Expelled BJU Student Says He Was Wrongly Punished
Chris Peterman tells Patch that many of the demerits against him were for violating rules that don't exist.
The Bob Jones University student who was expelled last week for reportedly engaging in inappropriate behavior, which included, among other things, watching the Fox show "Glee," spoke to Patch about his experience at the Christian college in Greenville.
Chris Peterman, a Florida native and a senior at BJU, was kicked off campus after what he called a series of targeted disciplinary actions by the school's administration.
Peterman said that late last year, he started a group called "Do Right BJU," which was a protest group formed in reaction to reports that Chuck Phelps, a BJU trustee and New Hampshire pastor, had forced a woman named Tina Anderson to ask her church congregation for "forgiveness" after she'd been raped by a member of the church.
That struck a nerve, Peterman said, as he has siblings who had been sexually assaulted.
"After the 20/20 investigation, I started speaking out abuse, and that's when I started getting demerits," Peterman said.
Peterman organized a protest with Do Right BJU to raise awareness of sexual abuse and he also called for Phelps' resignation. When he returned to school after Christmas break, he said, things had changed. He was required to meet with a dean at the college once a week because of the administrations' concern about his behavior.
"They made me read one book of The Bible a day," Peterman said. "You have to understand, I was already working 25 hours a week, going to school full time, going to weekly counseling and helping out with Do Right BJU."
The counseling sessions, he said, devolved into critiques of his social media activity. The administration accused him of posting a tweet on his Twitter account during a sermon. Peterman said it was done on his phone just before he went to the service. More demerits included points for not shaving and for watching "Glee" at a Starbucks off-campus.
"I wasn't doing anything wrong. I don't think people understand that," Peterman said. "The things I got demerits for are not against the rules. Like watching TV off-campus. There are no rules against watching TV off-campus."
More critiques of his social media behavior included the administration's criticism of a photo he posted on his Facebook that showed him at Target. Far in the background, he said, were photos of the store's women's swimsuits.
"The next week, I was told I was causing my brothers in Christ to stumble. He called them lingerie," Peterman said.
Now, Peterman said, he's two days away from seeing his would-be graduation date pass. After going $35,000 in debt, Peterman said, he still will not receive a degree. Peterman said he had no disciplinary issues with at the school until he called for Phelps' resignation.
"I just think the timing is very interesting," Peterman said. "If you look at my demerit record, you can see I wasn't breaking written rules. If you saw what I was written up for, you'd see that. I want my degree. But I also want abuse victims to get a voice."
Bob Jones University has not responded to a request from Patch to comment on the story.
Frakety Frak
11:28 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Sounds like a whiny, spoiled brat to me.
Christopher Peterman
12:20 am on Thursday, May 3, 2012
@Frakety Frak: Ive paid for 4 years at BJU myself. My mother is 75 years old and my father is dead. I support myself. I am not whining, spoiled, or a brat. I am telling my story so it can help others.
oilpainterextraordinare
2:18 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Christopher, I am a 51 year-old daughter of retired faculty and grew up (20 years) on the campus of BJU. I left my sophomore year to work my way through The University of South Carolina program which allowed credits to be transferred from the non-accredited BJU upon graduation from USC. It was the most intelligent decision I ever made. The school is a CULT. And I have the scars to show for it. It has taken decades of counseling and a much deeper walk with Jesus to help me understand and recover from the atrocities that I endured while in that institution. I applaud you for taking a stand!!! And I am frankly appalled that ANYONE would refrain from wearing red to chapel as a silent protest for the victims of abuse that have been silenced and emotionally abused just for being victims. I would not want to be anyone affiliated with the board of that school on the day that Jesus returns.
Keep up the good work! It is absolutely what Jesus would be doing.
Oh My!
4:11 am on Thursday, May 3, 2012
FROM THE BJU HANDBOOK...
Television
Televisions in residence hall rooms may be used as game consoles only.Students are not to watch television via the Internet on their cell phones or computers.
