#dr. stephen franklin

[therighthandofvengeance]

[the-random-hamlet]

Not Mine. Thought to Share.

[silkenbutterfly7]

An excellent letter full of devastating portents and omens in hindsight: the availability of game, the icebergs, the most open water in years, letters sent ahead in anticipation of the completion of the North West Passage to Panama, Sir John's improved health, finishing all the food...love the reference to Goodsir and how they are stuffing the ship with all their specimens. Also where Fitzjames characterized Stanley as sort of moody, lazy without patients, and taken up with reading, this does show his inner thoughts quite differently. Perhaps he just burnt out (bad pun) on only sleeping 2-3 hours in constant sunlight and needed some quiet time to rest and contemplate.

Letter from Dr. Stanley to Dr. Fergusson written on board HMS Erebus July 12, 1845- Awe of the Arctic Exhibit 2024 NYPL

Transcript: My Dear Fergusson, having a few moments to spare before the letter bag is finally closed, I hasten to drop you a line to say that, although within the Arctic Circle , I'm not yet frozen to death and therefore in the land of the living and very jolly. We had a fairish passage out here but had a mighty gale of Cape Farewell, which sent us flying with closed topsails and courses to Cape Desolation, where in spite of the dismal name we found comfort. There's smooth water and a moderate breeze. These islands, and in fact, the whole of this western coast of Greenland, is the most barren and uninviting I ever beheld.

Some of the land is very high and serrated and has the appearance of being volcanic. On the bare rocks, large quantities of tripe-de-roche may be gathered, but as we were not reduced like our excellent captain on a former occasion to such a means of subsistence, no one I could find tried its qualities as a nutrient. We are completely surrounded with icebergs, some of them upwards of 200 feet high. They are, however, from the extreme heat disappearing fast and by their constant disruption, almost frightening your very life out of you.

I and a boat crew had a very narrow escape the other day out shooting. I had just fired and killed an eider duck when I observed that we had drifted closer to an immense iceberg, which I had previously noticed a day or two before in a decayed condition. I said to an officer who was with me "What luck it should come down by the sun!" And then ordered the men to pull quickly from our dangerous neighbor when it fell with a crash. Most stunning and awful to witness. There never was so lucky an escape. The discharge of my two barrels had no doubt hastened its overthrow. And although we were at a distance upwards of 100 yards, quite near enough we were knocked and tossed about by its displacement in the sea in a most uncomfortable manner.

The island swarms with mosquitoes and they are now flying about the gun room in all directions. They are the largest I ever beheld but not the most stinging. We sailed tonight for Lancaster Sound and the transport to dear old England with a report of our proceedings up to this period. At this season of the year, in this latitude, as you are aware there is no darkness. The sun never dips below the horizon. The nights I have there for devoted to shooting and the day to skinning and preserving the specimens I have killed. Since our arrival I have not slept more than 2 or 3 hours in 24. Goodsir is working harder than medusas and desires kindly to be remembered to you.

We are all sanguine and getting through the barrier into Beechey straits this year. Every one of the native Eskimos say this is the most open season they ever remember. And on the strength of our prospects I and the other officers have ordered letters to be directed to us at Panama and Kotzebue. The latter place will, of course, be the first port we shall make when we get through.

I have not a single man on the list and I have not had for several days. Sir John Franklin is not like the same person. He is so much improved in appearance and energy. He is almost always the first on deck and the last to leave it in all weathers. I must conclude now, old fellow, with best wishes and kind regards to Mrs. F and the bairns.

And believe me, your very sincere friend, Stephen S. Stanley. I had intended to have written to Fortnum and Masons. Pray tell them like a good soul that we are delighted with everything they furnished us and the members of the mess unanimously declare them to be trumps and we should be sorry to return before we have consumed all their good things.

[bell-swamp-fitzjames]

Here is a collection of all the character playlists I have created in honor of the Davechella event, which I find very special. Under the cut will be each link, although for ease of convenience unlike my playlist posts, only the link shall be included not the listed out songs.

