Bob Jones Student Kicked Off Campus After Watching "Glee"
Chris Peterman, a senior at Bob Jones University, racked up demerits after he created an activist group on campus, and ultimately was kicked out when his last demerits were issued for watching the television show "Glee" off campus.
A 23-year-old student at Bob Jones University has been kicked out of school after bucking the administration.
But it's the act that resulted in his final demerits, that's causing a stir.
It was a story first reported by WSPA, Chris Peterman said he was kicked off campus this week when he contacted the Department of Education and the university's accreditation agency, after he complained of being targeted by the conservative school's administration.
In late 2011, Peterman formed an activist group on campus, "Do Right BJU," which raised awareness of sexual abuse and provided support to those suffering from sexual abuse.
When the administration had a problem with a demonstration on campus, as well as the group's active Facebook page, Peterman said he became the target of harrassment, receiving demerits for things like not shaving, and toward the end of his time at BJU, for watching the popular Fox show "Glee."
His story is featured on the "Do Right BJU" Facebook page and posted on YouTube.
Peterman said he is appealing the decision. Bob Jones University officials have not responded to Patch's request for comment.
billy james
8:06 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012
If you do not like this colleges rules and regulations then go elsewhere...
No one forces anyone to go to this college..Plus he looks like a punk anyway!
Christopher Peterman
8:35 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012
@Billy James: I agree. It is very important to follow the rules but the issue is there are no rules in the Handbook about watching TV off campus. BJU expelled me because I started Do Right BJU. If that is being a punk .. than ok, I'm a punk. :)
Carolyn Farr Smith
9:55 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012
Christopher, We would love to sit down with you and talk with you more about this situation.
David
10:38 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012
Please get your facts correct. He was not expelled for watching Glee. He received demerits for watching Glee. He still did not have enough at that time to be expelled, as you need 150 demerits before you are expelled and he was short of that. He received his final demerits for "intimidating" BJU official after he informed them that he had contacted the Department of Education, TRACS (the accrediting board), several Congressman, and several news agencies because he didn't like how they were disciplining him. He wanted attention and he got it.
Also note that he says the student handbook says nothing about watching TV off-campus. The issue was not where he was watching TV, but what he was watching.
The handbook states clearly, "BJU expects students to select and participate in entertainment options—including music, movies, TELEVISION, computer/video games, printed materials, the Internet and social media—that honor Jesus Christ and edify both individual Christians and the Christian community. Students are to avoid any types of entertainment that could be considered immodest or that contain profanity, scatological realism, sexual perversion, erotic realism, lurid violence, occultism and false philosophical or religious assumptions."
anon
11:38 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012
First of all, he wasn't expelled for watching Glee - that was just part of his demerit count.
Secondly, the Do Right group was started to protest a board member, and fought so he would step down. The group changed to fight sexual abuse after the fact. (by releasing red balloons - and how that helps any suffering abuse victim, I don't know.)
Third, in numerous facebook posts on his DoRight page - he states that he is forced to go to Bob Jones, and doesn't like or agree with the school. His attitude and blatant rebellion got him kicked out. Not a Glee episode.
Chris, stop lying to yourself.
Clayton Thompson
11:51 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012
Chris,
You are pathetic. For you to paint a good school as a terrible place just because one incident turned out in a way you didn't like is absolutely disgusting. I cannot believe that you are so blind to the harm you are doing to a great institution. Does BJ have problems? Absolutely. Are they as gross or as large as you make them out to be? No.
Also, please stop lying about the glee episode. For you to go to Starbucks, a place frequented by just about every BJ student and watch glee on headphones is not only stupid, but also makes me wonder if you did it just so you could say that you got kicked out "for watching glee." Please stop tearing down my school and being a disgrace to Christ.
Yes, I am signing this because you know me. - Clayton Thompson
Lynn Meffert
1:20 pm on Sunday, April 29, 2012
you should all consider living in China. What do you think censorship is?
Robert Kelly
7:52 am on Saturday, April 28, 2012
Maybe any institution that rejects the constitution of the United States (right to assemble, freedom of speech) should not have official standing with the government (tax breaks, accreditation). I understand private institutions (like the Augusta National Golf Course) can still maintain their archaic rules, but the government should not give credence and recognition to such an educational institution.
ReadIt
11:33 am on Saturday, April 28, 2012
Christian extremity does not guarantee admittance into Heaven. You can't ignore the world you live in, you have to learn to live the right way and be an example to others. BJU gives students a great education, but shelters them and creates a sense of fear and resentment to those who will eventually become your neighbors. This one example of watching Glee (which I realize didn't result in him getting kicked out, but still...to give demerits for watching a television show whose major theme is understanding and not judging those around you, is ridiculous) demonstrates the lack of BJU's administration's understanding of the world in which we live. Jesus didn't want us barricaded behind iron fences - literally and metaphorically - he wanted us out in the world. If you can't watch Glee and still maintain your faith, then your religious education isn't doing its job.
michael kssski
1:09 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
I remember going to my church in Michigan (Douglas Jackson for all those who are familiar) and hearing nothing but praise of this place and Maranatha. Did my 1 parental mandated semester at Maranatha and got out of there quick as I could. Sideburn checks, mandatory chaperones on dates, no listening to contemporary music of any kind, etc. In these universities effort to keep everyone in good standing, all it does is alienate those of us who live in the real world.