Dining Hall at BJU Undergoing Renovations - The $6 million project will be completed in mid-August

[Easton]

Easy jokes about the food aside, was the renovation needed? From what I understand, some long-time faculty and staff are being cut, programs are being eliminated - but - the building/renovating goes on.

If BJU is so flush with cash, why can’t they spread it around to those who directly touch lives?

I cherish (and use) what I learned from my BJU instructors, but the food - what it was and where I ate it was of little or no importance.

Aside from BJU discussions, Easton, I think this comment is illustrative of the serious underestimation many Christians have in the importance of table fellowship. It’s critical for Christians to eat together. Read 1 Corinthians for example.

Back in the “old” days at BJU, we were required to don coat & tie and attend supp— I mean, dinner, a.k.a., “the evening meal” at 6PM in the Dining Common.

We were assigned tables to sit at - and if you sat at the wrong table, demerits were issued.

At each table there were two people, male & female, designated “Host” and “Hostess.” These two were supposed to keep order at the table, inhibit griping, promote good manners and, above all else, make sure the table conversation was edifying.

Shaynus, you are designated “Host.”

Now, please pass the barbequed hot-dogs…

[Shaynus]

[Easton]

Easy jokes about the food aside, was the renovation needed? From what I understand, some long-time faculty and staff are being cut, programs are being eliminated - but - the building/renovating goes on.

If BJU is so flush with cash, why can’t they spread it around to those who directly touch lives?

I cherish (and use) what I learned from my BJU instructors, but the food - what it was and where I ate it was of little or no importance.

Aside from BJU discussions, Easton, I think this comment is illustrative of the serious underestimation many Christians have in the importance of table fellowship. It’s critical for Christians to eat together. Read 1 Corinthians for example.

It’s also represents a serious lack of connection with the reality of today’s society—and how many people (read: potential students) are turned off just because of things like food. That may or may not represent a positive character trait, but it is reality.

[Easton]

Back in the “old” days at BJU, we were required to don coat & tie and attend supp— I mean, dinner, a.k.a., “the evening meal” at 6PM in the Dining Common.

We were assigned tables to sit at - and if you sat at the wrong table, demerits were issued.

At each table there were two people, male & female, designated “Host” and “Hostess.” These two were supposed to keep order at the table, inhibit griping, promote good manners and, above all else, make sure the table conversation was edifying.

Shaynus, you are designated “Host.”

Now, please pass the barbequed hot-dogs…

Somehow I don’t think a particular understanding of how something works within a specific culture was really what Paul (or Shaynus for that matter) had in mind.

At BJU from fall ‘66 to Jan ‘68. Yes, we all ate in the sea of long rectangular tables in the DH. Family style…the waitresses would burst out with their trays. Actually got to like grits and gravy…and iced tea.

The ruling elite ate in a balcony area at one end…and ocasionally would wave down at the masses (I would say “unwashed” but we were always dressed up).

My roomie told a very stuffy hostess: “If I said you had a nice figure, would you hold it against me?” Yup…demerits.

JMcLeish

Aramark also operates ballpark concession stands, as well as hospital cafeterias and dietary operations.

[Easton]

Easy jokes about the food aside, was the renovation needed? From what I understand, some long-time faculty and staff are being cut, programs are being eliminated - but - the building/renovating goes on.

If BJU is so flush with cash, why can’t they spread it around to those who directly touch lives?

I cherish (and use) what I learned from my BJU instructors, but the food - what it was and where I ate it was of little or no importance.

Was the renovation needed? Yeah, I’d say so. That building is ancient, and it looks like it too. The food, while better than it was in the 80’s (or so I’m told), was still pretty sub-par up until this past fall. The quality of the food makes a big impression on prospective students. Enrollment at BJU has declined over the past decade or two, and the university is doing it’s best to reverse that trend.