We've got Thomas Farr, Frederick Hornby, Francis Pocock, Charles Best, Collins, Billy Orren, John Hartnell & John Torrington, Silna, Tuunbaq, The Franklins, Crozier, JFJ, & Sophia, all the lieutenants, all the doctors, all the marines, William Gibson, John Bridgens, Harry Peglar, Edmund Hoar, Richard Aylmore, Genge!, Hickey, Diggle, Wall, Armitage, Golding, Thompson, Thomas Blanky, Tom Hartnell, Mr. Reid, George Chambers, David Young, & Thomas Evans, Magnus Manson, Charles Des Voeux, Original Hickey & John Morfin

Recently Added: 2 Jacko playlists, Neptune, Fagin, William Strong, Samuel Crisp, & Sir John's Leg

PLUS Silna's Father, Koveyook, James CLARK Ross, his translator, and the Netsilik Hunter :)

Silna [LINK]

Tuunbaq [Link]

Lady Jane Franklin [LINK]

Sophia Cracroft [LINK]

Command

Sir John Franklin [LINK]

FRM Crozier [LINK]

James Fitzjames [LINK]

Lieutenants

Edward Little [LINK]

John Irving [LINK]

George Hodgson [LINK]

Graham Gore [LINK]

Henry Le Vesconte [LINK]

James Fairholme [LINK]

Thomas Jopson [LINK]

Stewards

William Gibson [LINK]

John Bridgens [LINK]

Edmund Hoar [LINK]

Richard Aylmore [LINK]

Genge! [LINK]

Doctors

Dr. Henry Goodsir [LINK]

Dr. Alexander McDonald [LINK]

Dr. Stephen Stanley [LINK]

Dr. John Peddie [LINK]

The Marines

Solomon Tozer [LINK]

Private Heather [LINK]

David Bryant [LINK]

William Pilkington [LINK]

Robert Golding [LINK]

George Thompson [LINK]

William Braine [LINK]

John Hammond [LINK]

Robert Hopcraft [LINK]

Henry Wilkes [LINK]

William Reed [LINK]

James Daly [LINK]

Joseph Healey [LINK]

William Hedges [LINK]

Ship Crew

Thomas Blanky [LINK]

Tom Hartnell [LINK]

Mr. Reid [LINK]

Harry Peglar [LINK]

"Cornelius Hickey" [LINK] {ORIGINAL VERSION}

Hickey [LINK] {REHASH}

Thomas Armitage [LINK]

Mr. Wall [LINK]

Mr. Diggle [LINK]

Magnus Manson (link)

Charles Des Voeux (link)

John Morfin [LINK]

Francis Pocock [LINK]

Frederick Hornby [LINK]

Thomas Farr [LINK]

Charles Best [LINK]

Billy Orren [LINK]

Henry Collins [LINK]

Samuel Crisp [LINK]

William Strong [LINK]

Ship's Boys

David Young [LINK]

Thomas Evans [LINK]

George Chambers [LINK]

Important Characters

Koveyook [LINK]

Silna's Father [LINK]

James Clark Ross [LINK]

Translator [LINK]

Netsilik Hunter [LINK]

Cornelius Hickey [LINK]

Sir John's Leg [LINK]

Animals

Fagin [LINK]

Jack [REAL] [GONE TO HEAVEN]

Neptune [LINK]

Beechey Boys

John Hartnell [LINK]

John Torrington [LINK]

[beecheyislandgloves]

FO'C'SLE OF HMS TERROR,

This present Thursday, being the 4th October, 1845, Will be presented a PLAY, call'd

ROMEO and JULIET

Prologue by Lieutenant Graham Gore Prince by Captain Francis Crozier

Romeo by Mr Thomas Hartnell Lord Montague by Mr Henry Foster Collins Mercutio by Mr Cornelius Hickey Benvolio by Mr William Orren

Juliet by Mr Thomas Evans Lord Capulet by Dr Stephen Stanley Lady Capulet by Commander James Fitzjames Tybalt by Sergeant Solomon Tozer Nurse by Mr Thomas Blanky Friar Laurence by Mr John Bridgens Paris by Lieutenant Henry Le Vesconte Ensemble by Mr David Young, Mr Henry Foster Collins, Mr Magnus Manson, Mr Charles Des Voeux, Private William Heather, Mr Thomas Armitage, Mr Charles Best, Mr William Strong, Private William Pilkington, Mr John Diggle

With thanks to...

Director: Lieutenant George Hodgson Assistant Director: Lieutenant John Irving Stage Manager: Mr Harry Goodsir SFX Artist: Dr John Peddie Set Designer: Lieutenant Edward Little Head Costumer: Mr Thomas Jopson Assistant Costumers: Mr William Gibson, Mr Edward Genge, Mr Edmund Hoar Set Builders: Mr John Weekes, Mr Thomas Honey Welfare: Dr Alexander MacDonald Enabl'd by our generous patron, Sir John Franklin, and God.

To begin exactly at Six o'Clock. Grog provided.

