BJU plans to take a Spring Break

It was enlightening to view the BJU Facebook Page and read the comments concerning the spring break issue. Kudos to BJU for not deleting the negative comments (or at least they had not when I last looked).

I think that those who are critical of spring break at BJU should not be dismissed or treated harshly. Many of them heard, while at BJU, that spring break was the sinful indulgence of worldly institutions. In fact, many of them probably defended their alma mater when their friends/family questioned why there was no spring break at BJU.

As with the issues of interracial dating, accreditation, changes in the dress code, ect., such alumni feel like they are being betrayed. They think, “We have defended these BJU distinctives in the past, and now you’re throwing them away with absolutely no explanation!”

Should the administration feel an obligation to explain why it was wrong for being so dogmatic about such issues in the past? Do BJU’s loyal alumni deserve this?

I have no scriptural qualms with the changes at BJU. However, we should sympathize with the psychological struggle that the older alumni are going through. They vigorously defended the policies, procedures, and philosophies that are, right now, being eliminated one-by-one. That has to hurt.

[C. D. Cauthorne Jr.]

It was enlightening to view the BJU Facebook Page and read the comments concerning the spring break issue. Kudos to BJU for not deleting the negative comments (or at least they had not when I last looked).

I think that those who are critical of spring break at BJU should not be dismissed or treated harshly. Many of them heard, while at BJU, that spring break was the sinful indulgence of worldly institutions. In fact, many of them probably defended their alma mater when their friends/family questioned why there was no spring break at BJU.

As with the issues of interracial dating, accreditation, changes in the dress code, ect., such alumni feel like they are being betrayed. They think, “We have defended these BJU distinctives in the past, and now you’re throwing them away with absolutely no explanation!”

Should the administration feel an obligation to explain why it was wrong for being so dogmatic about such issues in the past? Do BJU’s loyal alumni deserve this?

I have no scriptural qualms with the changes at BJU. However, we should sympathize with the psychological struggle that the older alumni are going through. They vigorously defended the policies, procedures, and philosophies that are, right now, being eliminated one-by-one. That has to hurt.

And that brings me back to my question that I keep asking. Assuming you are right, why have these people felt the need to defend the silliness for so long? What about going to BJU obligates someone to spend the rest of their life defending BJU? When you are decades out of that place, is it not time to start thinking on your own and in general, just move on from college? I just don’t get it. The negative posts on that Facebook page are frankly pathetic and many of them demonstrate an anemic level of spiritual maturity. It is clear that to many of those people, tradition trumps truth.

[Jim]

Many of them heard, while at BJU, that spring break was the sinful indulgence of worldly institutions.

Seriously!!???!!!

While some might have heard that, I certainly don’t remember it from my time there in the 80’s.

And to those BJU alums who are bemoaning these changes to traditions, I say that focusing more on majoring on the majors is a good thing! (Though I don’t care one way or the other about having spring break or not.)

[Jim]

Many of them heard, while at BJU, that spring break was the sinful indulgence of worldly institutions.

Seriously!!???!!!

I was there and I heard it. It was usually in the form of, “Other schools have their spring breaks, we have a time of spiritual refreshment.” (BTW, while I enjoyed Bible Conference, it was physically exhausting.)

It’s hard to describe the mindset of those of us who spent most of our post-grad lives defending BJU’s peculiarities. I’m a grateful BJU grad and I was one of them. For me, it usually occurred when I interacted with Christians who knew of BJU, but were outside of the BJU orbit. Criticizing BJU was considered griping and gripers were not considered loyal alumni.

After 30 plus years of dealing with those questions, I’m glad BJU is slowly changing. I suspect that former students and graduates who didn’t agree with those peculiar ideas and were disciplined for violations of those rules or managed to stay under the radar are the ones who aren’t sending their children to their alma mater.

[Shaynus]

I grew up at BJU. Before hearing this announcement, I was remarking to an Anglican friend that growing up at an educational environment with no spring break around Easter seemed to de-emphasize the holiday as a family time (completely understanding that there is the Living Gallery at BJU that serves to emphasize the season). It wouldn’t occur to me until a few years ago that families travel to see each other for Easter. To me it was merely a special Sunday in the calendar. I think a Spring Break would allow families to continue Easter traditions they have been used to by school spring breaks in other school systems around Easter for a long time. Just like the Thanksgiving Break is a welcome time of decompression in the 1st Semester, I could see that a Spring Break would do that in Second Semester where Bible Conference simply isn’t a time of rest (and was even less so when there were more services per day).

Some treat every day alike, while others observe new moons and Sabbaths. Love one another. Romans 14.

I will be glad to have my younger daughter home from BJU for Spring Break next year, and she is excited to be able to come home. If Genesis 1-5 is to be believed, Family is Foundational, which BJU has not always respected.

[Ron Bean]

After 30 plus years of dealing with those questions, I’m glad BJU is slowly changing. I suspect that former students and graduates who didn’t agree with those peculiar ideas and were disciplined for violations of those rules or managed to stay under the radar are the ones who aren’t sending their children to their alma mater.

Ron, I didn’t agree with a *lot* of their little picky rules (and a number of the big ones, like no interracial dating). I think the difference between people like me and those who now don’t want any association with the university is the attitude with which those rules were approached. I quickly realized that for the short term those rules were no big deal and that I could deal with them while I was in school — I didn’t have to agree with them or commit to believing in those rules or thinking that I had to take them on as my own personal standards, especially for life outside the university. I.e., I could conform and do so happily.

With respect to my children, both of whom now attend there, it was not a requirement that either of them even consider Bob Jones when they were making out their lists of colleges. In fact, one of them told me in 9th grade that she most definitely was *not* going to attend there! Lo and behold, they both ended up selecting BJU. I made it clear to them when they were making their choices that the school has both advantages and disadvantages, and that if they did choose it, they needed to make their peace with the rules rather than complaining or rebelling. So far, they are doing just fine.

Of course, I’m glad to see some much-needed change in some areas, and I’m sure my kids will appreciate the break — at least until they realize they may be attending a week longer into the summer!

Delighted BJU seniors hit the beach in Florida, happy to be on their first spring break!

Many of them heard, while at BJU, that spring break was the sinful indulgence of worldly institutions.

It was usually in the form of, “Other schools have their spring breaks, we have a time of spiritual refreshment.”

Perhaps I should have been clearer on defining the peculiarities that I uncomfortably defended and may have caused some grads to be hesitant to send their children to their alma mater.

I was an older town student when I was there and didn’t have any problem with the rules. Among the things that did give me pause were the interracial dating policy (and it was a big deal), the slandering of John MacArthur, Betty Ford, and MLK, and disrespectful comments about other Christian schools and organizations.

I’m thankful for the training I received there, both in and out of the classroom. I’m especially grateful for the professor who reminded me that BJU was like a lumber yard that was supplying me with building materials. I was not obligated to use every board they sold me.