Update III: From The Town Talk (bold mine):
“We’re going to get some help with this,” said Searcy, who has been at LC for less than two years. In the years before that, he was at New Orleans Seminary and at a college in Colombia, South America.
Searcy also has been on SACS review teams inspecting colleges and universities. He said LC being on “warning” instead of probation is a sign SACS thinks LC is “moving in the right direction.”
Yes, you read that right: Somehow, the fact that Louisiana College wasn’t placed on probation is a sign it is “moving in the right direction.” Does anyone actually buy this? As a commentator on the SaveOurLC forums noted, this is potentially the worst example of “spin” ever.
Update II: Earlier today, Allison Brucchaus, Louisiana College’s Director of College Communications and Public Relations, tweeted me, “Did you go to LC?”
No, Ms. Bruchhaus, I did not. I went to Rice University and am now a graduate student at Southern Methodist University. And while SMU was once sanctioned for paying its football players, neither school has ever had their accreditation in peril. Louisiana College, under the leadership of President Joe Aguillard, has been sanctioned not once, but twice. And while I am not a graduate of Louisiana College, I have always been a supporter. One of my best friends in the world is an LC graduate, and so are several members of my family and many other close friends. LC is an important part of Central Louisiana; it’s a huge economic engine. Sorry, Ms. Bruchhaus, I don’t feel like I need to “qualify” myself.
During the last 24 hours, since posting this story, what has bothered me the most is the ways in which some LC administration apologists have refuted the basic facts. You disagree with LC? You must somehow lack faith in Jesus Christ. You criticize LC? Oh, you’re doing the work of Satan.
Wise up, people. Louisiana College was not founded by God. Joe Aguillard is not the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. During the last few years, I’ve criticized Louisiana College’s administration several times, and pathetically, the response has always been the same: Satan! There’s this bizarre belief that Louisiana College is somehow ordained by God and that any perils it confronts are all a part of a divine plan. That’s not the way ANY institution of higher learning operates or should ever operate; that’s the way a cult of personality operates.
Even at the risk of appearing to be an obnoxious, arrogant dilettante: I have a degree in Religious Studies from one of the finest and best institutions in the world, and in my humble opinion, the greatest threat to the Christianity isn’t the skeptic or the cynic; it’s the self-ordained, morally-conflicted blowhard. It’s, for example, the kind of guy who would order an exorcism on his lesbian daughter while trolling for men online. GET REAL, LC.
Update: At this point, given the lack of coverage, The Town Talk must credit.
Louisiana College has not yet permanently “lost” its accreditation, but it is now in serious jeopardy. These sanctions are serious, and LC’s non-compliance on a host of issues is very troubling. If you are a student or a graduate of LC, then you should be seriously concerned about the short-term and long-term viability of the institution and the value of your degree. You should be sounding the alarm bells, and if anyone tells you otherwise– if anyone suggests that these issues can be resolved by simply writing down a “policy” paper, as some anonymous administration apologists have suggested on the SaveOurLC forums– then you need to question their true allegiances and motives.
I’ve been writing this blog for more than six years, and this post, somehow, is the most viral ever. So forgive me, but because I have your attention: The solution at Louisiana College begins with firing President Joe Aguillard and replacing your Board of Trustees. I’ve met your Board, LC, and I’ve met, on multiple occasions, with President Aguillard. Oh, the stories I could tell.
I believe in Louisiana College. I earnestly want Louisiana College to thrive and succeed, and I can’t help but feel real anger at the actions of LC’s Board and its President. LC, only a decade ago, was thriving. Today, it is a laughingstock. It has been hijacked by a small and extremely right-wing group of anti-intellectuals who have taken cover through a series of grandiose pronouncements– a law school, a film school, a divinity school, a medical school– and who have countered any and all criticisms by claiming that their mission is somehow ordained by God Himself.
Meanwhile, the school with which they were entrusted to care has fallen into disrepair. Meanwhile, Louisiana College is now, for the second time under Joe Aguillard, threatened with de-accreditation.
The solution is simple and obvious.
***************
According to a recent press release from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Louisiana College was recently denied reaffirmation of its accreditation and placed on “Warning” until at least December 2012. LC was cited for “significant non-compliance” with SACS standards.
Quoting (bold mine):
Louisiana College was denied reaffirmation of accreditation and placed on Warning because the Commission’s Board of Trustees determined that, at the time of the institution’s decennial review, it had failed to demonstrate compliance with Core Requirement 2.5 (Institutional Effectiveness), Comprehensive Standard 3.2.9 (Faculty/Staff Appointment), Comprehensive Standard 3.3.1.1 (Institutional Effectiveness: Educational Programs), Comprehensive Standard 3.3.1.2 (Institutional Effectiveness: Administrative Support Services), Comprehensive Standard 3.3.1.3 (Institutional Effectiveness: Educational Support Services), Comprehensive Standard 3.4.11 (Academic Program Coordination), Comprehensive Standard 3.5.1 (College-Level Competencies), Comprehensive Standard 3.5.4 (Terminal Degree of Faculty), Comprehensive Standard 3.7.1 (Faculty Competence), Comprehensive Standard 3.11.1 (Control of Physical Resources), and Federal Requirement 4.1 (Student Achievement) of the Principles of Accreditation.
The cited standards expect an accredited institution to provide evidence that it (1) engages in ongoing, integrated, and institution-wide research-based planning and evaluation processes, (2) identifies expected outcomes of and shows improvements in the areas of student learning/educational programs, administrative support services, and educational support services, (3) publishes policies regarding appointment and employment of faculty and staff, (4) assigns responsibility for program coordination and curriculum development to academically qualified faculty, (5) determines the degree to which graduates attain college-level general education competencies, (6) employs qualified faculty to teach assigned courses, (7) exercises appropriate control over its physical resources, and (8) evaluates success with respect to student achievement.
(To read the full statements for the standards cited above, access the Principles of Accreditation at http://www.sacscoc.org/principles.asp)
For those of us who have been critical of LC’s current administration, particularly the people at SaveOurLC- who first broke this story a couple of weeks ago, this likely comes as little surprise. During the last few years, under the leadership of President Joe Aguillard, LC’s campus has been plagued with million of dollars in deferred maintenance, and when at least one professor had the courage to challenge the questionable decisions of the administration, he was summarily fired and temporarily banned from campus.