[croziers-compass]

Erebus Poll: Who Do You Marry?

talk about your man in the tags. (Skipped marines yes. I know)

[greysectorpod]

Nobody:

Dr. Stephen Franklin:

[woodsfae]

B5 S04E10 Racing Mars previous episode - table of contents

Got Mars in the title, so maybe there won't be a break till we see Dr Franklin and Marcus again. Or hear about them or something. 

B5's black market is suffering due to the harsh penalties put in place on smugglers from earth. Ivanova says she'll take care of it and kicks Sheridan out of his office for a few days of R&R -- his first time off in over a year. He permits this light insubordination. As a wise man would. 

Flip to Marcus and Stephen! Playing Eye Spye in a cargo hold full of boxes. Dr Franklin is really tired of playing Eye Spy. And Marcus captures a real spy, spying on them. He's apparently the Captain's brother and smuggles in his ship. And although he hangs out on his brother's ship secretly, he calls himself a Captain. 

Stephen is caught by his lure of insta-hot bag meals.

Ah I forgot about Garibaldi's foolish probably brainwashed interview with ISN. And Sheridan is really upset about it. I really think this is the Shadows' brainwashing. Just a part of their plan to disrupt the alliances that they didn't clean up when they left. 

Fight, fight. They've even got an audience. This is gonna be a public incident. Garibaldi's arguments are all fairly reasonable for someone outside the events that happened, even if the public sowing of discontent isn't. If it isn't a brainwashing thing then that's a really fucking unfortunate turn for Garibaldi to take. It's a really hard pivot on his previous opinion of Sheridan and an indictment on his own past actions. Also, would be really weird that he'd turn like that in opinon after they won. That kind of pivot really isn't consistent for him. 

Back with the Mars mission, Captain Jack is apparently their contact. And he brings them their cover documents! They're newlyweds on their honeymoon! Good for them.

Garibaldi has some folks who are eager to connect over their mutual dislike and distrust of Sheridan. Hmm. This does open the possibility that Garibaldi is on a self-assigned mission to  be a disrupter of the local opposition. But I doubt it. I'm going with the brainwashing theory. Is this where Garibaldi's story goes? In a tragedy of walking down a path to destabilize the causes you just fought for with all your heart with no way to go against it or have the capacity to recognize the alienness of your sudden goals?

Only time will tell.

Captain Jack says he hasn't heard about the war and thinks it's all alien stuff that doesn't pertain to humans much. And he also doesn't really believe the things he has heard. Marcus is upset that now that he's a war hero no one's ever heard of it, and that he also has to be married to Stephen as the cherry on top. Captain Jack loves this new relationship dynamic. I haven't decided what I think is going on with Captain Jack. Right now I feel predisposed to assume everything is a spying or counterspying interaction. 

Imagine complaining in a corporate meeting with the second in command of the military space station and seriously complaining about the illegal drug market being depressed. That's genuinely hilarious. And Ivanova threatens to shoot them if they don't work with her to stimulate the economy. Or turn them into EarthGov. That's the good old Ivanova diplomatic method. 

"Work with me? No? Well rethink because you won't like the results if you don't." Fucking get it girl. And the carrot right after. Which is the silk glove on the iron fist tactic that Sheridan's been trying to mentor her into acquiring. It's a thin glove for her very sturdy iron fist to be sure. 

The Mars team plus Captain Jack have a problem. They've been discovered! But they still need to spread the Word of Sheridan. And Jack was with them? Apparently? Well that's a pickle. 

I think this is the first away from B5 view we've had in a long time. Hmmm this seems shady. They're demanding full biometric IDs to prove they're really with the resistance. But it is so risky and not how these kinds of cells really operate. But maybe they do in the B5 universe. In any case, Frankline and Marcus hand over their id that could fully dox them and be used to hand them over to EarthGov. They didn't prove their own allegiances even slightly. 

Sheridan is feeling badly over his argument with Garibaldi. Bummer thing to do on your first day off in a year, for real. He could be flirting with Delenn right now instead of bemoaning Garibaldi's change of pace. 

Delenn promises John there are not very many more rituals before they can be married. Only fifty! But after Delenn says eloping is a great disgrace, Sheridan immediately folds. And Delenn invites him over for the next ritual, Shan'Fall, which is about exploring one another centers of pleasures with great medication and focus. And John, not a foolish man, heads off to see what that's all about in practice. Man hears "tantric sex" in minbari-speak and is all in.

