When will we as Americans finally take hold of the separation of church and state? Is it fair for an institution of higher learning to be able to cash in on the idea that they are a Christian organization, while at the same time, allowing anyone from any background to be accepted into the school and subject themselves to biblical tyranny?
In 1918, Lee University (Bob Jones) was created and set aside as a private university. As a private establishment, they were able to create and adhere to their own guidelines on student and faculty behavior without reprimand. Lee, under the Bob Jones name, was a school of primarily white young men bound for futures in spreading Gods word. Today, Lee accepts young men and women of all backgrounds regardless of religious beliefs, regardless of their desire to carry out the works of God. Therefore, is it morally right for Lee to still operate and consider themselves a private Christian institute?
This, ladies and gentlemen, is the new and improved Lee University. An institution that upholds double standards such as reaping the benefits of the Tennessee lottery funded “Hope Scholarship”. The University allows a pseudo-policy, “Ring by Spring”, created by the student body to be practiced while they cash in from the marriages that are conducted in Lee University’s recently constructed “prayer chapel,” that sadly is too small for the student body, so it serves as a Wedding Chapel. What good was it for the University to build a “prayer chapel” that cannot hold all of the students at one time? They neglect there own “convocation policy” that ensures that students will not be quizzed or tested during the two weeks of convocation service over the course of the school year.
How can the student body, the citizens of Cleveland, Tennessee, and the alumni of this institution not share with the world what they experienced while attending Lee University? I wish to share these true accounts of Lee University students, alumni, and faculty, as a former resident of Cleveland, Tennessee. I wish to share what I have learned from students of Lee University, who once conformed to these ideas to protect themselves from removal of the school. To share from the faculty that have been removed because of the fear of “free thinking” introduced to the students. These are there stories, and I am there voice against the hypocrisy.
Let me begin with the wonderful opportunity provided by the Tennessee Lottery that was introduced at the turn of the century. At Lee University, they allow the student body to reap the benefits that this program offers. However, upon registering for the school, students are required to sign a “community covenant” that affirms that the student(s) will abstain from gambling (participation in the Tennessee Lottery) along with other non-Christian behaviors such as drinking, smoking, cheating on papers and the like. If you are seen purchasing such lottery tickets and it can be proven, go ahead and pack your bags and be ready for removal from this school. I don’t believe that Jesus would have gambled, but I do believe that he would not have held double-standards as well.
One double-standard that Christ would most definitely take a stand against would be “cashing-in” on marriage. The student body has created a pseudo-policy cleverly titled “Ring by Spring.” What exactly does this catchy phrase mean? “Ring by Spring” sexually stereotypes and allows peer pressure to be placed on the female student. If a female is not wearing a ring by the first spring semester at Lee, she is perceived as living in sin, a homosexual, or a virtual spinster deemed unlovable by the male populace.
Once this seed of insecurity is planted in their minds, human nature compels them to remedy this problem. One quick and effective solution to this problem readily available here on Lee’s campus is the recently built prayer chapel that, sadly, can not completely fit the student body under it’s roof. However, you can find that at this moment in time, the chapel is already booked for the rest of this year to serve as a “wedding chapel” for Lee University students.
Unique isn’t it? They are cashing in on wedding services off of the student body as well, not just the rising costs of tuition. In a modern America where over 50 percent of marriages end in divorce, can you as a parent, student, or Christian for that matter, stand by and watch a Christian school degrade the sanctity of Marriage like this? From the moment your son or daughter begins enrollment, they hear Lee’s administrator gimmicks that are not limited to “maybe you will meet your soul mate in the registration line.”
Perhaps you were unaware that this behavior is accepted and practiced by the students and staff at Lee? After all, with evidence like this we can formulate that the purpose of the chapel was to serve as another way to make money off of Christian ideals. As more and more students have spoke with me about there Alma-Matter, I am beginning to think that Lee University has derailed from a private institute observing the word of God, to cashing in on Christian beliefs while allowing your children to graduate with a Masters Degree in Worldly Living. After all, they have a great cover, spawning out of Bob Jones University. Unfortunately, I am not finished yet with these revelations. Speaking of Revelations, lets talk about the “mark of the beast” that Lee University has.
Revelations chapter 13 verse 16-17, “He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand of on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.”
At Lee University, there is a week of convocation each semester. During convocation week, Lee students, regardless of religious background, will be forced to attend this week long “revival” and be REQUIRED to scan the barcode on their identification card. This is in order to mark their attendance, as convocation attendance is mandatory so that the student will not be dismissed from Lee University. Are you making the connection yet? Are we going to allow this institution to practice another double standard of placing their “mark” on the students via a barcode on their identification card, so that the student may reap the benefits of the education opportunities at Lee University? Apparently, as long as the “Beast of the Land” is out of the equation and this is for a Godly purpose, it is acceptable? With Lee’s educational opportunities open to all religious views, and to those students who are not desiring to use their education in the services of the Lord, they know that they must force attendance to look good in the eyes of the Christian public. Either Lee University needs to get back to its fundamentals, or become a member of the Public University system, there is no middle ground.
Not only is this a double standard on the “Mark of the Beast” but the school itself holds itself in another double standard violating its own convocation policy, which states that during the weeks of convocation, there will be no quizzes or tests administered for a recordable grading. After all, during this week students are released from chapel usually around 10 p.m. It would make sense to give the students a break from graded work because they are denying ample studying opportunities to the students so they can attend services. Yet, somehow, papers are still due and examinations are still given during these weeks. How is it that students remain focused and keep completing their assignments? What you will find is that along with degrading the sanctity of Marriage as aforementioned, Lee University inadvertently degrades church service. What the student body is forced to do is bring assignments with them to complete during convocation services.
What about life after Lee University? I personally know a graduate from Lee that has had the most unsuccessful struggle to acquire her graduation video. Her father placed an order for two copies of the graduation ceremony and was delivered the wrong ceremony twice! Lee University can not correctly identify this students graduation date and has yet to send the correct video. This students father has paid for two DVD’s on two separate occasions for her graduation on December 2010 and has yet to receive the correct graduation video, or an apology letter. As recent as February 2012, this student has physically visited the campus and reminded them of the shortcoming. Lee University still has the students money, and even took back the incorrect graduation videos, but the students family has not received the correct videos, a cash refund, or an apology to this date.
Are the students of Lee truly benefiting from their choice in higher education? Take a moment and ask an alumni, maybe even a current student, if they are satisfied with their choice in Lee University. Their answer may concern you. Lee University, like every other secular university, has now become the campus where cash is king!
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