#Class of 2026

[desultory-suggestions]

Sending good luck and love to all students starting their school year!

If you are in your final year know I am so proud of you for all of your hard work and progress and I know you can get through this semester, just remember to take good care of yourself!

If you’re somewhere in the middle know that this stretch may feel super long but it’ll be over before you know it. Keep putting in the work and enjoy everything you can! You will do amazing!

If you’re a freshman/year one I know you get a lot of judgement but I am truly so excited for you and I wish you the best luck on your new experience. Don’t be afraid to explore and ask for help. Remember that this is just the beginning, you have time to learn.

To all students remember to be kind to yourself. You are more than a grade or a score, and you have what it takes to succeed. As long as you move forward with love and patience you will get where you need to go through any twists and turns.

[wutbju]

Carter Burton, a member of the BJU Class of 2026, has constructed one more change.org petition for the BJU administration and board.

Bless.

Fundamentalists really, truly believe that if they just ask the Right Way®, the Powers-that-Be will listen.

They never listen. Never. Never, ever, ever. Their job is not to listen. Their job is to command. Your job is to listen.

Hope springs eternal for the rank-and-file. They think that if there was ever a problem it was either:

The petitioner did it wrong or was wrong or said it wrong or whatever.

The petitionee was a uniquely bad egg.

Nope, friends. Nope. The Powers-that-be will never listen. Ever.

But for the record, here's what this almost-done-with-his-degree Accounting Major is asking for. As you read it, remember when you tried this similar approach and what happened? He's no different.

The Issue

Cultivating Christlike Community: A Call for Policy Reform at Bob Jones University Presented by Carter Burton, Current Student

To the Administration, Faculty, and Board of Bob Jones University:

My name is Carter Burton, and I am writing this as a current student who deeply values many aspects of Bob Jones University. During my time here, I have built life-giving friendships, met my girlfriend, and received a valuable education that I will always be grateful for. This institution has impacted me in ways I never imagined—and for that, I am truly thankful.

However, I also write this out of a growing concern. I believe that Bob Jones University’s strong adherence to certain traditional policies—especially those rooted too much in cultural conservatism—has had unintended consequences. Many prospective students who share our core values are being driven away, not by our faith, but by avoidable restrictions that feel disconnected from modern Christian life.

We recently celebrated an increase in freshman enrollment over last year. While this is a positive development, we must be honest: the numbers are still well below where they once were. In a competitive landscape where schools like Pensacola Christian College offer a similar value proposition at a lower cost, it is time for BJU to seriously consider some moderate but meaningful policy reforms that would enhance student life and broaden our appeal.

Below are a few proposals I respectfully submit for consideration:

1. Dress Code Reform a. Shorts:

Currently, shorts are allowed only for athletic activities. This leads to situations where students are expected to walk across campus in heavy pants—even in South Carolina’s heat. Allowing modest shorts (e.g., no more than 4 inches above the knee) as casual wear would be a moderate and sensible change. We already wear them for intramurals and gym—clearly, they’re not considered inherently immodest.

b. Class Dress Timing:

Requiring students to remain in class dress until 5:00 p.m., even when classes end much earlier, feels unnecessarily restrictive. A student who finishes classes at 2:00 p.m. should be free to change into casual attire afterward. This is especially relevant when the Dining Common opens at 4:30 p.m., creating confusion around dress expectations.

c. Hoodies:

In colder months, hoodies should be permitted as part of class dress. If we can wear rain jackets for inclement weather, we should be able to wear clean, modest hoodies for warmth. (e.g. allow from October 1st to March 1st)

2. Social and Entertainment Policies a. Music:

The current policy prohibits styles such as rock, pop, jazz, country, rap, and hip-hop due to their perceived association with “markers of our current corrupt culture.” However, such generalizations deny students the opportunity to exercise personal discernment. A more balanced approach would be to prohibit music with profanity or explicitly unbiblical content, rather than entire genres.

b. Movies:

Allowing students to watch PG-13 movies—many of which are thoughtful, moral, and even spiritually enriching—would acknowledge the maturity of our student body. For example, The Lord of the Rings is a PG-13 series with strong Christian allegory and redemptive themes. Students should be trusted to make wise, Spirit-led decisions in this area.

c. Off-Campus Interaction with Opposite Sex:

Students of the opposite sex should be allowed to meet off-campus in public settings (e.g., restaurants, parks, etc.), as long as they are not traveling alone together. This modest change would reflect real-world social expectations while maintaining appropriate boundaries.

