by talking about that on Twitter. He threatened BJU on at least two occasions, even going as far as to say he would release the audio of all of his meetings to YouTube (not that anyone would probably have cared about the story of someone being expelled from BJU). He racked up a healthy amount of demerits for things that he should not have been needed to have been told about since he was in his 8th semester, like ‘unacceptable videos/music/reading material’ in April. Furthermore, he knew all of this was wrong because he had to read and agree with the school rulebook every single semester he was there; the rulebook is posted on the Internet, for heaven’s sake.
As for those final, fateful five demerits - by the screen shot that Dan posted, Peterman was at either 115 or 120 demerits before he got 50 for insubordination. So it’s not like BJU just needed some kind of excuse to give him just five more. He could have skipped a class (and done more) and still graduated, since he was 25-30 demerits away from expulsion, and less than ten days from graduating. You think he didn’t know that?
When he got close to the 150 demerits, he went to the news media and his congressional officers, and lied about why he was in trouble. Then he lies about about why he was expelled to others, including the readers of this website, after he is expelled. Chris is also accusing BJU of covering up criminal sexual abuse on this website. Now he’s talking about suing the school on Twitter.
Dan, let me ask you this - does Chris accept ANY responsibility for anything he does? Or does he depend on misguided people to carry his water for him so that he can play the victim card all the time? If the latter, do you really want to help him or defend his actions?
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
[Jay] BTW - this would have been Chris’ 8th semester at BJU. So some of this stuff should have been kind of obvious, methinks.From my time matriculating at the university, I can say that a student can commit the minor infractions listed and *NOT* get demerits, because it is not possible for a limited number of faculty, staff and student assistants to be everywhere all the time monitoring every student 24/7. However, if a student *is* watched all day, every day, just the simple act of living in a situation where so much has to be accomplished in a finite amount of time is going to reveal infractions - deliberate or truly unintentional - that will be tracked, racked and totalled up quickly. Just the fact of being watched 24/7, monitored and documented will raise the total of your infractions. Fast.
[JG] He contradicts himself in the CNN article. He says he was expelled because of the Phelps protest, then he says he started racking up demerits because he wouldn’t shut up. Which was it?Simple answer: Yes.
It is the opinion of Mr. Peterman that the intese scrutiny of his campus (and off campus) life was the result of his protest against Dr. Phelps. So, yes, he started racking up demerits because he would not shut up. The demerits increased as they did because of intense, 24/7 scrutiny. The 24/7 scrutiny came as the result the Phelps protest.
Not contradictory, but complimentary.
Look, I am not here to say BJU is wrong in this situation. I am not here to say Mr. Peterman is wrong in this situation. I’m not saying any of my SI colleagues are wrong in this situation. I am just asking for a fair, dispassionate discussion of the situation.
A lot of posters APPEAR to be angry - at BJU, at Peterman, at other posters… (if I am wrong about this, please accept my apology.)
At this point, I am just heart sick about the way the Testimony of Christ is suffering in this situation.
Wish we could hear the trumpet sound TODAY!
Karl Silva
College Point, FL
[Rev Karl] Look, I am not here to say BJU is wrong in this situation. I am not here to say Mr. Peterman is wrong in this situation. I’m not saying any of my SI colleagues are wrong in this situation. I am just asking for a fair, dispassionate discussion of the situation.Angry? No, not really angry…I think this is par for the course at this point. Bothered, yes, but not angry. This story OUGHT to bother anyone who is a Christian.
A lot of posters APPEAR to be angry - at BJU, at Peterman, at other posters… (if I am wrong about this, please accept my apology.)
It bothers me that Chris lies and then uses this site and other sites to propagate his lies. His story has changed several ways now - first he was shipped for posting “I will Glory In My Redeemer” ( http://thehidalgograincompany.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/chuckles-trav…] which he said is not right and was someone else’s fault ). Then he said it was for the Matthew West song that he quoted above. Then he said http://crushable.com/other-stuff/chris-peterman-bob-jones-university-gl… he was shipped for watching Glee , when that happened on 13 April 2012 - some ten to fifteen days before he was expelled, and 11 days before he got 50 demerits for ‘disrespect/insubordination’. Now it’s because of Do Right BJU. So which is it? More importantly, why does his story keep changing?
Satan is known as the father of lies (John 8:44), and we, as Christians, are commanded to be truthful, especially with other Christians (Ephesians 4:15, 4:25). Chris, at best, is misleading people when he writes that he was shipped for watching Glee. At worst, he is deliberately deceiving other people by telling them things that are not true with the full awareness that he’s lying. The truth, such as it is, is probably somewhere in between.