(It says you are not to watch TV on your computer...period. Nitpicking that it doesn't specify "off campus" is a bit childish)
FROM THE BJU HANDBOOK...
Social Media
BJU expects students to use social media and blogs responsibly, following biblical principles and maintaining content that promotes a consistent,positive Christian testimony. Language should not violate scriptural commands regarding abusive, slanderous, complaining, profane, blasphemous or tale-bearing speech, and content should be biblical and avoid promoting a lifestyle contrary to principles taught in Scripture or at the University. Videos taken on campus and posted on students’ sites should comply with campus dress and social standards and should not contain images of people under 18 years of age. Specifc guidelines for participating in social media are posted onthe BJU intranet.
(You blew that wide open with your rantings on fb and twitter!!)
Stitch
7:58 am on Thursday, May 3, 2012
If you'll notice, that bit about watching TV on your computer is for the dorms specifically. Not off campus.
He also didn't do anything against the social media section, unless you think that talking about the school you go to when it does stupid things is slanderous. Complaining? Maybe. But who determines what is complaining or not? Geez.
Oh My!
10:37 am on Thursday, May 3, 2012
Stitch, you obviously don't know a lot...other than what you're reading on fb pages. It's all going to hit the fan. Chris is not telling the whole truth.
The rule book doesn't have to specify on or off campus. When it puts a period at the end of a sentence, that's it. It's not up to the students to manipulate the words so that they can get away with more. And yes, he did do a lot against the social media...you're just not aware of it all yet. But stay tuned. Chris will, one of these days, regret opening his mouth and crying "not fair".
It's always best, before you jump on the pity band wagon or the martyr band wagon, that you find out the facts first. I've read your blog. I know you would love to believe everything bad about the university. And because of that, you can't or won't see anything but Chris' side as the truth. But like I said, stay tuned.
Jim Brown
5:48 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
When I was at BJU the rules for off campus were different from those for on campus students. On campus students could not smoke and off campus students could off campus. This made sense as as off campus students parents were responsible for them or they were. I never was aware of any being sentenced to read the Bible whic is terrible.
disciple for justice
12:21 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
i can't believe you all missed the part where they made him read a book of the Bible as punishment. does that sound right to anyone? it's preposterous. where is Jesus in all this?
Matt Moore
4:16 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
Mr. Peterman has obviously been done wrong by the university, but I wonder if he honestly expected any different from such a racist, misogynistic, fearfully ignorant, manipulative "university."
Bob Jones is a poster-child for a dangerous brand of religious fundamentalism.
James McGary
4:42 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
So funny story...I attended BJU...and I had a problem with demerits...And I was vocal in my opposition to a lot of rules. I had a semester where I accumulated 214 demerits and wasn't expelled. According to fellow students, this guy was a total goofus. Also, local news ran an interview where he acknowledged that his getting expelled was all his fault.
Jim Brown
5:26 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
I graduated from BJU in 1956. It was after I graduated that Jones Jr. and then Jones iii began to say very controviersal statements that brought the press down on the school. I found that it was difficult to get a job because people were not interested in me when they fould out I was BJU grad. It took me many years to really appreciate the good educaltion I got there. I have been pleased that the corrent administration seemed to be better. BBU is now a member of an accrediation association and I think there have been many improvements. I am saddened over this report. Sounds like extreme leagalism and this pains me.
Jim Brown
5:41 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
I believe we are to have standards, but we do not need to impose our standards on other people. When we make lists beyound those that are in the Bible. I am not talking aboout rules necessayr to run a college just as a getting up time, lights out time ,even a dress code but it seems that this man was dealt with very harshly. The only demerits I got were for for things like not having my bed made when the hall monitor checked. I woud like BJU better if they exercised some mercy and grace in this case.