Recently, we also learned that Louisiana College’s leadership actively sought $70 million in funding from the governments of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in order to underwrite its proposed medical school. When the damning internal memo was leaked to the media, President Joe Aguillard took to the pages of The Baptist Message, claiming that these reports were an assault on LC by the “liberal media.” Aguillard suggested LC was engaging in a “spiritual battle” with the media and completely denied the reports, stating that LC would “never ask for any operational funds from a non-Christian entity,” despite the reams of evidence to the contrary, including an elaborate powerpoint presentation prepared by the LC administration.
From the very beginning of his tenure, Joe Aguillard has been a controversial and polarizing leader. Before he was first appointed, the faculty at LC voted 53-12 in opposition, and in an act of defiant usurpation, the Board of Trustees reseated the Presidential Selection Committee, stacked it in favor of Aguillard, and got their man in office. This led to a series of protracted lawsuits and, sadly, resulted in the resignations of dozens of faculty members, some of whom had served the LC community for decades.
And, of course, there was this, which, embarrassingly, was picked up by The Chronicle of Higher Education:
So, it seems, unfortunately, that as Joe Aguillard criss-crosses the State and the country– meeting with foreign diplomats and conservative celebrities in an effort to raise money for proposed medical and law schools, the school he was elected to lead is struggling to maintain both its core infrastructure and its core academic performance.
I am told, by people who work in academic administrations, that correcting all of these significant non-compliance issues in less than a year may be a practical impossibility and that there should be a real concern that LC will completely lose its accreditation for as long as a decade.
CenLamar 
Although I am a graduate of LC (2004), I would NOT solicit services from any doctor or lawyer that studied at LC.
Lamar, thanks for shedding light on this travesty – unlike the local media. As a Baptist, I too am angered and disheartend at the goings on at LC. It’s a shame that Louisiana Baptists choose to do nothing to save the institution.
tanner, that has been one of my great surprises in regards to LC. The apathy and or lack of discernment by faithful Baptists is truly troubling.
I don’t think you throw the baby out with the bath water Lynn. There are a lot of very bright people who have graduated from LC. I would seriously question someone going there now or who has graduated from LC in the past 5-6 years
I believe I would agree with Jeremy. To cast graduates earlier than say, 2004, in the current crowd, is unfair. It iso, of course, painfully unfair that the current students are subjected to this level of incompetence and fundamentalism.
Lynn,
I totally disagree with your comment about a doctor who’s degree is from LC. I think Dr. Jonathan Hunter is a very fine doctor!
Curt Hamlett, Ph.D.
former Professor of Music at Louisiana College (1988-2007)
I as well would receive service from a dr. from LC, however, there are select musicians in the music department that I would ever receive any type of musical service from
Lynn,
You obviously have no idea how medical education works if you would not see a physician who graduated from LC. I graduated in 2008 and am now in medical school. I am in the top of the class with a 3.7 GPA and feel that my education from LC is what has enabled my success in medical school. Do your research and rethink you decisions.
RWT
Isn’t there a pretty dramatic difference between “pre-med,” which is what LC was good at, and medical school? Show me a Louisiana College with a well-funded, well-equipped medical school with a faculty that was chosen for reasons other than their fundamentalism and I’d think “anonymous’s” assertions were valid. By the way, would any of the readers consider treatment from a “Dr. Anonymous?” Get some guts.
I certainly want nothing more to do with this pack of snake-handlers.
Lamar,
You stated: “Louisiana College has not yet permanently “lost” its accreditation, but it is now in serious jeopardy.”
It seems you are overstating your case. First comes a warning, then upon review and another failure to comply comes probation, and then after another period of time without needed correction the school can lose its accreditation. To say the school, at this point, is “now in serious jeopardy” is an overstatement and stinks of sensationalism. Is this serious? Sure. Is LC’s accreditation “on the ropes?” Hardly.
Wait, Joshua, my comments “stink of sensationalism”? Seriously?
LC’s accreditation is most definitely on the ropes, dude. And unfortunately for you, my opinions have absolutely nothing to do with the underlying facts.
Get a grip. Are YOU serious? Have you looked at any of this? I mean, really? You think the worst thing that could happen next year is a temporary probation? You’re either an apologist for President Aguillard or you’re just plain ignorant. LC could easily lose its accreditation within the year. Time to get real.
Lamar,
You said: “You think the worst thing that could happen next year is a temporary probation?”
Are you aware of how the SACS process works? I’ve placed a link at the bottom to the SACS literature.
According to SACS documents, the school could have been placed on the more serious “Probation” status without ever being given the “Warning” status. Now, if LC was in dire straits of losing its accreditation next year, does it make sense that SACS would designate the college with a lesser status of “Warning?” No, it doesn’t. What this communicates is that LC is in a long process of correcting deficiencies which, if not accomplished after this warning period, will be placed on a “Probation” status. As I said previously, this is serious. However, to continue to spread the narrative of “LC could easily lose its accreditation within the year and is in serious jeopardy” is to ignore the facts.
May God have mercy on all of us this Christmas season and new year.
SACS Official Probation Status
An institution may be placed on Probation for the same reasons as discussed above regarding Warning if the Commission’s Board of Trustees deems noncompliance with the Principles to be serious enough to merit invoking Probation whether or not the institution is or has been on Warning. Probation is a more serious sanction than Warning and is usually, but not necessarily, invoked as the last step before an institution is removed from membership. Probation may be imposed upon initial institutional review, depending on the judgment of the Board regarding the seriousness of noncompliance or in the case of repeated violations recognized by the Board over a period of time.
Here is a .pdf that explains https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sacscoc.org%2Fpdf%2F081705%2Fsanction%2520policy.pdf
The point remains: These are serious non-compliance issues, and as comforting as it may be to believe that this Warning amounts to nothing more than a slap on the wrist, it will be incredibly difficult if not practically impossible to correct these issues in less than a year. The only thing sensational about this post is the way in which some folks have attempted to minimize the importance of the DENIAL OF REAFFIRMATION OF ACCREDITATION.
As a graduate of LC and a professor/department chair at the University of Mississippi, I concur with your sources that correcting these SACS standards is very unlikely in a years time. I served on several committees for our institution’s recent SACS accreditation process and oversee the data collection for the programs that my department offers. Just Standard 3.3.1.1. on institutional effectiveness requires planning and then time to actual collect the data — and it would be nice to see at least two years of data if not more so that some trends can develop to better make decisions. This is indeed disappointing as both my wife and I received our degrees from LC, and this is a direct reflection of leadership — plain and simple.
