Reading the "Collegian" on the BJU web page just made me angry. I would like some explanation of how rules that were "just and holy" in years gone by are now just dropped without comment or apology. Back when (way back) I was a student, eating at Red Lobster got you shipped, now they interview students in the school newspaper and they claim Red Lobster as their favorite off campus restaurant.

Other silly rules changed without recanting were the "founders wishes" that first semester end in January after the Christmas break. That was dropped.

Pants were a sin, now during Senior days women wear pants on the ballfields (while on a date no less).

Phoning a girl in a dorm was grounds for shipping.

Don't get me wrong, these rules were as foolish 20 years ago as they are now but they held them up as scripturally based and therefore unchangeable. (Yes, I know, follow them because THEY are in charge, blah, blah, blah)

My point is some poor slob had his college record tarnished for life for eating at Red Lobster 20 years ago and now the same school recommends that Red Lobster is a great restaurant.

I agree that these rules were pretty crazy. It was my understanding that the Red Lobster thing was because it was serving alcohol. I know that when they did change the rule they did announce why in chapel (though I cannot recall the exact reason).

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"What's past is prologue." - William Shakespeare

Whoa now! A lot of their rules were not based on Scripture and they freely admitted it. You just assume in some spiritual reason for some rules.

The Red Lobster thing was because there was a SC state law that said alcohol should not be served with in so many feet of a school. BJ Jr. wanted to protest that law being broken.

The phone thing was because back then their phone system couldn't handle so many calls and the reputation that teens have of spending hours on the phone with their friends. Now most of the students bring their own cell phones.

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2Ti 2:24-26 the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

"if the trumpet give an unCertainSound what shall the righteous do?" www.CertainSound.com

You are correct on the Red Lobster thing...as I recall the ban was lifted a year or so after I started going to BJ (maybe 98-99). I know that they did in fact give a reason to the student body as to why they were changing the rule.

In most cases, when they change big rules there, they give reasoning to the student body - or at least to the staff. But I don't think they have a responsibility to go back to all the alumni and tell them why it changed. That would be a major undertaking!

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"What's past is prologue." - William Shakespeare

I know Red Lobster hasn't moved, I know they still sell booze and I know students who were busted for eating there in years gone by. Just think how you would feel today if you were expelled from college for eating there, had to start over somewhere else (unacredited and all....) and then find out the school, for whatever reason they may give, now says it's OK. I, for one, would be really ticked off.

Don't tell me for a minute they didn't equate their rules with things much holier... I was put on "spiritual probation" because I followed all the rules outwardly but they were convinced I was rebelling on the inside (which I actually was not).

I wish I could remember why they changed their stance on the whole Red Lobster thing....maybe someone else out there can remember. I do know for a fact that was one rule change they did address in front of the student body. Are you just wishing they would make their reasons more public?

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"What's past is prologue." - William Shakespeare

"Are you just wishing they would make their reasons more public?"

No, My bet is Kristen's Dad is just bitter.

I know because I have been there myself.

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2Ti 2:24-26 the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

"if the trumpet give an unCertainSound what shall the righteous do?" www.CertainSound.com

Maybe it's none of my business, but I have a maxim that I often give to people in your situation. "Get over it." Not for BJ's sake, but for your sake. Running around complaining about the rules at BJ really just makes you look foolish, and indicates the powerful influence they still hold on you.

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Would that be like "Build a bridge, and get over it?"

If that's what it takes. Sometimes our problems don't require bridges to get over them. The rules at BJU seem nothing more than a tiny stream to me when compared to real problems.

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