Register for E-mail alerts. Comment on articles. Sign up today, it's easy.
Close
The Washington Times Online Edition

Bob Jones U. sorry for past racism

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Bob Jones University has apologized for racist policies including a one-time ban on interracial dating that wasn’t lifted until nine years ago and its unwillingness to admit black students until 1971.

The private fundamentalist Christian school founded in 1927 in northwestern South Carolina said its rules on race were shaped by culture instead of the Bible, according to a statement posted Thursday on the university’s Web site.

The university, with about 5,000 students, didn’t begin admitting black students until nearly 20 years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling found public segregated schools were unconstitutional.

“We failed to accurately represent the Lord and to fulfill the commandment to love others as ourselves. For these failures we are profoundly sorry. Though no known antagonism toward minorities or expressions of racism on a personal level have ever been tolerated on our campus, we allowed institutional policies to remain in place that were racially hurtful,” the statement said.

The interracial dating ban was lifted in March 2000, not long after the policy became an issue in the Republican presidential primary that year. Then-candidate George W. Bush was criticized when he spoke at the school during one of his first campaign stops in the state after losing in New Hampshire.

Bob Jones University President Stephen Jones decided to issue the apology because the school still receives questions about its views on race.

The leader of the South Carolina NAACP said the civil rights group welcomed the statement.

“It’s unfortunate it took them this long _ particularly a religious, faith-based institution _ to realize that we all are human beings and the rights of all people should be respected and honored,” said Lonnie Randolph, president of the state chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Randolph said that when Jones became president three years ago, he asked the civil rights leader not to hold the decisions made under his father and grandfather against him.

Jones is the great-grandson of the school founder, Bob Jones. He took over for his father, also named Bob Jones, in 2005.

___

Comments
blog comments powered by Disqus
You Might Also Like
  • An Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Staff Sgt. Israel P. Nuanes after arrival at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Nuanes died in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. (Associated Press)

    Military diligent in quest to locate its missing

  • Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney speaks to reporters on a campaign charter flight between New York and Washington on Wednesday, May 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

    Romney sees D.C. school vouchers as model for U.S.

  • A snapshot posted on an internal GSA website shows attendees at the four-day, $823,000 2010 Western Regions conference in Las Vegas participating in a poolside activity.

    High-level officials partied with GSA in Vegas

  • Celebrities In The News
  • Viola Davis (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

    Viola Davis: Actress addresses R.I. high school alma mater

  • Singer Kanye West, left, and television personality Kim Kardashian arrive for the screening of Cruel Summer at the 65th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

    Kanye and Kim Kardashian: Cuddles in Cannes

  • American pop singer and songwriter Lady Gaga poses May 19, 2012, before the media upon her arrival in a hotel in Manila's financial district of Makati, Philippines. (Associated Press)

    Lady Gaga: Singer angers Thai fans with fake Rolex comment

  • Happening Now

        Independent voices from the TWT Communities

        Travel the World

        It's a big world to play in, and learn from. Join us as we travel it's boundaries and beyond.

        Medicine and Politics in America

        Health care reform, organized medicine, physician practice management, and patient care--a real time look at the challenges facing doctors and patients in America today.

        Political Potpourri

        A collection of reader guest articles, thoughts and opinions by Communities writers and breaking news and information.

        Premium Cable

        Distilling the best that television has to offer with news, reviews, previews and insights into premium cable programs and award winning series