I am putting all feelings aside to say WHY LC is an unsuccessful college. LC is unsuccessful because the college is a business, and it is not being the way a business should. Although LC is a Baptist college, which I fully support, the adminstartors who run LC need to have a blind eye about politics and religion. Successful business administartors have to set all feelings and religion aside to make necessary decisions to better the college. This is not happenging at LC. LC has continually been run into the dirt by people who do things for all the wrong reasons. I have always supported LC as a native of Pineville, and think LC is a great place for young adults to study. However, if LC is to pull themselves out of this hole, the adminstration needs to be revamped and replaced with an adminitsraion that is more versed in business and not so much in religion.
That is terrible news! I was planning on applying for the law school when it opens up. I guess I’ll have to see how this whole thing plays out. I think it is important for christians to approach life with a sense of tolerance. Just because we are not supposed to be “Of this world” doesn’t mean that we have to constantly go against the grain. LC’s constant need to be independent of outside academic influence, namely the rules they must abide by to keep their accreditation, turns people away from their main goal, which is to turn others towards Christ. An attitude of tolerance and acceptance of the rules would pull them out of this mess. If any staff member of LC reads this I encourage you to step up and do the right thing and get your school back on track. You won’t be alone; many times other people are just waiting to have an example to follow.
Aaron, except of course, those faculty who “do the right thing” and find themselves unemployed. Until the entire faculty and student body, en mass, stands up to these dictators, nothing will change.
I do agree with you Brian. Unfortunately, the chances of the “Mass” standing up and doing something is next to zero. The sad thing is that I think many people feel that the leadership team of LC is following the “Will of God,” and that in some way if they don’t surrender to that leadership they are going against the “Will of God.” I firmly believe that it is important to question leadership (within certain parameters of course) in order to challenge our leadership to be better. I know that LC’s goal is to educate people who make a difference in the world, but what difference will they make if they don’t exist? No students = no college = no difference being made. Sad they don’t see this…
This is a tricky situation. We saw with my situation last year that people are not waiting to be emboldened by someone standing up and demanding changes at LC. In fact, most faculty were understandably afraid to stand when the administration was going after me. The one who did lost her job for it. I was told by the administration that scripture does not give me “the loophole” to not follow leadership even when the leadership is “violating Christ.” The atmosphere is so extreme that several faculty talked at one point about getting together to pray for the direction of the college but were afraid that is would be seen as subversive and challenging the anointed leadership. When we did get together to pray it was always quietly and well away from campus. The reality is that there may be a slight change of change occurring if an outrageous number of faculty members where willing to stand, but those faculty simply don’t exist. There are a few. But, at this point most faculty members will not stand for one reason or another.
I am a 1983 graduate of LC happily living and working as a political science professor at Southern Utah University. Am I to understand that the people now in charge of LC consider the Mormons to be a “cult?” I’m here to tell you that the Mormons are not a “cult.” People who perform half-assed communion services and eat worms are a “cult.” Don’t think for one moment that I think this applies to all Southern Baptists. Like most Mormons, most are perfectly sensible people. It’s up to all of us as graduates to do our own small (or large as the case may be) part to put a stop to this foolishness.
It has never been stated at LC that Mormons are a cult. Thank you
Perhaps. But then it is the official stance of the SBC, and publicly stated by Dr. Robert Jeffress, and leader of the Southern Baptist Convention.
The point is that Louisiana College IS being run by a cult. I’ve never seen a Mormon eat a worm.
we love gummi worms 🙂
Quite simply, I agree with your comments.
Alex
LC has actually already started to fix many of these problems. Many of the departments are being restructured to solve the Faculty/Staff appointment difficulties, and other things are changing as well. You can’t just make accusations and throw around projections without actual proof about why these warnings have come down, and then totally leave out the steps LC has already taken to comply.
Secondly, if anyone questions the abilities of the professors at LC they obviously have not spent time around the campus in the last four years. For people to call faculty “snake handlers” and say they would have nothing to do with anyone since Aguillard has taken over and got rid of a few disgruntled professors is childish to the extreme. Does LC have problems? Yes. Are those problems as extreme as they have been portrayed? Absolutely not. I am not saying anyone is perfect or that some things don’t need to change. But the drastic changes being called for in this blog, which only gives about half the story, are not needed and would hurt LC and its students.
The comments stand. You cannot eat worms on the internet and be taken seriously as a college president. Travis writes of hurting LC and its students. A cancer operation hurts the patient…temporarily. Then the healing begins. I wish LC all the best in solving their problems, and I await the results.
If you don’t know the context of the “eating worms on the internet” you shouldn’t make judgements about it. I assume you have committed your life to a man who “posed naked while elevated above the crowd one afternoon.” So taking one thing out of context is a stupid argument. You can’t make stupid comments and be taken seriously either.
Travis: go ahead and equate the crucificion of Jesus Christ with eating worms. I’ll pass.
I am a current student of Louisiana College and I am well into my sophomore year. I would not under any circumstances give up my love for this college. Seeing these disgusting things you people are writing breaks my heart in half. I was just speaking to another student about it. Yes, we have problems in our school but so does every other University at some point or another. Louisiana College has been thriving for a long time yes, but we are now in the days where Christianity is something to be laughed at or not taken seriously. As you all have clearly stated you obviously have no true love for the Lord. Our school is suffering. Our school needs to change. Our school WILL change but we will do it in God’s own time. NOT because people are unhappy about the way L.C is being led. I had many opportunities to transfer but refused because this college is a true gift from God. This is a wonderful place with small classes and professors that actually care whether you understand what they are teaching or not. I would advise you all to watch what you are saying because as this “John Howell” person keeps saying he obviously does not care if he hurts the students but the rest of you should. Which according to him he no longer claims L.c but according to everyone else there was nothing wrong with this school when he graduated. Is this the kind of person one should be listening to? This is disheartening but I will NEVER give up on this school. Hurting us is not the way to change something. It will be changed when it needs to be. Until then please keep your facts straight and think about the young adults you are harming with you words.
*your
Quoting Andrea, “It will be changed when it needs to be.”
This should have NOT been allowed to happen in the first place. SACS addreditation is NOT something to play around with if you are a university. If they lose it, all your little precious college credits just go out the window and you have to start all over. All those credit hours you paid for at $385 each, gone, just like little white flowers in the wind.
I say, WISE UP Andrea, DEMAND, as a paying student to know what LC’s plan of action is to get through this.
Stop drinking the kool-aid and understand that the almighty dollar is the most important thing at LC.
I totally agree with you Mr. Mills. I’m an LC student and I am now paying $395 an hour. I also like your very true “O’Reilly Factor” reference with kool-aid!