Hmm, turn of events. Not sure why their IDs apparently didn't match their DNA, but it's forgotten now that Captain Jack tried to assassinate the local cell's leader. He had neural net device on him that may have forced him to do it. 

And now Captain Jack is on the loose with not only his laser pistol but also a thermal grenade. I wonder if this is PsiCorps work or another faction. I don't know who has that type of tech. Seems a bit beyond human tech we've seen. Especially with Captain Jack saying the devices grow back if removed. And he also seems to be correct! There's a tentacle. And he goes for it, blows himself up in a transport in a transport tube train thing. This plotline is a bit all over the place. I still want to know why they don't care about the ID mismatch now. 

A woman is kneeling to Sheridan and asking for a blessing. Garibaldi has a fit about it and ends up knocking Sheridan down with a hit. I'm really sticking with my brainwashing theory because I just don't like this character turn otherwise. The question is if it's shadow work, neural net parasite like the Captain Jack, or if the parasites are Shadow work. 

Delenn's ritual include an audience at a distance meditating and to prevent them from "going too far," and John allows himself to be talked into the semi-exhibitionism. Love this plotline of a red blooded Iowa man being seduced into elaborate fetish play. Also that the Minbari are extremely into kink. What a plot twist, lol. 

Lennier, judgementally: "Woo-hoo?" 

You tell him, Lennier. You shame his o-voice. 

Garibaldi is always destined to have a plotline that makes me want to be my head against the wall. Except for when he learned Narnuan to read their scriptures.  

I miss Bester. Bring back the telepathic baddie!

next episode

[letters2fiction]

Welcome to Letters2fiction!

The concept here is to send in a question or a letter request, and you’ll get a response from your fictional character of choice, from the list below. Please stick to the list I’ve made, but of course, you can ask if there’s some other characters I write for, I don’t always remember all the shows, movies or books I’ve consumed over the years and I’m sure I’m missing a lot 😅

Status: New Characters added - Thursday June 19th, 2025

TV SERIES

A Discovery of Witches:

Matthew Clairmont

Baldwin Montclair

Gallowglass de Clermont

Marcus Whitmore

Philippe de Clermont

Jack Blackfriars

Sarah Bishop

Emily Mather

Diana Bishop

Ysabeau de Clermont

Miriam Shepard

Phoebe Taylor

Gerbert D’Aurillac

Peter Knox

Father Andrew Hubbard

Benjamin Fuchs

Satu Järvinen

Meridiana

Law and Order:

Rafael Barba

Sonny Carisi

Joe Velasco

Mike Duarte

Terry Bruno

Peter Stone

Hasim Khaldun

Nick Amaro

Mike Dodds

Grace Muncy

Kat Tamin

Toni Churlish

Amanda Rollins

Olivia Benson

Rita Calhoun

Casey Novak

Melinda Warner

George Huang

Sam Maroun

Nolan Price

Jamie Whelan

Bobby Reyes

Jet Slootmaekers

Ayanna Bell

Jack McCoy

Elliot Stabler

Kate Silva

One Chicago:

Jay Halstead (Could also be Will if you want)

Antonio Dawson

Adam Ruzek

Greg "Mouse" Gerwitz

Dante Torres

Vanessa Rojas

Kevin Atwater

Sean Roman

Matt Casey

Kelly Severide

Joe Cruz

Sylvie Brett

Blake Gallo

Christopher Hermann

"Mouch"

Otis

Violet Mikami

Evan Hawkins

Mayans MC:

Angel Reyes

Miguel

Bishop

Coco

Nestor

911 verse:

Athena Grant

Bobby Nash

Henrietta "Hen" Wilson

Evan "Buck" Buckley

Eddie Diaz

Howie "Chimney" Han

Ravi Panikkar

T.K. Strand

Owen Strand

Carlos Reyes

Marjan Marwani

Paul Strickland

Tommy Vega

Judson "Judd" Ryder

Grace Ryder

Nancy Gillian

Mateo Chavez

The Rookie:

Lucy Chen

Tim Bradford

Celina Juarez

Aaron Thorsen

Nyla Harper

Angela Lopez

Wesley Evers

John Nolan

Wade Grey

Bailey Nune

Tamara Colins

BBC Sherlock:

Greg Lestrade

Mycroft Holmes

Sherlock Holmes

Moriarty

Molly

Bridgerton:

Anthony Bridgerton

Benedict Bridgerton

Simon Basset

Daphne Bridgerton

Eloise Bridgerton

Kate Sharma

Edwina Sharma

Marina Thompson / Crane

Colin Bridgerton

Penelope Fetherington / Bridgerton / Lady Whistledown

Outlander:

Jamie Fraser

Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser

Frank Randall

Black Jack Randall

Brianna Fraser

Roger MacKenzie

Fergus Fraser

Marsali Fraser

Jenny Fraser Murray

Ian Murray Sr.