Proverbs http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+14:25&version=ESV] has a lot http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+12:17&version=ESV] to say about truth. Truth is what is really needed here - truth and a willingness to call sin what it is.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
IF (and I don’t know if this is true but if it were it would be absolutely scandalous) BJU targeted Peterman because of DoRightBJU I would be greatly disappointed. I’m not sure if I will ever know
In my view Peterman needs to follow the grievance policy outlined in the BJU handbook. The final step of that process is to appeal to TRACS. I hope he does this. I think that an independent review would clear the air and would be best for both parties.
In my view Peterman needs to follow the grievance policy outlined in the BJU handbook. The final step of that process is to appeal to TRACS. I hope he does this. I think that an independent review would clear the air and would be best for both parties.
[Jim Peet] IF (and I don’t know if this is true but if it were it would be absolutely scandalous) BJU targeted Peterman because of DoRightBJU I would be greatly disappointed. I’m not sure if I will ever knowOne thing I know absolutely for certain is that BJU keeps track of students and non students that get on their bad side using the Infoman system. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nQ_mD_52LEQ/T6LXPkP4TkI/AAAAAAAAAA4/Bk97x_gMW…] Here’s a screen shot . I don’t know how others feel about that, but it bothers me very much.
In my view Peterman needs to follow the grievance policy outlined in the BJU handbook. The final step of that process is to appeal to TRACS. I hope he does this. I think that an independent review would clear the air and would be best for both parties.I agree and hope he does this.
[Dan Frank]1) We are supposed to take it on faith that this is an actual screen shot from a BJU database?[Jim Peet] IF (and I don’t know if this is true but if it were it would be absolutely scandalous) BJU targeted Peterman because of DoRightBJU I would be greatly disappointed. I’m not sure if I will ever knowOne thing I know absolutely for certain is that BJU keeps track of students and non students that get on their bad side using the Infoman system. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nQ_mD_52LEQ/T6LXPkP4TkI/AAAAAAAAAA4/Bk97x_gMW…] Here’s a screen shot . I don’t know how others feel about that, but it bothers me very much.
2) And if it is, I’ve worked for companies and websites that tracked employees and site users in much the same way. This is not unique, therefore it is not troublesome.
BJU is not a church, it is an educational institution, and therefore cannot act as a church, but as a business.
However, I highly recommend Reynold’s Wrap to intercept and thwart those nasty brain scans.
https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSnSIK9SQIXsq6QDlrf…
I’ve heard it called that
Re:
Re:
I don’t know how others feel about that, but it bothers me very much.My feelings and mine alone:
- It comes across as ‘nanny state’ at it’s worst. If I might think of a government analogy it would be http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stasi] the East German Stasi without the guns
- What a waste of manpower and energies
- Why any parent would subject their children to that kind of system is beyond me
- That being said it is what it is. Its a part of the BJU culture.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caveat_emptor] Caveat emptor :
- An expensive education
- Rules and rule monitoring
- Poorly acredited
- An expensive education
- Better schools: Faith in DesMoines; Cedarville if you want a real university (sorry NIU) that’s Christian; your state’s “U” (like the U of Minnesota where my son just graduated with a Mechanial Engineering degree)
Years ago we housed a PG young girl who was the daughter to missionsaries to Europe (keeping the country general on purpose). She was a student a Texas Christian university. She became pregnant while at college.
This young girl was a handful. We housed her from about 3 m. of PG until she had the baby. He parents were in European country and that was pre-Internet / pre-Email back when phone calls were very expensive. We were basically her parents for 6 months.
As an example of the complexities: The daugher wanted to buy a car. She was working at a local bank as a teller. Her parents communicated through their mission and then the mission contacted me to tell me that the parents did not want her to buy a car. I told her that her parents did not want her to buy a car. She bought one anyway. Later (the mother came back to the states when the daughter had the baby) the mother challenged me - “why did you let her buy a car”. Well of course we had no say in that decision … she was an adult.
Along the way were were honored to have http://www.preacherscorner.org/tassell-paul-home.htm Dr Paul Tassell (then the GARBC national rep) in our home for dinner.
Around the table: My wife; Dr. Tassell; the young PG missionary kid; my 1 year old in a high chair; and me.
