Bob Jones University Weird Rules

Background Information on Bob Jones Rules

Bob Jones University (BJU) is an evangelical higher learning institution located in Greenville, South Carolina. Founded by evangelist Bob Jones Sr. in 1927, BJU is reputable for its stringent and crazy rules and regulations. Bob Jones founded this university to provide students with a Christian education while emphasizing their character development.

 BJU has always maintained a conservative Christian ethic, reflected in its absurd list of rules. Over the years, it has been known for having the strictest and most bizarre rules, implemented to ensure that students maintain high moral standards and a Christian lifestyle. As a private institution, BJU offers an education based on religious principles and has become a true embodiment of Christian values. Let’s discuss some strange regulations that characterize the world’s most usual university.

Dress Code

Among the things that characterized BJU was a very strict dress code policy. The university had certain codes of dressing that the students were supposed to adhere to in order to dress decently and professionally. The male students were required to wear collared shirts, ties and pants during classes and other activities that take place within the campus. T-shirts and other casual wear were prohibited in the academic institution.

Women were expected to wear skirts or dresses that reached their knees. They were forbidden from wearing pants and sleeveless tops. This dress code was not only restricted to class routines but was also followed by students taking part in university-related activities. The following are the General Requirements of the Women's Dress Code:

• Clothing should be modest. Anything that revealing or tight is not acceptable.
• The attire should be loose enough to hide underwear lines and avoid attracting unnecessary attention.
• Skirts and dresses should be long enough to fall below the knees, whether standing seated, or waking.
• The cleavage should be well-covered. 
• The back of any dress should not go lower than any normal band used for a bra.
• Belly buttons should be concealed at all times.
• Sleeveless or strapless tops and dresses can be worn under a jacket or open blouse.
• Women can wear Jeans when they are in places of residence.
• They may wear shorts while in their residential halls or homes. Shorts to the top of the kneecap can be worn during athletic activities.
• Nightgowns and other sleepwear can be worn in residential halls. Day students are not allowed to wear them outside their homes.

No Physical Contact Between the Unmarried

People who are not married cannot embrace each other, and this applies to both men and women. This rule is commonly referred to as the ‘six-inch rule’, which means that students should not touch members of the opposite sex because they might be tempted to engage in immoral behaviors. All prohibitions regarding this rule are hand holding, hugging or any form of touching considered intimate between two individuals. Failure to comply with this strict regulation is subject to disciplinary action. Besides, Men and women should never be left alone in the same room. 

The dean approves the meeting between men and women. Male and female students should not go to bars. The university monitors all relationships to prevent cases of immorality.

Curfew and Dormitory Regulations

BJU has enforced a curfew for all students residing in the university’s hostels. Students are expected to be in their dormitories by 10:30 PM on weekdays and by midnight on the weekends.  Also, the university has a lights-out policy requiring students to be in their rooms with the lights off by a certain time, usually around midnight. These rules are meant to help students get enough sleep and maintain a disciplined lifestyle. Furthermore, the dormitory life is highly regulated to alleviate any form of interaction between men and women.

Ban on Modern Music and Mass Media

For years, BJU has had a policy against secular music and media that seems sinful or worldly. Media such as Rock, pop, rap music, movies, and television shows are considered inappropriate in strictly-religious universities like BJU. For instance, students are not allowed to watch PG-13 movies. The university believes that these media have the ability to influence the spiritual lives of students in a negative way. However, BJU supports classical music, traditional hymns, and other forms of media that are wholesome in nature and promote spiritual health.

Mandatory Chapel Attendance

All BJU students are required to attend chapel services. There are several chapel services per week, and learners should attend them unless they have compelling reasons. These services are among the key components of the BJU experience as they offer spiritual sustenance, scriptural education, and fellowship. As Chapel Attendance is mandatory, failure to adhere to this rule is subject to disciplinary action.

Limited Internet Access

Although many colleges and universities provide students with Internet access, BJU possesses stringent rules to monitor and regulate Internet usage. Previously, the university had blocked websites with obscene or unproductive content. Despite the relaxation of some restrictions in the recent past, BJU still regulates the use of the internet and uses specific rules to prevent students from accessing any harmful material. This rule is aligned with the university’s policy of safeguarding learners from negative influences and cultivating a concentrated and disciplined learning environment.

