Bob Jones G.R.A.C.E. news in New York Times
Christian School Faulted for Halting Abuse Study
“At Bob Jones, most of the stories that have been made public do not involve assaults on campus. They are about people who were abused as children and then looked for help in college.”
I know BJU said they were going to pursue re-establishing their relationship with G.R.A.C.E. after they dismissed them. Has there been any progress on that? If not, do they have another investigative ministry in mind?
“most of the stories that have been made public do not involve assaults on campus. They are about people who were abused as children and then looked for help in college”
Interesting to me because:
- If true, BJU does not have a primary abuse problem. The abuses were outside the BJU direct sphere of influence
- And if that indeed is true, any failure was the failure to appropriately counsel those who were abused.
- So it would be different, for example. from various Catholic archdioceses where the abuse was within their direct sphere of influence
Wasn’t Camille Lewis fired by BJU and a KEY player in the Do Right BJU group(s) along with Jocelyn Zichterman and others?
The CNN article about the “student who had criticized the university over the affair was not allowed to graduate and alleged retaliation” is the very same Chris Peterman who tried to plead his case on SharperIron.
"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
The abuses were outside the BJU direct sphere of influence
Don’t overlook the word “most”, as in “most of the stories” and, the phrase “made public.” We can’t know (and neither does the NY Times) stories that have been related to GRACE confidentially. Also, keep in mind that the GRACE investigation involved Bob Jones Academy, as well, the “affiliated primary and secondary school” mentioned in the NY Times article.
If BJU was being BJU, this is the advice that would have been given to any abuse victim that related their prior experience to a BJU administrator (dean) or counselor:
- they can’t change what happened to them
- eschew bitterness and forgive the perpetrator (abusers)
Because of the long-lasting and devastating effects of abuse on a person, this advice, though not necessarily wrong, was insufficient at best, i.e., the “poorly served” claims.
Knowing BJU’s penchant for keeping things squeaky clean, if a BJU affiliated pastor/church/parent was accused of being involved in or knowing of abuse to a BJU student, the University would call the accused and question them. But, if the accused denied it, BJU may note it, but leave it and not notify any official law enforcement agencies.
Many of these BJU counselors who would have heard such abuse claims have since retired. I wonder if some of these retired administrators are complaining to BJU about being questioned over events that happened 10, 20, 30 years ago or more?
Sexual Abuse…true sexual abuse…is a felony! This is not something you take to “church leadership” in the hope they will “take care of it”. If your child is sexually abused by a church leader/worker at church YOU DON’T GO TO THE CHURCH first. You call the police and report the crime. Same goes for students at a Christian school. If you are raped…you don’t call your dorm supervisor…you dial 911.
Jay, say what you want about JZ, and I’m sure there’s plenty to say, but she and her activism were instrumental in bringing to pass the sitting of Ernie Willis in prison having been convicted of forcible rape by a jury of his peers. JZ got it done where the church involved did not.
Same for Dr. C. Lewis. If the info she provides is accurate, then, as far as this matter goes, any other baggage isn’t too relevant.
Mark, people in those situations often go to people they know and deeply trust. It’s up to that person to handle it properly from there. Tough to fault the victims here.
Excerpts:
“We can’t know at this point, but BJU’s actions make it sound like GRACE was getting too close to the truth.”
“Bob Jones University is about to find out the first rule of modern crisis management: trying to prevent the truth from coming out not only fails, usually, but also causes worse problems for you in the long run. If there really were victims of abuse at BJU, may they find the strength to come forward on the record, and challenge the alleged culture of cover-up at the school. And may the news media see the smoke signals that sacking GRACE sends up, and start looking for the hidden fire at BJU.”
- http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/why-is-bob-jones-universi…
Wasn’t Camille Lewis fired by BJU and a KEY player in the Do Right BJU group(s) along with Jocelyn Zichterman and others?
The CNN article about the “student who had criticized the university over the affair was not allowed to graduate and alleged retaliation” is the very same Chris Peterman who tried to plead his case on SharperIron.
