SUMMARY
Known as the most conservative of the nation’s private religious schools – Bob Jones University plays an important role in the community of Greenville. Not only does it attract outstanding students from around the country – but it is known for sponsoring or putting on a number of cultural events (art shows, plays, recitals, and concerts) throughout the year for the residents of Greenville, SC.
ARTICLE
Founded in 1927 by Bob Jones, Sr., Bob Jones University moved to its current campus in Greenville, SC in 1947. It is the largest private liberal arts university in the state of South Carolina and also has the reputation of being one of the most conservative of the private religious schools in the United States. This Protestant Fundamentalist school enrolls approximately 4,200 students from all 50 states and 50 foreign countries. Of those students, about 3,600 are undergraduate students while 600 are graduate students.
Bob Jones University is made of up of seven distinct colleges that offer students 125 different majors. Many of the students in the School of Religion continue on with their studies at a seminary school following their undergraduate studies.
Locally – the university is known for the large number of concerts and theatre productions that it puts on for the community each year. Over 100 concerts, plays, art shows, and recitals are presented to the community of Greenville, SC every year. Along with these productions by students of the university – the university also hosts an annual competition for high school students called the “High School Festival.” It’s a national competition in various disciplines like music, art, and speech that also serves the university as a recruiting tool for potential incoming students.
Bob Jones University doesn’t compete in any intercollegiate sports – but it does field a number of intramural sporting competitions. Despite this, students at the university are required to take part in a number of different extra-curricular activities. All unmarried incoming freshman are required to join one of the 48 literary societies of the universities. These groups meet every Friday evening for entertainment and fellowship – and also hold a prayer meeting once a week on a weeknight. And unlike most universities whose students look to party during spring break – students at Bob Jones University are required to attend a six-day bible conference that the university sponsors each year at the end of March.
Students are also required to follow a strict set of rules which if broken can lead to immediate dismissal. These rules include no alcohol or drugs, no sexual relations between unmarried students, or participating in a public demonstration for a cause that the university opposes. Other interesting rules include no facial hair for men – and women must wear knee length dresses to church services and classes.
Bob Jones University has gained a lot of press for a number of different issues. A high number of republican candidates and politicians speak regularly at the university as it is seen as a center for the Religious Right. Noted speakers include President Ronald Reagan, both Presidents Bush, Bob Dole, and Pat Buchanan.
Despite some of the controversies that have gained the University national attention on occasion – the administration of Bob Jones University works hard to maintain a positive relationship with the Greenville community and the residents of South Carolina as a whole by providing a solid educational background for its students as well as a number of cultural productions and events sponsored by the university. The university adds quite a bit of character and diversity to the Greenville, SC area.
Updated: January, 2010