Ian Fraser Murray

Murtagh Mackenzie

Call The Midwife:

Shelagh Turner / Sister Bernadette

Dr. Patrick Turner

Nurse Trixie Franklin

Nurse Phyllis Crane

Lucille Anderson

Nurse Barbara Gilbert

Chummy

Sister Hilda

Miss Higgins

PC Peter Noakes

Reverend Tom Hereward

Narcos:

Horacio Carrillo

Javier Peña

Peaky Blinders:

Tommy Shelby

Downton Abbey:

Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham

Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham

Lady Mary Crawley

Lady Edith Crawley

Lady Sybil Crawley

Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham

Isobel Crawley

Matthew Crawley

Lady Rose MacClare

Lady Rosamund Painswick

Henry Talbot

Tom Branson

Mr. Charles Carson

Mrs. Hughes / Elsie May Carson

John Bates

Anna Bates

Daisy Mason

Thomas Barrow

Joseph Molesley

Land Girl:

Connie Carter

Reverend Henry Jameson (Gwilym Lee's version)

Midsomer Murder:

DCI Tom Barnaby

Joyce Barnaby

Dr. George Bullard

DCI John Barnaby

Sarah Barnaby

DS Ben Jones

DS Jamie Winter

Sgt. Gavin Troy

Fleur Perkins

WPC Gail Stephens

Kate Wilding

DS Charlie Nelson

Sergeant Dan Scott

Once Upon A Time:

Regina / The Evil Queen

Mary Margaret Blanchard / Snow White

David Nolan / Prince Charming

Emma Swan

Killian Jones / Captain Hook

Mr. Gold / Rumplestiltskin

Neal Cassidy / Baelfire

Peter Pan

Sheriff Graham Humbert / The Huntsman

Jefferson / The Mad Hatter

Belle

Robin of Locksley / Robin Hood

Will Scarlet

Zelena / Wicked Witch

Alice (Once in Wonderland)

Cyrus (Once in Wonderland)

Jafar (Once in Wonderland)

Gideon

Tiger Lily

Naveen

Tiana

Granny

Ariel

Prince Eric

Aladdin

Jasmine

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Hercules

Megara

Tinker Bell

Merida

Red Riding Hood

Mulan

Aurora / Sleeping Beauty

Prince Phillip

Cinderella

Prince Thomas

The Vampire Diaries / The Originals:

Stefan Salvatore

Damon Salvatore

Caroline Forbes

Elena Gilbert

Bonnie Bennett

Enzo St. John

Niklaus Mikaelson

Elijah Mikaelson

Kol Mikaelson

Rebekah Mikaelson

Freya Mikaelson

Finn Mikaelson

Mikael

Esther

Marcel Gerard

Davina Claire

NEW! Ghosts UK / US:

Katherine "Kitty" Higham

Thomas Thorne

Julian Fawcett MP

Lady Fanny Button

Pat Butcher

Robin the Caveman

Alison Cooper

Mike Cooper

The Captain

Mary

Humphreys

Hetty Woodstone

Trevor Lefkowitz

Flower

Sasappis

Isaac Higgintoot

Pete Martino

Thorfinn

Alberta Haynes

Jay Arondekar

Sam Arondekar

Shadow and Bone:

The Darkling / Aleksander Morozova

Alina Starkov

Mal Oretsev

Nikolai Lantsov

Tolya Yul-Bataar

Tamar Kir-Bataar

Zoya

Nina Zenik

Inej Ghafa

Wylan van Eck

Kaz Brekker

Matthias Helvar

Jesper Fahey

Genya Safin

David Kostyk

Baghra

MOVIES

The Pirates of the Caribbean:

Captain Jack Sparrow

Barbossa

Will Turner

Elizabeth Swann

James Norrington

Kingsman:

Merlin

Harry Hart

Eggsy Unwin

James Spencer / Lancelot

Alastair / Percival

Roxy Morton / Lancelot

Maximillian Morton / The Shepherd

Orlando Oxford

Jack Daniels / Whiskey

Gin

BOOKS

Dreamland Billionaire series - Lauren Asher:

Declan

Callahan

Rowan

Iris

Alana

Zahra

Dirty Air series - Lauren Asher:

Noah

Liam

Jax

Santiago

Maya

Sophie

Elena

Chloe

Ladies in Stem - Ali Hazelwood books:

Olive

Adam

Bee

Levi

Elsie

Jack

Mara

Liam

Sadie

Erik

Hannah

Ian

Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros:

Xaden Riorson

Dain Aetos

Jack Barlowe

Rhiannan Matthias

Violet Sorrengail

Mira Sorrengail

Lillith Sorrengail

Bodhi Durran

Liam Mairi

[bedpolls]

Stephen Franklin - Babylon 5

Please reblog for a larger sample size.

