Bob Jones University

Date: Jun 16 2011
Major: Other (This Major's Salary over time)
I attended Bob Jones fro 1972-1976. I did not know a thing about the school when I went other than the Fine Arts and Academics were good. I was from the North and when I went I thought there were no black people because it was the South and perhaps they didn't want to be there. I didn't know they were not permitted to attend. My own High School had just a few kids that were not white. I was there when the tax exempt status was lost and the inter-racial dating thing was huge. I had no idea anyone ever taught this from the Bible. I was told not to ask questions about this. We were told that there was a Scripture basis for this rule and never in a million years did I think they would change it.

I was saved at B.J. and met my husband there. His brother and sister-in-law were on staff and were attneding a church in Greenville that Dr. Bob thought was too Calvinistic. They were told they could not attend this church and teach at the school…they left and went to Cedarville and taught there for 30 years.

I believed everything I was taught as I had no other training in the Bible…when I graduated I went through a very rough time. I quit going to church because I didn't like what I had become. It took 4 years for God to teach me about Grace and help me begin to study Scripture on my own.

I felt I did get a good education in many respects, I didn't mind the rules but I lived in fear all the time. I was afraid to share any struggles I had for fear they would send me home…At this time blacks were allowed to come but had to date within their own race. You had to go to the admin. and declare your "race". It went by what you looked like…I don't know what would have happened if you were "mixed"…I just went back to the school this year for a graduation after35 years…it took me this long to be able to go back with the right attitude. My experience hurt me very deeply emotionally. My husband handled it just fine and didn't struggle but he came from a different place with his family and was very prepared. We always called other churches BJ churches and we have one here in our town…very much cultlike in how things are done…

We were taught that any music other than what the school allowed was of the Devil and after I knew the trugh of what they were teaching about blacks I knew I would never send my kids there. I wanted to adopt children of mixed background and I knew they would not be treated Biblically. I was taught that Dispensationalism was the only truth and never was allowed to ask questions. It was Dr. Bobs way or nothing…