Dr Tassell was so gracious to this young unmarried PG women. Along the way somehow BJU came up. Not sure how. Perhaps Dr Tassell said he went to BJU. The young woman lit into him with all kinds of criticism of BJU. I’m not sure how Dr Tassell restrained himself but he continued to be kind to her.
After dinner and alone to me he said: “No one gets pregnant at Bob Jones”
There’s a compliment there!
BJU has a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_loco_parentis] In loco parentis view. Some parents like that … some young adults as well. For them … it’s the place for you!
This young girl was a handful. We housed her from about 3 m. of PG until she had the baby. He parents were in European country and that was pre-Internet / pre-Email back when phone calls were very expensive. We were basically her parents for 6 months.
As an example of the complexities: The daugher wanted to buy a car. She was working at a local bank as a teller. Her parents communicated through their mission and then the mission contacted me to tell me that the parents did not want her to buy a car. I told her that her parents did not want her to buy a car. She bought one anyway. Later (the mother came back to the states when the daughter had the baby) the mother challenged me - “why did you let her buy a car”. Well of course we had no say in that decision … she was an adult.
Along the way were were honored to have http://www.preacherscorner.org/tassell-paul-home.htm Dr Paul Tassell (then the GARBC national rep) in our home for dinner.
Around the table: My wife; Dr. Tassell; the young PG missionary kid; my 1 year old in a high chair; and me.
Dr Tassell was so gracious to this young unmarried PG women. Along the way somehow BJU came up. Not sure how. Perhaps Dr Tassell said he went to BJU. The young woman lit into him with all kinds of criticism of BJU. I’m not sure how Dr Tassell restrained himself but he continued to be kind to her.
After dinner and alone to me he said: “No one gets pregnant at Bob Jones”
There’s a compliment there!
BJU has a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_loco_parentis] In loco parentis view. Some parents like that … some young adults as well. For them … it’s the place for you!
By the way, I just communicated with Chris (whom I have never met). He did express that he is extremely busy, indicated his awareness that there have been questions raised here that should be answered, and stated his intention to return here at some point to respond to some of those questions.
[Mike Durning] By the way, I just communicated with Chris (whom I have never met). He did express that he is extremely busy, indicated his awareness that there have been questions raised here that should be answered, and stated his intention to return here at some point to respond to some of those questions.Ooops. Sorry to kill the thread with that comment. I’d better let Chris know that everyone is waiting on him now.
There are a TON of comments on this thread!
Sorry it took me so long to get back. It has been a very busy two weeks and I also took a vacation to Washington (which was TOTALLY awesome!!!!!) … anyway, I do have some phone calls to make today but I’m going to try to go through at least a few of these comments.
Again, sorry it took me so long to get back.
-Chris
Sorry it took me so long to get back. It has been a very busy two weeks and I also took a vacation to Washington (which was TOTALLY awesome!!!!!) … anyway, I do have some phone calls to make today but I’m going to try to go through at least a few of these comments.
Again, sorry it took me so long to get back.
-Chris
Christopher D. Peterman
BJU Alumnus, class of 2012 -9 days
Do Right BJU, founder
@ChrisC:
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Ok. Well first off, I think your tone is kind of condescending… but maybe I’m just reading it wrong. :)
Anyway,… second, whistleblowing always brings consequences and I understood that. But I saw a huge problem at BJU and I could not, in good conscious, stop talking about the abuse I saw and heard that happens there.
And then complaining about the rules… yes. I released several videos on the Chris and Christy Show about BJU and my opinions on the school. Can anyone here honestly say that what I said in those videos wasn’t true. Or that what I said was so egregious that it warranted an expulsion?
And yes, people might think I’m a “troublemaker” or whatever.. and yes, talking about the rules might distract from the Phelps incident …… but my life isn’t about one issue. I dont think it is wrong for a college student, a 23 year old adult, to talk about the issues and problems at an institution. BJU is not a ministry. It is a family run business and I was it’s patron for 6 years. I have EVERY right to question the rules and voice my opinion.
And finally, I didn’t leave bju because I was stuck. After 5 years there I could not transfer to another school without losing the vast majority of my credits. But I also couldn’t sit back and not say anything about the obvious problems present.
So I spoke out. Yes, on lots of different things. …. but was that wrong? I really don’t think so.
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Ok. Well first off, I think your tone is kind of condescending… but maybe I’m just reading it wrong. :)
Anyway,… second, whistleblowing always brings consequences and I understood that. But I saw a huge problem at BJU and I could not, in good conscious, stop talking about the abuse I saw and heard that happens there.