Andrea,
If spirituality is what’s important to you in a college, you should definitely check out some other southern christian-based colleges that at least offer a valid education. As a Millsaps College student in Jackson, Mississippi from 2001-2005, I met many students from Belhaven College and Mississippi College who were proud of their beliefs, their professors, their small classrooms AND their degrees. Higher ed is too expensive to take a risk at LC right now — you still have time to transfer!
Andrea, there are many people who do not want you to graduate with a degree that will be a laughingstock.
Andrea, in response to your comment “Louisiana College has been thriving for a long time yes, but we are now in the days where Christianity is something to be laughed at or not taken seriously. As you all have clearly stated you obviously have no true love for the Lord.”
Our concern over bad decisions being made does not interpret into “no true love for the Lord.” This is a serious invalid conclusion you’ve drawn. All Christians are entitled to having a different opinion than you and keeping their love for the Lord intact.
Speaking only for myself, I seriously question some of the decisions being made by LC and I still love the Lord with all that I have (I’m a former LC student to). I’m sure that the LC leadership team does make many good decisions on a daily basis, but they are making several key bad ones that are eating the college away from the inside out. The current predicament demands that we take a step back and determine what the problem is. If the problem proves to be ineffective leadership, then change is leadership is the answer.
Also you are exactly right when you say “we are now in the days where Christianity is something to be laughed at or not taken seriously.” But what you need to realize is that most of the people who are laughing at Christians and not taking them seriously are doing so because we often approach life with a narrow minded attitude towards the rest of the world and we don’t attempt to resolve issues with logical thinking. I made a comment in a previous post that I think it is healthy to question our leaders. This encourages your leaders to be better. By being a current student at the college, you are in a prime position to do just that. If you desire LC to be around in 10 years I would encourage you to be a little more proactive in encouraging your leaders to be better.
Quoting andrea, “Seeing these disgusting things you people are writing breaks my heart in half.”
While I think the rhetoric on here is well short of disgusting I agree it is better to try and maintain a cordial rather than acerbic tone.
“Yes, we have problems in our school but so does every other University at some point or another”
That is a fallacy. Not every other school has accreditation problems at some point or another. I understand that you are just saying that no place is perfect but we have to consider the magnitude of the imperfections. We are not talking about minor problems here. LC has some major non-compliance issues. Now to be frank. I don’t think LC will lose its accreditation. While it is technically true that they could lose accreditation as early as next year it is also possible to that even if LC has not fixed the issues the warning will be extended for a second year and then even probation could last two years. So, if LC works diligently they should have the time to fix the problems. I am sure the administration understands that if they lose accreditation they will lose federal and state dollars and the doors will shut. To me the issue is that it never should have gotten to this point. The focus at LC is not on academic excellence. There is rhetoric about it, but the real focus is very different.
“As you all have clearly stated you obviously have no true love for the Lord.”
This is simply incorrect. I do not know the spiritual state of those who are posting here. But, I am tired of questioning LC being equated with with a lack of faith in God. It is precisely my faith in God that has made me question LC. I came to LC because of my strong commitment to my God and found the commitment of LC to be rather different. They pray loudly but their works are done in the dark.
“Louisiana College has been thriving for a long time yes, but we are now in the days where Christianity is something to be laughed at or not taken seriously.”
Certainly Christianity is often laughed at by the World. Christ promised that like him Christians would be hated. But, don’ think that faith in Christ is the only reason some “Christians” are hated. Sometimes they are hated because they are jerks or because they do bad things. To speak hyperbolicly the “Christians” who picket funerals claim to be hated because they are Christians. The reality is they are hated because they are behaving abhorrently. LC may well be hated if it unfailingly followed Christ. But, in this case the criticism is coming because they are failing at their obligations while implying that anyone who points it out is somehow a tool of Satan.
“Hurting us is not the way to change something. It will be changed when it needs to be. Until then please keep your facts straight and think about the young adults you are harming with you words.”
I understand that there are still many good people at LC. I still have friends there. I cannot speak for others but it is not my intent to hurt students at LC…though LC has hurt some of the students I taught there. But, harm is being done to other students that they don’t even yet realize and if the accreditation issues are not fixed very real harm will be done to ALL LC students. Also, I would argue that my facts are straight I have no agenda in this other than truth. I am not trying to obfuscate the depth of the accreditation issues or integrity issues at LC. I am seeking and have always sought to operate transparently. I will happily sit down, over a cup of Tea, to discuss LC with anyone of any belief about LC. For those who hate LC maybe I can convince you that there are truly some good people still at LC. For those who adore LC maybe I can share with you a bit about LC’s darker side. Either way we should be about truth. We shouldn’t dismiss what we don’t want to believe. If you want to take the time to show me how I am wrong and don’t understand the working of God at LC…I will also happily sit down with you. Come let us reason together.
“since Aguillard has taken over and got rid of a few disgruntled professors is childish to the extreme”
To suggest that President Aguillard simply “got rid of a few disgruntled professors” is to completely ignore the facts. Since Aguillard became President, LC has lost dozens and dozens of professors.
This is probably an incomplete list, but I count over fifty names: http://saveourlouisianacollege.wordpress.com/save-our-lc-forum-archives/professorsgone/
As most of us likely remember, when Aguillard became President, there weren’t just a few firings; there was a massive exodus from LC. It’d be interesting to break the numbers down in percentages, because it must be close to a 50% turnover.
I’d say over over 50%: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/04/25/louisiana
Quoting Travis, “LC has actually already started to fix many of these problems.”
Part of the point is that these issues should have been addressed in a much more serious manner earlier. The administration ha know about the issue of faculty qualifications for years. And frankly there was not enough Administrative weight behind getting the institutional effective research done. One year at the beginning of the year only 25% of the academic departments had done their reports from the previous year. It did slowly improve but clearly not to an acceptable level. Sadly, the emphasis from the administration has been on loyalty rather than competence and we are viewing the result.
As a current student of LC’s music department, I cannot express the frustration I and many other music students have towards our department. If any of the other departments at LC are like the music department, I can see why the school is in danger of losing its accreditation! First, lets start with the dean of the School of fine arts who’s only degree in music is his undergrad from LC. He is incompetent to teach anything about music. Most of his his students know more about music thanks to the theory professor, which mind you the school is trying to get rid of because he doesn’t go along with their agenda. The dean teaches chorale at a level bellow most of the high school choirs that his students have come from. There is more that could be said about why he should not be a professor at the college but let’s move on to the voice teacher that lets her students sing whatever they want including things like a thousand miles by Vanessa Carlton and breaking free from High School Musical. The saddest thing about this situation is the fact that one of the worship leadership majors makes fun of people who actually practice their music. The level of academic excellence in the music department is below a high school level. There is absolutely no criteria to get into the music department, you just sing a song you learned by listening to it on the radio and you can get in. Don’t get me wrong we have some brilliant professors, we just have awful leadership. I know im all over the place with my thinking but something needs to be done at this school. I know if this school loses it’s accreditation before i graduate, im transferring. I’d rather spend a couple extra semesters and school so i can be accepted into grad school.