[therighthandofvengeance]

Bester: Are you sure you should be here? You’re all scratching yourselves a lot.

Franklin: We’re having an allergic reaction.

Bester: What could you all possibly be allergic to?

Franklin: Totalitarianism. Yep, all of us. Crazy, right?

[combrod]

Ben Franklin fucked Clea

[demonsee2]

The Cast Of Babylon 5

From left to Right

Jerry Doyle - Michael Garibaldi

Andreas Katsulas - G'Kar

Stephen Root - Vir Cotto

Bruce Boxleitner - Captain John Sheridan

Peter Jurasik - Londo Mollari

Claudia Christian - Commander Susan Ivonova

Jeff Conway - Zack Allan

Patricia Tallman - Lyta Alexander

Richard Biggs - Dr. Stephen Franklin

Mira Furlan - Ambassador Delenn

Bill Mumy - Lennier

Jason Carter - Marcus Cole

[wutbju]

As I document Brian Fuller's #2 post, I have to say that the concerns Tom Farrell et al brought in that 3-hour meeting are all based on fact. Pettit was cozying up to not-entirely-fundy-folks. He had a lot of bluegrass everywhere. He did attend Second Prez (which is bizarre). The dress code was not enforced. And there were a lot of Northland folks in the admin. It's all true.

And as for Bobby Wood's rewrites of the BJU policy? Love as the guiding principle at BJU? Have you all been to BJU?

"When it was time for the Executive Committee to vote, they weren’t sure it would be the final vote, but they wanted to see where they were at if there were any doubts or anything. Everyone wrote a name on a ballot and folded it in half, and passed it to Larry Jackson. With the seven votes before the chairman, opening the first one, Steve Pettit. Opened the second one—Steve Pettit. Opened the third one—Steve Pettit, and tears started streaming down his face. The other four—Steve Pettit, Steve Pettit, Steve Pettit, Steve Pettit. By that time, every person on the Executive Committee was in tears because we believed with all of their hearts that God had led them to the man that He had to be president of BJU, and they were excited about it.” -The late Dr. John Lewis, BJU BOT Chairman

On September 19, 2013, the BJU Board of Trustees unanimously confirmed its executive committee’s election of Larry Jackson as chairman, replacing Dr. Bob Jones III, and becoming the first chairman not to have the surname “Jones.” Three months later, Dr. Stephen Jones resigned due to health challenges. Dr. Steve Pettit was elected the fifth president of BJU on May 8, 2014. For the first time in the school’s 87-year history, there was a President not in the Jones Family.

Dr. Petitt began his administration officially on May 10, 2014. Dr. Pettit focused on implementing many of the recommendations that came out of Stephen Jones’ Administration and the BJU Board’s approved Strategic Plan (2011-1016). The plan included:

1. Focus on our Mission

2. Embracing a Culture of Appropriate Change 

3. Enhance the Value of a BJU Education

4. Develop our People

5. Improve Communication

6. Steward our Resources and Explore Opportunities for Potential Growth

The Pettit administration began taking shape. Gary Weier was already an Executive Vice President, Provost over Academics, and Marshall Franklin was Executive Vice President over operations when Dr. Pettit arrived in May 2014. John Matthews was Vice President of Development. In the Fall of 2014, Dr. Pettit hired Dr. Sam Horn as Executive Vice President of Ministerial Training and Enrollment. Dr. Bruce McAllister had already stepped down from being over the ministerial class. Dr. Steve Hankins was leading the Bob Jones Memorial Seminary when Pettit began. In 2015, Dr. Bobby Wood came and was made the Chief Enrollment Officer under Dr. Sam Horn. Dr. Alan Benson came in 2018 as Vice President of Student Life.

BJU’s Fifth Administration faced some serious headwinds, however.