And then complaining about the rules… yes. I released several videos on the Chris and Christy Show about BJU and my opinions on the school. Can anyone here honestly say that what I said in those videos wasn’t true. Or that what I said was so egregious that it warranted an expulsion?
And yes, people might think I’m a “troublemaker” or whatever.. and yes, talking about the rules might distract from the Phelps incident …… but my life isn’t about one issue. I dont think it is wrong for a college student, a 23 year old adult, to talk about the issues and problems at an institution. BJU is not a ministry. It is a family run business and I was it’s patron for 6 years. I have EVERY right to question the rules and voice my opinion.
And finally, I didn’t leave bju because I was stuck. After 5 years there I could not transfer to another school without losing the vast majority of my credits. But I also couldn’t sit back and not say anything about the obvious problems present.
So I spoke out. Yes, on lots of different things. …. but was that wrong? I really don’t think so.
Christopher D. Peterman
BJU Alumnus, class of 2012 -9 days
Do Right BJU, founder
@JimPeet:
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1) I was the sole initiator of DRBJU. Eventually I asked several individuals to help me out with admining the page because it grew so quickly. At the time there were two current students and a grad from the previous semester (Obviously most of our classifications have now changed.)
2) Yes, Phelps withdrew a few days before 12/12/11. I thought about canceling the protest … but I decided not to. Instead we shifted our focus (we didn’t CHANGE our focus .. it SHIFTED.) From the very beginning we wanted to be a voice to the abuse. Since our main goal had been accomplished, we shifted the protest from asking for Chuck Phelps to be removed to a gathering of individuals who wanted to show support to victims within the school. We released red balloons for each victims we knew about and we wore red to show the current students that there were actually people they could trust to tell their stories.
3) Yes, I knew about the rules going in. My Christian school back home was in some ways more strict than BJU (I attended that school from K4-12th grade.) So I lived like that my entire life. It wasn’t a problem for me. I never got many demerits at BJU. Actually, the first semester I came back from sitting out (2nd semester 2010) I got no demerits the entire semester.
4) Im not sure what rules I pushed. As I have explained time and time again I never thought Glee was “EVIL” .. lol. Since 2006 (my freshman year) I would go off campus to Starbucks almost every weekend where I would watch tv shows on my computer. I was never questioned and never turned in .. until 2 weeks before my graduation. Yes, I would agree that I didn’t shave a few times and I came back to my dorm late … I TOTALLY admit that. But for the rest of the demerits .. about 74% of them .. from this semester, I don’t think they are legitimate. I got demerits for tweeting BEFORE a service… that isn’t against the rules. I got demerits for watching a tv show off campus.. that isn’t against the rules. And I got demerits for “intimidating” Bob Jones University. Right there is 125 demerits.
5) The BJU administration found out I was watching Glee because I told them. I was called into my dorm supervisor’s office around 11:30pm and I was informed that a student’s girlfriend had seen something “inappropriate” on my computer screen but that she didn’t know what she saw. She was just so offended that she told her boyfriend to not look. He reported me, and said that he didn’t know what I was watching but that he felt it was his duty to tell the dorm sup. My dorm sup then asked me what I was watching on my computer. I straight up told him Glee .. because it never crossed my mind that it was uncheckable. I had been watching Glee from the very beginning of the series at Starbucks and I know so many other students that do it as well. I would go off with them and we would all sit and watch it together. Anyway, … so I told him and he was like, well I don’t know what Glee is. So he looked it up on his computer and he said that from what he saw on the Wikipedia article it looks bad and that he was going to have to tell the Dean of Men.
6) It takes 150 demerits to be eligible for expulsion from Bob Jones. Once you reach 150 they bring you in and usually they work with the student to keep them in school. I actually was in class with a guy who had 198 demerits about 2 weeks before I was expelled. He just graduated on Friday. And the first 50ish demerits were from random things like being back to the dorm late, not shaving, some random disobedience thing which I have no idea what that was. Anyway, I will attach my demerit list for you to see.
7) What do I hope to accomplish? I want my degree. I earned it. I paid for it. And we all know that the only way BJU changes their mind about anything is if the media is involved. Look at segregation, the interracial dating rule, the apology for past racial remarks, Chuck Phelps … it is a pattern that BJU will not change unless they are held accountable. And I really want BJU to change. They have hurt so many people over the years. If you guys could read the horrible stories people are sending me since my expulsion you would be shocked. Ive had so many victims message me and tell me how BJU ignored their cries and pleas for help. It is heartbreaking and it HAS TO CHANGE.