I would love to know what current music student you are at Louisiana College…I know the Dean of Fine Arts personally and if you are not happy with the way the music program is going then maybe you should transfer. He is turning that program into a worship driven program. This is a Christian institution founded on Jesus Christ. If this school is placed there because the Lord has called it to be then he will do what is necessary to make sure that no attacks from Satan will ever come to harm the school. You are apparently someone who doesn’t trust in the Lord. I am a strong believer in Christ and I know the works of His hands. Don’t talk down on the vocal professors. Have you looked at their credentials. If you disagree with things then maybe you have chosen the wrong school to attend.
First and foremost I am a Christian, and nothing gives you the right to question my Christianity because you know the dean of the school of music. I never said that he was not a man of God, I said as a music educator he is unqualified to teach music at a collegiate level. If you were involved in the music department you would understand exactly what I mean. Are we not instructed in the word of God in whatever we do, we are to do it as unto the Lord? Why then are all these Christian music majors never practicing? Why do they feel that hanging out with their friends is more important than doing their homework? Why is their a sense of arrogance of not practicing in the music department? And another question: if these worship leadership majors are to be worship leaders, why are they singing secular music? Im pretty sure half preparing a song songs performing it in recital hour is not pleasing unto the Lord. I wish I would have put this in my earlier comment and not forgotten to leave it out, but if anyone says anything about the way the music department is going their accused of being a bad Christian or not a Christian at all. Lets face it, you don’t know me, in fact if you were to ask the faculty about me, they would say I was a strong Christian. Im not trying to be rude but just because you know the dean does not mean you know what happens everyday in this department. I am a concerned musician who is concerned about the quality of education that is being produced at this school. And by the way, im not the only student in the music department who feels this way. And all of the others who feel this way are very strong Christian friends of mine. Secondly, I never questioned the credentials of the voice teachers, just one particular teachers decisions. What is the purpose of having students perform for a grade songs that they already know and do not have to practice? What’s happening in the music department is the spread of laziness, poor work ethics, and the idea that any type of criticism is to be taken as an insult. No matter what area of music you enter, music is still music! I believe what’s honoring to God is you putting your 100% effort into learning your claswork. Anything else is like the offering Cain presented before the Lord. Again, I am deeply offended that you believe that I am not a Christian simply because I am stating what I have a student have observed. I would love to hear any comments that you have, but my opinion is not going to change
I never doubted that you weren’t a Christian. Not one of my statements questioned if you were a Christian or not. Romans 8;28 “The Lord works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” I am sure you love the Lord and that you trust in Him. Trust that if this is one of those test that the Lord has put LC through that He will prevail and His work will be done. The one problem that we have is that we can express our concerns in private sites like these but we will not take the step to express them to people who can do something about it. If you really want something to change then you must take the steps to do something about it. Talk to the people in charge and express your concerns to them, not on some anonymous website. I know who you are now and trust that my intentions were to never question your Christianity. You are a leader and should step up and encourage your fellow students to strive for greatness in everything they do. I believe in LC and I hope you will too.
Proud Believer in LC, Don’t assume that Can’t Wait To Graduate is someone who “doesn’t trust in the Lord.” You can’t make that assumption from his/her short comment. If you trust and love the Lord, how dare you make that accusation in this public forum. Everyone is entitled to voice their own opinion, especially on something as important as their college education (not to mention expensive college education). Can’t Wait To Graduate has every right to voice his/her concern, as well they should. LC has found themselves in quite the pickle by even having the possibility of losing their accreditation and somebody needs to question how they could have allowed themselves to get to this point.
It was a mistake for me to ever comment on something like this. All I am doing is feeding into the negativity that everyone has towards LC. Can’t Wait to Graduate and I have talked and resolved our issues Aaron and this will be the last comment I post on this forum.
Well, i undestand your position and I still believe in an LC which totally represents Jesus and not just how the image of the college looks to other instituions and the LBC or SBC. Humility and forgiveness are at the heart of our faith. It honestly does hurt to talk about LC like this. however some things LC has done to others concerning lawyers andcomplete disreguard for others feelings and taking the word of someone vindictive rather than looking at the hard or in my case nonexsistant evidence. There are things going on at LC. Much of these things are done behind closed doors where themajority of poeple there doesnt see or even hear about. Fear has replaced what God created as an institution seeking Him. I still pray for LC. however if they continue to do these things to others and continue to put Gods name on it in order to justify it. He tells us,”Woe be to that man”, Be yea not decieved God is not mocked…” i pray that you whomever you are never have to experience the fear, heartache and shame which those in power there have put many to.
Well, i undestand your position and I still believe in an LC which totally represents Jesus and not just how the image of the college looks to other instituions and the LBC or SBC. Humility and forgiveness are at the heart of our faith. It honestly does hurt to talk about LC like this. however some things LC has done to others concerning lawyers and complete disreguard for others feelings and taking the word of someone vindictive rather than looking at the hard or in my case nonexsistant evidence. There are things going on at LC. Much of these things are done behind closed doors where themajority of poeple there doesnt see or even hear about. Fear has replaced what God created as an institution seeking Him. I still pray for LC. however if they continue to do these things to others and continue to put Gods name on it in order to justify it. He tells us,”Woe be to that man”, Be yea not decieved God is not mocked…” i pray that you whomever you are never have to experience the fear, heartache and shame which those in power there have put many to.
I completely agree with Can’t wait to Graduate. I am also a current music student at LC who has gotten made fun of for the simple fact that my voice teacher challenges me to sing songs that are classical, Jazz, and foreign. As far as the chorale and much of the voice ensembles they are all based upon favoritism, and if you are not what they want, you don’t get opportunities. The voice teacher that can’t wait to graduate mentioned is a fantastic teacher, but they do not push their students and challenge them. And because of that those students are arrogant and regularly push me and others around who are actually singing academic songs. The music department is failing because of favoritism, arrogance, and the over-assumed teaching ability of the dean of fine arts because he is a man in society. It is not fair to us students.