▪ Demoralized faculty and staff

▪ Disengaged and alienated alumni, churches, and legacy families

▪ Disinterested donors – no real pathway to increasing our donations – no tax-exemption

▪ Declining enrollment (alarming decline – 1100 students decline in 6 years)

▪ A difficult, if not impossible, financial picture that threatened the immediate viability and long-term sustainability of the university

▪ Difficulty in retaining and recruiting faculty

▪ Demographics of the greying faculty/staff at every level, internal and external

▪ Grace Report and a tarnished institutional brand

▪ Alarming headwinds facing higher education

In Pettit’s official statement following being voted in as BJU’s fifth president, he gave clear indications of what this administration’s emphases would be:

Dr. Pettit had only been at BJU a few months when the marketing director told Pettit that the students were unhappy at BJU and if he would consider changing the rules, then they would change their attitude, and the overall atmosphere of the school would be different. Steve responded to that counsel with, “I have been part of different ministries for 34 years, and we have always had Biblical lifestyle expectations. The rules were generally not the issue.”

Instead, Pettit focused on having a vibrant spiritual atmosphere by improving preaching and discipleship, as well as improving the leadership approach that would be neither oppressive nor permissive. Pettit’s team, from the start, was committed to relational discipleship and servant leadership. Another early conversation, this one with the Chancellor, Dr. Bob Jones III, contrasted the different philosophies of ministry. Dr. Bob said to Steve, “We are a top-down run organization.” Pettit responded, “That will not work for me. I am not smart enough. I must work with our people and collaborate with them. I am willing to make the calls as the president, but we work as a team.”

At the beginning of the Pettit administration, there was also a terrible problem with the BJU brand. His approach was to seek to change the University from the inside out. There needed to be a culture change- one of servant leadership, Biblical discipleship, spiritual growth, grace, and a healthy, relational approach to student life. Team members, like Dr. Bobby Wood, helped flesh out the “Pettit Doctrine” by articulating some Guiding Principles for Biblical Change that ran from 2017-2023. They were:

1. The Intentional Pursuit of Love as a Central Core Value for BJU.

Criticism – BJU is legalistic, and tough love is all we felt.

2. The Pursuit of a Discipleship Model designed on influence more than control.

Criticism – BJU is controlling behavior and not changing minds.

3. The thoughtful and intentional pursuit of theological clarity and doctrinal integrity.

Criticism – BJU is authoritarian and arrogant. BJU rejects good, Bible preaching churches and asserts itself over the local Church.

4. The Spirit-enabled pursuit of humility.

Criticism – BJU institutionally is arrogant and is too critical of other Christian ministries.

5. The careful pursuit of Biblical equality (read diversity).

Criticism – BJU is a racist school.

6. The Biblical pursuit of empowering others to rise to their greatest potential.

Criticism – BJU is authoritarian and top-down.

7. The bold pursuit of faithful believers who embrace our conservative values and want our conservative influence.

Criticism – BJU won’t connect with people outside our normal orbit.

Dr. Pettit knew, however, that this approach would be opposed by some on the far right. Many of these folks had opposed him before he ever came to BJU. Throughout his presidency at BJU, from 2014-2023, there was consistent opposition from the Foundations Baptist Fellowship International leadership and affiliates. There were four major negative interactions with the FBFI. The first was in a meeting MC’d by the late Dr. Tom Farrell in Charlotte, NC. The second time was when the Pettit administration, at the University’s expense, invited key leaders of the FBFI to come to the campus of BJU to discuss their concerns with BJU. The third occasion was when Dr. Pettit was peppered with questions of concern by FBFI board members when he was speaking at an FBFI National Meeting in Denver, Colorado. And, the final, culminating FBFI interaction, which proved to be the fatal one, was the FBFI letter from February 15, 2022.

This first negative interaction with the FBFI as president of BJU was initiated by an invitation from Dr. Pettit’s close friend, the late Dr. Tom Farrell, to fly to Charlotte, NC, on March 24, 2017, to speak with some men about their concerns with the direction of the University. Dr. Pettit was surprised when he arrived and there were over 40 men, including members and leaders of the FBFI. Along with Dr. Pettit, participants from BJU included Vice President, Dr. Sam Horn, and BJU Board Vice-President, Hantz Bernard.

When they arrived at the conference room at a hotel near the airport that Dr. Farrell had rented, they received a collated document of questions and grievances that had been pre-submitted to Dr. Farrell. Tom put the inquiries and complaints into a document, 12-point font, and the document was 63 pages in length. Two lecterns were set at the front, one for Tom Farrell and the other for Steve Pettit.