  These are not radical proposals. They are modest and reasonable changes that would better reflect the maturity and responsibility expected of college students who are learning to live out their faith. They also offer a path forward for BJU to grow its student body, remain competitive, and strengthen our testimony. While some might not agree with every single proposal, it is my hope that those who read will still sign in order to raise awareness that Bob Jones needs to make moderate change to appeal to potential students. 

I am not writing this anonymously or ashamedly. I write this in good faith, out of love for Bob Jones University and a desire to see it flourish. I welcome the opportunity to discuss these thoughts further with members of the administration or board.

Thank You.

[daisybby2241]

They just had an A honor roll awards ceremony at my school. I didn’t even know we were gonna have one… When I asked about it they said “we sent an email last week.” 😒 I didn’t get no damn email.

I can’t even lie, it sucked to be one of the only kids with no parents there. No friends either. I wish I knew sooner. I started tearing up after getting the dumb medal and then I realized I could just leave so I did. Whole experience was awkward and sad for me.

[monokub-twice-removed]

I go back to school on the seventh and I’m not ready in any capacity. The only upsides to going back to school would be marching band and seeing my girlfriend. Seriously, just thinking about junior year has me shaking in my custom baby seal leather boots

[marywoodartdept]

Student Spotlight: Madi Grose

In her final Student Spotlight post before taking over the Graphic Design blogger role, Grace profiles her friend Madi, an Art Therapy Major with a minor in ceramics. #MarywoodArt #StudentSpotlight #ArtTherapy #Ceramics #PacerPride #PursueYourPassions

Hi everyone! I have some sweet and bittersweet news. First the bittersweet: I will not be the Student Spotlight blogger anymore. But for the sweet news, I will be the new Graphic Design blogger! I’m very excited about this new opportunity. For my last Student Spotlight blog, I wanted to do someone who I find amazing in every aspect. Meet Madi Grose! Madi is a sophomore art therapy major, with a…

[germinationproject]

ATTENTION PHILADELPHIANS

how do you envision your city?

the Germination Project is a revolutionary program based in Philadelphia, for Philadelphia. here, the best and brightest young minds are connected in a thriving, complex ecosystem that will stretch across generations; hundreds of dreamers and innovators, collaborating to reinvent the city for the better. we are the next generation of leaders. the USA as we know it began in Philly. let's start there, then go beyond.

we can and will change the world to how it should be.

thinkers, visionaries, trailblazers, pioneers - in fifty years, where will you be? what will you have done? what will you become?

connect.

cultivate.

catalyze.

change.

for more information, visit germinationproject.com.

[mxganmxza]

the scariest thing about my friday the 13th in june is that im not watching httyd in theaters and i have to move out of my jr year dorm BASICALLY BY MYSELF 😭

[ssugarstarr]

I love my friendssss so muchhh :3 i just hate that the cool ones have to be the ones graduating :(( but hopefully i will be able to see them a lot over the summer I MISS THEIR WHIMSYYY but atleast next year will be my senior year :D

[joeyjubatus]

IM A SENIOR NOW WHAT THE ACTUAL FUK 😢

(imscaredbeinganadultisscaryyo)

[lilxash18]

I'm done with junior year!! I'm a senior baby!!!

[beanxiv]

last day of school just ended. i'm a senior now

[tweedledeee19]

Chat this time next year I’m gonna be planning my graduation party

[all-americanbxtch]

what do u even do when finding out ur best friend is a pedo like we've been out of hs for 3 years now and he's dating someone who wont graduate hs till 2026 like bro we are in our 20s what are u doing with a teenager

[puckpocketed]

27/12/2024 - LAT vs CAN | WJC Day 2

He's not just a proud Canadian, he's a proud member of the Hän Nation, the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin Tribe, and he's a member of the Wolf Clan. And that is a vest made by his grandmother Karen [Mason], all embroidered. It took an incredible amount of time to put that together and he wears it very proudly. - Bob McKenzie on TSN broadcast

[mhizzberry]

thinking about how the line in "High School is Killing Me" could've been "There's nowhere to run / For the class of twenty-twenty-one", but instead is "There's nowhere to turn / For the class of twenty-twenty-wern". And somehow. the latter feels more correct.