That being said, the instrumental department is in transition and Andrew Hunter has been elevating that program to new heights. I believe that he deserves some great recognition for the leaps and bounds he has made in the music department. If it weren’t for him, many students would have already been gone.
I am a christian who has followed God’s call to move to LC where I am completely isolated from my family. I will stay at LC until it falls, but I will not keep my mouth shut about the problems I see.
All of the people complaining about the worms: Really? If your only flaw is with a professor that uses illustrations that are a little gross you need to find another argument. Jesus was not a clean man. He was on the road and didn’t shower. Maybe you should listen to the song My Jesus by Todd Agnew. It’s a perspective changer.
It’s easy to point the finger at the HEAD GUY. We do it to our bosses, our kids and our US President and now po ole Joe is on the receiving end of the finger pointing. LET US NOT FORGET, Louisiana College has a Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Tim Searcy. His job at LC is to run the Academic Affairs Division of the college. The two main offices of responsibility for Dr. Searcy are; The Office of Institutial Research and The Office of Institutial Effectiveness. Wait, what was that last one??? INSTITUTIAL EFFECTIVENESS!!!
Sounds like to me that ole Doc Searcy has been asleep at the wheel to long.
Dr. Searcy didn’t eat a worm. It does appear that he needs to be kicked to the curb along with Joe Aguillard.
Dr. Searcy has been at LC for about a year. If it takes more than one year to fix these problems why are we getting on Dr. Searcy? Yes, he has done a few questionable things (that he was most likely ordered to do) but he has also been instrumental in the restructuring of the departments, something required by SACS
Why exactly is LC having problems? What are the situation specifics? And for that matter where is your research,
My Dad graduated from LC and served on their board years ago so you can see how this diatribe of yours might be if concern to me.
It also concerns me as a reporter that the facts are not clearly presented in this blog. More detail please.
Finally, I am concerned because you make it sound like an institution cannot maintain accreditation while being Christian and conservative or at least that is what I got out of some of what is said. This so not true in the least.
I know that because I am a two time graduate of Liberty University who has been SACS accredited since 1979 and is also a solid Christian conservative institution.
While I know nothing about what is going on now because I live in Wyoming I would ask you not to give up on the ideal of being both Christian and a college.
If LC is really in some much trouble, maybe they should call Dr. Ron Godwin at Liberty University for help. Our facility has been known to aid institutions that are in trouble.
God bless you. I will pray for LC and all involved.
Sorry about the typos. I hate autocorrect.
LC, ALERT, ALERT: Whatever you do, DO NOT CALL LIBERTY UNIVERSITY FOR HELP. Their leader and founder, Jerry Falwell, was … ehh, just Google him.
First off, I do believe that in the Bible it expressly states not to judge your fellow man. After reading your blog posts, I believe all you’re doing right now is judging LC and Dr. Aguillard.
Secondly, no one is saying you don’t have the right to talk about this situation if you didn’t attend LC, however, please do not post inaccurate facts. Why don’t you try to contact LC about this yourself?
As a Christian it shouldn’t be about calling out people or institutions that we do not think are doing the work of God. It should simiply be about praying for the evil in the world. Instead of posting negative and judgmental opinions about LC, why don’t you pray for them as an institution? Pray and hope that if there is any evil going on there, it will be fixed by the hand of God.
“First off, I do believe that in the Bible it expressly states not to judge your fellow man.” Melody, whenever you’re not casting aspersions on others (in Christ’s name, I’m sure), how- literally- do you take that statement– not to judge your fellow man? You think it applies to murderers? Child rapists? Serial killers? Terrorists? Should we not “judge” them? What about politicians? (Seems to me Jesus built a career out of challenging the ruling class in his day). Sorry, I did not call LC for permission to post this, and I’m also sorry because you seem to be very confused about Christianity. Christ didn’t “call out” institutions? Really? Christianity is nothing more than passive, reflexive, obedient prayer?
Ignorance is bliss. Or something like that.
There’s judging your fellow man, and then there’s calling a spade a spade. Jesus had the harshest words not for adulteresses, or tax collectors, or prostitutes, or even ungrateful lepers, but for the Pharisees (the strictest observers of religious law–sound familiar?), whom he called a “den of vipers,” and “whited sepulchres.”
It’s offensive that you think that we haven’t surrounded Louisiana College in a lot of prayer. I’ve been praying for Louisiana College for years now, as have many of the wonderful, loving people that Joe’s camp is quick to label as bitter malcontents. I have a peace about LC, and I know that God will take care of her, especially since she is so dear to His children; I know I’ve cried many tears over her. This is just part of the process, and the task at hand seems to be to make sure that the truth about our beloved Alma Mater is present and accessible to all who are sincerely seeking and not blinded by their own presuppositions.
This news is very disturbing. I graduated from louisiana College many years ago and attended graduate school as a social worker. The foundation I recieved from LC in my Young adult years was impeccable. It has helped to mold me into who I am and how I practice Social Work. I must say, I am disturbed that people are being so negative here. There is no need for name calling or making judgements about one’s spirituality simply because they are stating an opinion. The fact is that something is going on if they are in danger of loosing accreditation and those who love LC should be concerned about dealing with that issue instead of going around in circles with accusations. As Christians, we need to put aside our “political” differences and bind together and pray that God will give us wisdom and that LC will be able to make these corrections. It is time the blame game stops. And btw, the worm thing is getting a little old, it has nothing to do with the accrediation, it is being cited to discredit the leadership. Not nice.
As a former LC student, I have seen the way this college works, and it upset me greatly. I prayed a lot about it. I tried to “effect a change,” as one commenter suggested. One semester, nearly every student in my department dropped that major and tried to get through to the dean of the department that our professor, though very knowledgeable in many areas, was ineffective and unqualified as a teacher – for one thing, I heard him several times belittle students who made a mistake. We were listened to quite kindly, and then apparently forgotten; no changes were made. It didn’t seem to matter how much money we had spent on textbooks never used, and classes that taught us nothing.
I want to believe in LC; I know many wonderful people who go there and genuinely want an education, and I know that the Lord’s hand was clearly directing them to LC. But not only have I seen problems with faculty and outdated classes and equipment; I have noticed that part of the problem is students who don’t care about learning. In class, I overheard the majority of my peers talking about how they hadn’t studied at all, never listened in class, and didn’t seem to care. LC continued to appear to be more of an extended high school for most people, rather than a place to develop maturity and grow intellectually.
