This article presents several levels of amusement to those interested in the bizarre politics of South Carolina. First, I find it very interesting that state grants are higher for private college students than they are for public college students. That one small aspect of state spending seems to break with stereotypical thought.
The irony continues when we consider that special rules as well as an extra $2.5 million were added to the grant program with the specific intent of benefiting Bob Jones University, perhaps the only private college in the state that is an absolute joke when it comes to quality or usefulness of education.
A third point is that Bob Jones University – an organization that has brought perpetual shame and disgrace upon Greenville and upon the entire state of South Carolina will now be sanctioned and subsidized by the state.
Finally, as a citizen of South Carolina, I resent taxes. I resent taxes even more when the state forcibly takes my income and redistributes it to finance and prop up the one “college” in our state that we should be working to shut down!
Of course, my personal experience with Bob Jones University has allowed me to understand exactly what the organization is and it’s detrimental effects upon those whose religion they have hijacked. The number of lives completely ruined by that place; the brainwashing of the willing that has formed an entire cult society and forced a form of corrupt, vain culture and religion upon the surrounding area and other parts of the country.
Just on academic grounds alone, Bob Jones University should be shunned. They produce the highest percentage of worthless graduates than any other school I’ve ever heard of. Yes, their academic programs are rife with social arts wastes and those who leave the place usually can’t function on their own and end up returning to work for the same school that ruined their future. I know that first hand too: my brother went there and never has been able to function on his own since. After failing to cope with the real world, he lives in his little apartment over there at the college and crosses the street to go to “work.”
Bottom line: The state is abusing its power to tax. Rather that taking my money and giving it to others, the state should refund all surplus monies back to those who earnrrf
Bob Jones Univ. gets state aid
By Diane Knich (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Tuesday, July 31, 2007State lawmakers shot down a request for extra financial help for low-income students who will attend South Carolina’s public colleges and universities next year.
Meanwhile, they approved $2.5 million to help low-income students attend Bob Jones University, a private school in Greenville.
The State Commission on Higher Education had requested $10 million to increase grants for some needy students attending public colleges and universities. Last year, low-income public school students received, on average, $1,158 in grants while their private-school counterparts received $3,100, nearly three times as much.
Layton McCurdy, chairman of the commission and former dean at the Medical University of South Carolina, said “the Legislature didn’t think it was important enough. I’m not very happy about that.”
The state Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission distributes “need-based” grant money to students who attend the state’s private colleges and universities.
Legislators approved a bill this past session that allowed Bob Jones University to be added to the list of 20 other private schools that are part of that commission, and whose students are eligible for grants.
The General Assembly then approved a $2.5 million increase in the total pool of money the Tuition Grants Commission has to distribute to private school students.
Eddie Shannon, executive director of the Tuition Grants Commission, said that with the extra money, the commission can give about 800 low-income Bob Jones University students $3,200 next year. That’s the same amount most other needy private school students will receive, he said.
The bill to include Bob Jones University was sponsored by Sens. Michael Fair, R-Greenville, and Darrell Jackson, D-Hopkins.
Shannon said that although the bill didn’t specifically mention Bob Jones University, “it happens to be the only new one that qualifies.”
Before the legislation was passed, Shannon said, private colleges had to be nonprofit organizations, have a major campus and headquarters in South Carolina and be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Under the new legislation, a private college can meet those criteria or it can simply be a bachelor’s level institution chartered before 1962 with a major campus and headquarters in South Carolina, the latter of which allows Bob Jones to qualify.
Bob Jones University is not accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It wasn’t accredited at all before 2006, but in November, it earned full accreditation from the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools.
The accreditation makes students eligible for federal grants and loans.
Shannon said it’s important that the state offer some support to students who attend private colleges. Such colleges offer students a choice to attend smaller schools. Many students fare better in a smaller environment, he said.
McCurdy said the Commission on Higher Education will continue to press for more money for grants for needy public-school students.
“In my opinion,” he said, “money for higher education is one of the most significant pressing needs of young people in our state.”
Reach Diane Knich at 937-5491 or dknich@postandcourier.com.
This so saddens me. My child became aware of this college through her high school boyfriend, whose grandmother coincidentally teaches at BJU. I had no idea about this when I let them date. Had I, I would have stopped it. I thought it was a high school romance. Next thing I know she’s brainwashed and chose to go to BJU after they “saved” her and went from Maine to S.C., after listening to their brainwashing rantings daily.