Restrictions on Dating

Dating at BJU is stringently regulated using a certain set of rules meant to preserve positive and purposeful interactions between individuals. Group dates are preferred over one-on-one dates, especially when the students are knowing each other. Furthermore, dating couples are required to observe the ‘six-inch rule’ and shouldn’t be left alone in secluded areas. The university also expects students to consult and seek advice from a faculty or staff member if they are romantically interested in their partner. These restrictions are utilized to help students develop friendships that are based on respect, faith, and healthy interactions.

Bible Study and Prayer Groups

Although not mandatory, being involved in Bible study and prayer meetings is highly recommended at BJU. These groups give students a chance to grow spiritually, have fellowship, and be accountable. Participation in such activities is considered an essential part of BJU life as it contributes to a student’s spiritual growth and aids in building strong friendships with like-minded people.

Alcohol and Tobacco Control

As a conservative Christian institution, Bob Jones University does not allow students to use alcohol and tobacco products anywhere, including outside the campus. This policy is implemented through inspections and monitoring. Students caught violating this rule are subjected to severe disciplinary measures such as suspension or dismissal. Complete abstinence from substance use helps BJU preserve its stand of maintaining a healthy and clean lifestyle and promoting growth in personal holiness.

Notable Changes in BJU Rules

Over the years, BJU has also introduced some policy changes. However, the process has been slow as the university tries to modernize itself while at the same time preserving its values. These changes are intended to make the learning environment more relevant in contemporary society and attractive to students. They have affected rules regarding the dress code, music and media, Curfew Restrictions, internet access, and dating.  The following list outlines notable changes in Bob Jones's Weird Rules:

• Although the university still enforces the policy of decent dressing, it is not as strict as it used to be.
• The new music and media policies accept popular music and media in the modern world. Despite maintaining certain standards to regulate exposure to bad content, the university has given students more freedom to listen to and watch the media of their choice.
• Curfew Restrictions have been eased to fit the student’s timetable and requirements. Although curfews are still enforced, they are not as strict as before, as students can freely spend their time based on their choices.

• Although the university still encourages deliberate and engaging interactions, students have more freedom to control their engagement. It is still about creating Christ-like relationships but understanding the value of social interaction and personal development. In 2000, Bob Jones III dropped the ban on school interracial dating.
• BJU has relaxed its internet access policies as digital resources are vital in modern education. Students can now use the internet without supervision to improve their learning and get equipped with the necessary skills for the digital age.

Common Answers and Questions about Bob Jones University Weird Rules

What is the foundation of BJU policies? Christianity is part of students’ lives at BJU. It forms a groundwork for a student’s sense of belonging, opportunities, and day-to-day routines. Surrounded by people who respect and yearn for the Gospel, students need to deepen their faith. Since BJU education is based on Christian teachings and history, learners must follow the rules that promote religious holiness.

What are some of the weird rules at BJU? Bob Jones University's rules revolve around factors like dress code, relationships, and conduct. Women at BJU must wear Knee-Length skirts and dresses. Learners must adhere to all the rules defined in the university policy. These rules and policies stem from the university’s mission of cultivating a Christian environment and promoting a disciplined, moral lifestyle for all students.

Bob Jones is marred by controversies and lawsuits. What social Issues were associated with BJU rules? The university is surrounded by controversies and lawsuits, majorly revolving around racism and discrimination based on religion. Blacks were barred from enrolling at the university until 1971, when policy changes allowed the admission of black students married within their race. The use of Fundamentalist University's Anti-LGBTQ Policies also promotes homophobic discrimination, making people experience suffering. These scandals reflect the issues of racial discrimination, social segregation, and violations of human rights.

Can girls wear pants at Bob Jones University? Of course. The policy changes introduced in 2018 allow women to wear pants when attending classes/offices or participating in university-related activities. Female students at Bob Jones can wear trousers and pants since skirts or dresses are not compulsory.