I do not believe that speaking out like this is “judgmental,” or un-Christlike. Jesus never said “Never point out the mistakes that your brothers are making; just get along no matter what.” But we are called to gently reproach each other in love. I don’t think that LC has lost all hope, but I do think that it is quickly losing respectability, and has a long way to go before this respect can be built up again.
Thank you Lamar for all that you do in keeping this travesty in the spotlight. I could weep at the long list of fine educators who have been “run off” from LC since Joe Aguillard has become president. He is the antithesis of what a Christian should be. The witch hunt is of his doing, not of those who founded the Save Our LC forum or the former students who are embarrassed and ashamed of what their alma mater has become.
If you are a Louisiana College graduate and care about the future of LC as a legitimate educational institution, I encourage you to contact the Board of Regents, the Louisiana Baptist Convention, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and let your concerns be known. The house must be cleaned.
At the risk of sounding stupid and uninformed, who at LC has ever performed an exorcism or promoted snake handling? And, who is to say LC was not founded by God? Why could He not have inspired someone to found this school? I agree that some of the statements by administration have been a little overboard in putting down criticism, and some professors have been wronged. But that does not constitute a witch hunt, exorcism, or snake handling. Leaving comments like that just because you are bitter does good for no one. To use the same tactics of name calling and intimidation that it is claimed the LC administration uses is not the best way to get a point across.
(And yes, as a student I do realize that LC has at certain times used intimidation to keep people quiet on certain subjects. Please don’t take my support of my school and attempt to put out a few more facts as blind support for a school that does need to fix a few things. But I don’t believe it is beyond repair and the entire “house must be cleaned.”)
Travis: you’re making the mistake of equating support for the institution with support for those currently running it. A good analogy is that I support the United States but don’t support some of those who are currently running it. I absolutely believe the school will benefit from a good house cleaning, and knowing what I do about the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS,) they don’t threaten to deny accreditation when only a few things need to be fixed.
‘The use of the word “exorcism” wasn’t hyperbolic, and it was “performed” by Joe himself.
I’m an ashamed graduate of class of 2010. I’m embarrassed by my choice in college, and my single biggest regret in life is choosing LC over any other school in the safe. I don’t need facts or stats to back that up. Please keep us informed, Lamar.
Thank you for being honest about LC Lamar.
I know quite a number of people who have had bad experiences with LC. I’ve had bad experiences with LC and I never was a student! I attend LSUA and I’m perfectly happy there. LSUA is a wonderful school and has probably accomplished more in the past 5 years than LC has in 10. It really bothers me that so many people choose and support LC so blindingly. In fact, the preview day that I went to my freshman was garbage, we didn’t do a thing. Their academia isn’t the only problem either, the social environment is something many ex-students have personally told me is a nightmare. If you don’t belong in a clique or a club, you have no friends.
I already have a problem with Christian universities anyways and LC is pretty much the reason because of issues like these (not necessarily academia, although it only furthers my point). Wake up students, LC is getting exactly what it deserves. A rude awakening and STILL they have enough mercy to get their act together. As far as the comments about praying and loving them, your missing it. Do you think God continued to let the Israelites do what they wanted? No! He poured his wrath out on them to get them see their condition and ironically, that’s the same message LC preaches. They love John Piper and don’t even heed his warnings!
I’m venting because I’m tired of LC, I’m tired of the students (and faculty) at LC who are being narrow-minded, stuck-up jerks ignoring a great task to minister to their community. Shame on you LC! You have mercy set before you, yet you continue to be poisonous broods of vipers only to suck your own blood and venom!
I honestly believe that if the warning is not heeded, LC will burn and a great deal of people will be very upset.
(whew…)
Luke 11:37-54
For those interested in letting the accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, know what you think, they can be reached at contactus@advanc-ed.org. Should you do so, I’d also recommend letting David Hankins of the Louisiana Baptist Convention and Joe Aguillard know that your opinion has been expressed.
Lamar,
Thanks for the opportunity to comment via this blog about the things going on in our community.
First let me make this very clear to everyone that reads this post. I AM AN ACTIVE, CHURCH ATTENDING, BIBLE READING, DAILY PRAYING CHRISTIAN. Ok now that I have that out of the way, I will share that I have worked inside the ministry for several years as a co-pastor, outreach pastor, and youth pastor at various chruches around the nation. I was reading all the blog posts this morning and it hit me like a ton of bricks. God is God and mankind is mankind (this includes women and men). When you are dealing with things of God you can not view, judge or even equate those things from the view of mankind. Anytime you involve mankind in the work of God it’s not a question of IF mistakes will be made, but WHEN. If your beloved church pastor offends you from the pulpit on any given Sunday morning, do you blame GOD for that? Well, you shouldn’t because behind every pulpit, religious organization desk and every CHRISTIAN COLLEGE administration desk are HUMANS. The ones that God granted free will to at creation.
So to question someone’s relationship with God Almighty because they post on this blog is a great example of Phariseism. DAMN THOSE THAT DON’T AGREE WITH YOUR BELIEFS.
Come on fellow citizens, lets get together on this and question those in charge of Louisiana College. The one’s that are responsible for creating a productive educational environment for those students attending LC, college administration whom are paid to provide what LC’s mission and vision statements so haughtily claim.
If you have ever spent $1 at LC or you are currently a paying student or parent of either you should DEMAND the truth and corrective action plans from LC. Hold the stewards of your money and you or your childrens education RESPONSIBLE.
Amen and Amen.
All I know is that I was administrativly withdrawn from LC because of “a lack of Christian Morals and Ethics”. I was friends with a gay dude and tried to lead him to Christ and I didnt put up with any of Peggy Pack’s bull and for that she made all kinds of false accusations against me which turned everyone on the commitees against me and I was dismissed three days before I was to graduate from there. I have seeked counseling and mental anguish eversince. I was treated and also my family as if we were animals and criminals. I was treated as though I had killed someone. Ive yet to understand how a “Christian College” can do things in “Gods name” and turn so many people away from God. That in itself is heresy. I would like to know what many of you think.
Oh Eugene, I am so sorry to learn of your treatment at LC over befriending another human being! You know in your heart that Jesus himself wouldn’t have agreed with them——look at how he was criticized for befriending Mary Magdalene. It just makes me so so so sad to read about this. What did you do about your almost earned degree? Is there any redress of grievances for dismissing you when you had done all your coursework? Please continue to report this to public forums and also to SACS and the Board of Regents. My condolences.