8) I want to get a degree… it is looking less and less likely that I will get one from BJU. So I am applying to several colleges in SC and Liberty U. Hopefully one of these colleges will take my credits and let me graduate fairly quickly. I would also like to continue to help victims. I think more people need to speak out about the problems they see within fundamentalism and Christianity in general.
…. Ok I think I answered them all. Wow. That was a LOT! :)
<>
1) I was the sole initiator of DRBJU. Eventually I asked several individuals to help me out with admining the page because it grew so quickly. At the time there were two current students and a grad from the previous semester (Obviously most of our classifications have now changed.)
2) Yes, Phelps withdrew a few days before 12/12/11. I thought about canceling the protest … but I decided not to. Instead we shifted our focus (we didn’t CHANGE our focus .. it SHIFTED.) From the very beginning we wanted to be a voice to the abuse. Since our main goal had been accomplished, we shifted the protest from asking for Chuck Phelps to be removed to a gathering of individuals who wanted to show support to victims within the school. We released red balloons for each victims we knew about and we wore red to show the current students that there were actually people they could trust to tell their stories.
3) Yes, I knew about the rules going in. My Christian school back home was in some ways more strict than BJU (I attended that school from K4-12th grade.) So I lived like that my entire life. It wasn’t a problem for me. I never got many demerits at BJU. Actually, the first semester I came back from sitting out (2nd semester 2010) I got no demerits the entire semester.
4) Im not sure what rules I pushed. As I have explained time and time again I never thought Glee was “EVIL” .. lol. Since 2006 (my freshman year) I would go off campus to Starbucks almost every weekend where I would watch tv shows on my computer. I was never questioned and never turned in .. until 2 weeks before my graduation. Yes, I would agree that I didn’t shave a few times and I came back to my dorm late … I TOTALLY admit that. But for the rest of the demerits .. about 74% of them .. from this semester, I don’t think they are legitimate. I got demerits for tweeting BEFORE a service… that isn’t against the rules. I got demerits for watching a tv show off campus.. that isn’t against the rules. And I got demerits for “intimidating” Bob Jones University. Right there is 125 demerits.
5) The BJU administration found out I was watching Glee because I told them. I was called into my dorm supervisor’s office around 11:30pm and I was informed that a student’s girlfriend had seen something “inappropriate” on my computer screen but that she didn’t know what she saw. She was just so offended that she told her boyfriend to not look. He reported me, and said that he didn’t know what I was watching but that he felt it was his duty to tell the dorm sup. My dorm sup then asked me what I was watching on my computer. I straight up told him Glee .. because it never crossed my mind that it was uncheckable. I had been watching Glee from the very beginning of the series at Starbucks and I know so many other students that do it as well. I would go off with them and we would all sit and watch it together. Anyway, … so I told him and he was like, well I don’t know what Glee is. So he looked it up on his computer and he said that from what he saw on the Wikipedia article it looks bad and that he was going to have to tell the Dean of Men.
6) It takes 150 demerits to be eligible for expulsion from Bob Jones. Once you reach 150 they bring you in and usually they work with the student to keep them in school. I actually was in class with a guy who had 198 demerits about 2 weeks before I was expelled. He just graduated on Friday. And the first 50ish demerits were from random things like being back to the dorm late, not shaving, some random disobedience thing which I have no idea what that was. Anyway, I will attach my demerit list for you to see.
7) What do I hope to accomplish? I want my degree. I earned it. I paid for it. And we all know that the only way BJU changes their mind about anything is if the media is involved. Look at segregation, the interracial dating rule, the apology for past racial remarks, Chuck Phelps … it is a pattern that BJU will not change unless they are held accountable. And I really want BJU to change. They have hurt so many people over the years. If you guys could read the horrible stories people are sending me since my expulsion you would be shocked. Ive had so many victims message me and tell me how BJU ignored their cries and pleas for help. It is heartbreaking and it HAS TO CHANGE.
8) I want to get a degree… it is looking less and less likely that I will get one from BJU. So I am applying to several colleges in SC and Liberty U. Hopefully one of these colleges will take my credits and let me graduate fairly quickly. I would also like to continue to help victims. I think more people need to speak out about the problems they see within fundamentalism and Christianity in general.
…. Ok I think I answered them all. Wow. That was a LOT! :)
Christopher D. Peterman
BJU Alumnus, class of 2012 -9 days
Do Right BJU, founder
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