Alison
10:23 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
The fact that Peterman was protesting against his school while a student that would be returning to housing on campus should show that the school demonstrated some grace. To monitor him, particularly if certain attitudes or postures (not simplistic debating) was in place is logical. But, beyond that -and aside from the reality that Bju has, just like every Christian body that has sinners in it, those with more legalistic defaults- the Univ should always have the right to expel those that do not fit the character of what a graduate of a Christian univ should be. Think of it in terms of military schools with clear parameters plus certain characteristic behavioral expectations that perhaps are not explicitly outlined in every conceivable detail.
Another point - one of irony here- is the fact that more freedom loving Christians are quick on the trigger vs gracious towards any that they deem as legalistic. Bju in truth doesn't propose any salvation outside of faith alone. They (meaning sinning and not glorified yet Christians within the school) can hold to tradiitionalism unBiblically at times. But it is ironic that the ones always claiming to never receive grace seemingly stand ready to fire upon folks like Bju. Isn't that just another newer form of legalism? Just sayin'
oilpainterextraordinare
2:37 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Alison, I respectfully disagree. I think it's that we "free" followers of Jesus (he whom the Son sets free is free indeed ...) are fed up with seeing our faith so horribly defiled by the organized church (particularly those in the legalistic arena) that we feel a sense of obligation to set the record straight for the cause of Christ. He would have been OUTRAGED by the cover up of abuse and allowing Chuck Phelps to serve on the board of trustees! I'm sure you have studied the life of Christ and there is no argument that he found legalism (hypocrisy of the highest order) abhorrent. The times when Jesus became the most outspoken were always in opposition to hypocrisy and legalism in the organized church. In fact, the 12 men he selected to be his disciples would have been considered unfit for BJU by its own standards. They would have been expelled the first week. There IS a spirit of religion and it is alive and well on that campus. Just sayin'.
Philip
1:45 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
I went to bob jones university as did my brothers and we all had different experiences ... For short, I am not your BJU type student and didn't find my education of much higher proportion to that of a state school. But I do miss the school. There was a structure there and alot of great people. All crap aside, they have the students best interest at heart. The rules apply to the student ... On campus or off campus. Just because you don't like them doesn't mean you have to bash them publicly... I agree that there are some rules worth taking a secon look at but with that being said ... A punishment of reading a book of the bible a day is preposterous... That's not to be a punishment... I agree with the stand you took but I don't agree with the level of animosity you have shown to people who love God and try to serve Him the best they know how...
oilpainterextraordinare
9:08 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Philip (and others), this is NOT about rules and regulations (though I would argue that the university's rules are controlling and do little to teach personal responsibility). This is about a young man who saw rampant neglect of sexual abuse in the church and heroically risked his own reputation and even his college degree to actually DO something about it, while the BJU hierarchy sat on their hands and even allowed the pastor most involved in the scandal to remain on the board of trustees. Here is the quote from the article:
"Peterman said that late last year, he started a group called "Do Right BJU," which was a protest group formed in reaction to reports that Chuck Phelps, a BJU trustee and New Hampshire pastor, had forced a woman named Tina Anderson to ask her church congregation for "forgiveness" after she'd been raped by a member of the church."
I am not saying that good teachers don't exist there, but I am saying that Peterman was silenced to cover the school's behind. The school administrators were more concerned about the school not being exposed than they were about this young woman or any others like her. This is but ONE reported abuse.
Angryone
8:32 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
If any of you knew the whole story about the unfortunate,but voluntary statutory rape of that girl you would be a little slower to run your mouths. I will agree that the problem could have been handled better. The fact is a lesbian with an axe to grind at that church in NH is the one who stirred this all up again. And folks like Peterman feel they ave the right to talk about things they they don't understand. That young woman turned on everyone who helped her. Including the family that let her live with them and put her through college. And frankly to base your opinion off FB is slightly demented.
oilpainterextraordinare
10:32 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
"Voluntary statutory rape"? Seriously? There is no appropriate response to what you just said. Hope you get the counsel you need.