Dr. Camille Lewis (and husband) were not fired, but left BJU because of irreconcilable differences regarding BJU faculty employment policies and university policy restricting her from freely expressing her opinion in her area of expertise. Most of it was centered on Camille’s academic criticism of another faculty member’s book. To say she was “fired” is inaccurate. Camille took (and takes) great pride in organizing the “12-12-11 Red Balloon Protest” on the BJU campus where about a dozen people showed up to protest Dr. Chuck Phelps (who two weeks earlier had resigned from the BJU Board).
Zichterman, author of I Fired GOD, is another ex-BJU‘er, but I don’t believe she was ever faculty, just a former student - not even sure she is a grad. She and Dr. Lewis vie for publicity and are usually at odds with one another.
Peterman is the student who claims he was shipped (expelled) for watching Glee on his laptop while in Starbucks. BJU may have expelled Chris because of his involvement with Dr. Lewis and the protest. He was two weeks from graduation. It does look suspicious, which is why his story has legs.
Thanks for the information, Easton. I thought she had been fired. And I’m sorry that I ever brought Zichterman into this discussion.
"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
BJU is not mentioned in the article, but it (coincidentally?) came out very shortly after BJU terminated the investigation.
What bothers me are the inconsistencies between the original “termination” letter, the GRACE update announcing the termination and the Stephen Jones video posted by the BJU PR Department.
Jan 24 2014 BJU Termination Letter to GRACE — Reasons for termination:
- We [BJU] made some changes, had some seminars, etc.
- I [Stepehn Jones] am resigning as president.
- BJU cannot afford to focus on GRACE right now.
Feb 06 2014 GRACE posted update — Reasons for termination:
- None. It was a “complete surprise” - unexpected. We have no idea.
Feb 07 2014 Dr. Stephen Jones BJU PR Dept. posted video — Reasons for termination:
- GRACE investigation had gone “askew”.
- It was only a “suspension” NOT a “termination”.
- Despite repeated requests, GRACE would not meet with BJU.
- GRACE had not reported any immediate problems since the commencement of the investigation.
The video left me more confused and made me more than a little suspicious of BJU’s attitude and motives.
What bothers me is the rampant speculation and premature judgment. Someone posted Proverbs 18:13 on the other BJU/GRACE thread, and I think it is equally apropos here.
Why is it that my voice always seems to be loudest when I am saying the dumbest things?
[Chip Van Emmerik]What bothers me is the rampant speculation and premature judgment. Someone posted Provers 18:13 on the other BJU/GRACE thread, and I think it is equally apropos here.
Because there are a number of people, just hoping that sexual abuse is rampant at BJU, that people are hiding it, and if it comes out they can take down the University. I agree there is too much speculation and almost zero fact here, except for some examples of abuse decades before a student arrived at BJU and the connection with Chuck Phelps, where nothing happened on the campus of BJ or linked to the faculty and administration of BJU. Lets see how both BJ and GRACE work this out.
What bothers me is the rampant speculation and premature judgment.
No “speculating” here - so you can’t mean me.
All I did was take the words written/spoken by both parties and compare them.
This “no speculation and premature judgment” command is only enforced when an entity (like BJU) is questioned. Otherwise, people here on Sharper Iron speculate and judge all day long. No one says a word.
[Easton]Easton,What bothers me is the rampant speculation and premature judgment.
No “speculating” here - so you can’t mean me.
All I did was take the words written/spoken by both parties and compare them.
This “no speculation and premature judgment” command is only enforced when an entity (like BJU) is questioned. Otherwise, people here on Sharper Iron speculate and judge all day long. No one says a word.
Perhaps you “speculate and judge all day long,” but that does not describe me - the person you are both quoting and responding to. Are you arguing that it is a biblical action in other instances or agreeing that it is unbiblical here, because you cannot complain about it there and excuse it here.
Why is it that my voice always seems to be loudest when I am saying the dumbest things?
Discussion