This dining common renovation has been in the works for the past four or five years, and the money for it has all come in through donations and fundraisers. After years of telling the student body about this renovation and supporters giving money for that purpose, they can’t just up and redirect the money towards something else. While the faculty cuts that have been made are upsetting, BJU is by no means rich. Also as a side note, I think a fair amount of the program cuts have more to do with pursuit of SACS accreditation than with money, though money may be a factor.

[SimonV] BJU is by no means rich.

No one (outside of BJU board and insiders) really knows about BJU’s finances

[Jim]

[SimonV] BJU is by no means rich.

No one (outside of BJU board and insiders) really knows about BJU’s finances

True that. Let me rephrase: BJU has made no indications of being rich.

As a BJU student (and yes, eventually a graduate), I (and most everyone else) was hit up for money every time BJU had a “building program” or a “faculty retirement program” (by the way, whatever happened those?)… The solicitations for coin were especially bad during spring Bible Conference.

My response was - and still is - “Sell a painting.”

Some of us ate in the old Dining Common (as it was called) which is now the Art Gallery. It was smaller, warm and friendly, and maintained a true family atmosphere. The present Dining Common is so large that it is impossible to achieve a warm atmosphere unless it is re-configured into several separate smaller dining areas. I assume that is the purpose for the present renovation.

I believe the DC renovation will boost student morale and recruitment. I am encouraged by many other changes over the past ten or fifteen years. BJU is growing into a stronger institution.

I thank God for the training I received at BJA and BJU. For all the criticism BJU has received over the years, some of it well deserved, they have consistently delivered a high quality Christian education. The church I pastor has a number of BJU grads, and they are all assets. We also have a fair number of young people who have attended BJU over the years, and I have been impressed with their spiritual and intellectual development. They are well-prepared for whatever they do after graduation. Those who have returned have strengthened our ministry. I wish they could all return. Three of my four daughters are BJU grads, and two went on to master’s degrees at a nearby state university and did well. One told me that her master’s was a breeze after her undergraduate degree.

Whether needed?

• I’ve read some blogs critical of BJU re layoffs / poor pay / et cetera
• Yet from my distant perspective, having never been to the campus, I don’t know
• I’m giving BJU the benefit of the doubt on this.
• It’s not like the water park at PCC! I mean you would think they would just go to the beach!

[Easton]

From what I understand, some long-time faculty and staff are being cut, programs are being eliminated - but - the building/renovating goes on.

Apparently, as finances and the number of students decreased they found the need to reduce both programs and faculty. Some of the programs had too few students to be financially viable. Other programs were very expensive — the aviation programs come to mind. And as the number of students have come down it would not be good stewardship to keep the same number of faculty, long-term or not.

The action that did concern me during the last 10 years was the proliferation of administrators – perhaps the accreditation process, first TRACS and now the pursuit of regional, is the cause of this. These administrative staff who don’t teach one student, nor trim one bush, nor sweep one floor are pure overhead and there needs to be a minimum of them IMHO. Along with the new administrators came additional work for faculty which already have had heavy teaching loads.

Let me also add that since many of buildings were built more than 60 years ago, periodic renovation would be expected.

Anyone remember when “Green Beans and Buttered Potatoes” was a meal, and not a side dish?

In answer to Greg Easton about the retirement money, I think that when the change took place, faculty were converted to a percentage of the promise plan based on number of years served after the conversion, I believe. The closer one retired to the conversion the higher the percentage was (presumably, I suppose, because you a greater percentage of your years of service under the promise). That percentage deals with the benefits you were entitled to under the promise (such as rent, meals, etc.). Connected to that, IRAs were set up for faculty members, I think, based on years of service; so an amount of money was given with investment options. My guess is that the IRA payouts were paid out of that money that you are asking about.

I don’t know about all administrators, but I do know that some of them also teach. I am well acquainted with one Dean who insisted on teaching one or two classes as a condition for accepting his administrative assignment. It adds to an already heavy load, but keeps him connected to the classroom, which is his first love.

In my experience, BJU faculty, as a general rule, are extremely dedicated and hard-working. They are committed to excellence in every area, and find great joy in preparing Christian students to serve Christ. They really are some of the finest Christians anywhere.