The questions, proctored by Tom, lasted for over 3 hours. Hantz Bernard took minutes of the meeting and categorized the questions into five major categories:

(1) Separation: Conferences Pettit had attended, and invited Ken Ham to speak for the Bible Conference.

(2) Music: The concerned alumni believe that the school is abandoning the traditional stand, teaching, and use of conservative music style and association. They believe that the faculty is feuding over the right philosophy of music.

(3) Reformed Theology: The concerned alumni referred to the speakers at Bible Conference 2016, some conferences the President has attended, and the lack of traditional friends of BJU as speakers; they talked about teachers in classrooms who are promoting Reformed Theology. They also lamented what they judged to be a malicious disregard of the KJV, etc.

(4) Standards: The concerned alumni talked about modesty in dress standards, especially for females wearing tight jeans and shorter skirts than what the expected norms would have been, about the modesty of uniforms for female athletes, and about discipline in general.

(5) Administration: The concerned thought that the management of the school was lax, that the influential managers are former Northland C-level people, and that the school was following the trajectory of Northland.

BJU Board Vice-Chairman, Hantz Bernard, gave this summary following the meeting:

“The President remained himself and answered well. The examples given by the participants to support their concerns were, for the most part, out of a lack of information and out of misguided perceptions. The participants were very passionate and convinced about the merit of their concerns. Those concerns seem to have enough legitimacy to warrant the attention of the Board. Hence, does it behoove the Board to intentionally evaluate the five areas of concern and see whether any or what improvement must be implemented? If out of potential financial solvency risks, the Board ordered a budgetary correction, it seems to me that the concerns here stated are nearly of the same significance and might need an intentional, strategic evaluation to ensure the philosophical and administrative viability of the University going forward.”

Respectfully submitted to the Chairman of the BJU Board, Dr. John Lewis, on April 11, 2017

By P. Hantz Bernard, Vice-Chairman

[sholiofic]

Marcus and Dr. Franklin gen story prompt request? Could be one of them getting hurt, or even just bickering back and forth (like they did in S4E9). They don’t interact a ton in the show, but I love their dynamic when they do!

"So when were you going to tell me about this, exactly?" Stephen inquired, holding Marcus's wrist in a firm grip while running the ultraviolet sterilizer over his burned arm.

Marcus grimaced, clearly in pain despite the injection Stephen had already given him. "Never?"

"That's exactly what I thought."

While they were trying to recruit help from the Mars resistance, they had been trying to prove their worth as allies by helping with some of the resistance's activities. Stephen lent medical assistance, while Marcus had been going out with the resistance saboteur teams. He had been ratted out (his words) by a teammate.

Stephen sprayed bandage sealant over the wound. It was a surface burn from a PPG, not dangerous in itself, but very painful and prone to infection; he regretted that this was an injury type he was all too familiar with. 

"So what was your plan here?" Stephen asked, to distract himself from Marcus's slight flinches, the pallor and the way he was visibly biting his lip to keep from making any noise. "Go back to our temporary quarters, keel over from shock, and die quietly in a corner so that I have to inconveniently deal with your corpse?"

Marcus nodded. "Sounds reasonable."

"It is not reasonable, it's self-destructive, idiotic, and insane."

"My new band name."

Stephen sighed and finished with the sealant. "Yeah, well, it'll be a couple of days before you're cleared for field operations, and I'm clearing you under one and only one condition, which is that you report in for medical treatment if you're hurt, just the same as Number One's people do."

"Unfair!"

"Yes, fair. And furthermore, take another dose of painkiller, eat something, and sleep. Your body needs to heal."

Grimacing, Marcus rolled down his sleeve over his arm, holding it stiffly still. "Yes, mother."

But the next time Stephen looked in on him, Marcus was an immobile lump under his cloak and a cheap blanket, lying against the wall of the small room the resistance had given them to sleep in. Stephen watched him for a minute to make sure he was breathing, then quietly left another meal ration pack beside Marcus's pallet and slipped away.

He took his wins where he could get them.

[fetchmearum420]

Avengers x 1776:

John Adams: Tony Stark

Benjamin Franklin: Bruce Banner

John Dickinson: Loki

Edward Rutledge: Thanos

John Hancock: Dr Strange

Stephen Hopkins: Peter Quill

Thomas Jefferson: Steve Rogers

Abigail Adams: Natasha Romanoff

Martha Jefferson: Scarlett Witch

James Wilson: Bucky

Lyman Hall: Thor

Thomas McKean: Sam Wilson

Samuel Chase: Korg

Not doing everyone since that’s very hard ngl