All I know is that I was withdrawn from LC. Peggy Pack was behind much of what happened to me. I was even made to think from the committee that I had had some secret agenda concerning some youth at church when i would text them, of whom I still call friends, and ask for prayer and to see how they were. Dr. Shipley Sr. implyed that. I never had such a desire. I loved those kids like brothers and sisters. That is some of the stuff i had to address at my hearings, acedemic hearings. Other alegations were of porn and being “disrespectful to dr. Pack and dr. Whatley, of whom I would watch like a hawk. she has as much cheer and friendship potential as a king cobra. now I did commit an act of acedemic dishonesty and for that I sincerely apologize but among the many things happening during that time were: my mother was having heart trouble and my dad had been diagnosed with colon cancer. But with all that happening to me i was still to put LC first. Are they out of their fricken mind?? I was adminstrativly withdrawn three days before i was to graduate from LC in religion. i have talked to everybody I could think of and nobody ever wanted to help me. I couldnever find a lawyer to help me. I finished at a secular school and experienced so much freedom there. Not to go out and sin like a heathen but to have freedom. Do you know how it feels to walk out of your dorm and not have the feeling of being watched of kept tabs on? do you know how it feels to not have to worry if that institutuion is keeping tabs and tracking everything you look up on the internet? That is the freedom I witnessed and took part at that secular instutuion. I just want justice and to move on withmy life. I seek counseling twice a month and see a psychiatrist every 3-6 months. since all this took place at lC I have been on three different types of meds for depression and anxiety. I even attempted suicide once. Oh I pray for God to no longer allow these evil people to committ these things and lead people to hell more than to Jesus. Oh how His name has been blasphemed at Louisiana College. When will God get enough? I dont know. I continue to pray for them and hope my call for prayer and encouragement speaks to all that read this plea for hope and humility from lC. Thanks
Eugene, I’m so sorry to hear what happened to you. I went through a similar ordeal with LC. Twice my senior year, I was called to Peggy Pack’s office, each time in the days right before or during finals. (It is my inclination that this timing is intentional on their part; they had plenty of time during the regular school year to address the issues, but they waited.) Both times, I had to get a lawyer. The first time, they were upset because I called Peggy Pack a liar after hearing her tell a whopper to SGA. After I brought in a lawyer, she had a “change of heart” and told me that she’d prayed about it and decided to forgive me. Huh.
The second time, they suspended me and refused to tell me why. The only thing they would say was that I was banned from being on campus except for class and my apartment. Then, they threatened to expel me, and I had to use all of my graduation money to pay for a lawyer (who deeply discounted his rate for me) so that I could file a temporary restraining order against them and graduate. It was “mental anguish” like I’d never known before, and I was in court the day before graduation. The whole time they kept telling me they loved me, and they even wanted hugs right after the proceedings. They wanted me to apologize for the statements I’d made on Save Our LC about Peggy Pack allegedly offering a bribe to a student, and about her unethical behavior during the SGA elections. (They’d even highlighted every single instance where I referred to them as “Joe” or “Peggy” instead of “Dr. Pack” or “Dr. Aguillard.”) I refused to recant and they were going to drag out the proceedings for as long as they pleased (them and their gaggle of lawyers), so we compromised and I had to sign an apology for hurt feelings, which I was forbidden ever to disavow. We heard from an inside source that if I’d prevailed in court that day that they were going to file an appeal that very hour in New Orleans, and that I would have missed graduation anyway because of their spite and unwillingness to lose.
I remember another incident where Joe himself told us that we did not in fact have first amendment rights on campus, because we were a 501(c)3 organization (I don’t think he thought we’d fact check him on that, or know what that meant.) He took a couple SGA members into his office and demanded they let him on their facebooks so that he could look at the profiles of other students. When they refused, he got angry, and started yelling and banging his fist on the table (he’s yelled at me before, too, so loudly that his words could be heard from outside the closed office door where my scared husband was sitting.) I remember one of the students recounting the events, near to tears. The students–both officers on SGA–tape recorded the conversation. (I have some of our conversations on tape as well, but haven’t been able to locate them.) He told them that they were not allowed to tell their parents what had happened or to seek legal counsel, but thankfully, they did, anyway, and SGA authored a document that said that he was not allowed to look at our facebook profiles (most of us signed it.) At that time, he acted oblivious and denied he’d ever requested such a thing. He told us he’d never even been on facebook before. One student, who was at the SGA session, approached me after the meeting and said that he or she had seen him on facebook many times in his office, that he or she reckoned that he had some secret profile.
I came to Louisiana College a conservative Fundamentalist Christian. I’d been the “goody two shoes” all my life, all I did at LC to get on their bad side was to tell the truth and stand up for what I believed in. (I was even pro-Joe and pro-board my first semester! I used to go around campus ripping down signs for Save Our LC just to be spiteful. I resented that crew of “liberals,” and I thought LC was fine under the “Godly leadership” of Joe and the board.) There is no excuse for the way I was treated at the hands of these “God-fearing” men and women. Joe and Peggy are two of the most spiteful, vindictive, dishonest people that I’ve ever met, and my faith was severely damaged by the time I left LC. It’s by God’s grace and the love of an Episcopal priest in Pineville that I’m even in church at all today, that I still have my faith. I lost my mind a little after LC and had a mental breakdown. How could this have happened to me? What had I ever done to deserve such treatment? Is this what my faith looked like in action? What was so wrong with me that they could rationalize treating me with such hate and contempt? How could he look my father in the face and lie to him like he did?
I was angry for a long time, and bitter, and deeply sad. The good news is, one day, it transforms into something that sustains you. Once you’ve been through a test like LC, you gain a new sort of perspective. My faith was in the church as an institution, in the men and women that were my appointed leaders, by those who professed Christ time and time again and then turned around to spew lies and hatred in the next breath. I won’t make that mistake again. I believe in Christ and Christ alone as the author and perfector of my faith, and since I don’t put so much stock in broken, human institutions or the rules that others have decided will get me “Saved,” I’ve come to find a deeply personal, fulfilling, redeeming faith. Christ lifted me out of the depression that LC saw me mired in, and Christ used my suffering to strengthen my faith in His redemption and my dependence on Him to meet my need for love and belonging, meaning and salvation.
As far as what you said about those taking the Lord’s name in vain: I believe you are right that it is heretical, but the good news is that “what they have intended for evil, I have intended for good.” One last story, then I’ll leave you be: When I was sitting in court while all six of them or so were in there arguing with the judge and my lawyer, the lady they’d brought with them–Bonnie Elliot, who worked in Student Life in some capacity–asked me if she could pray for me. I’m not one to turn down prayer because I believe in it, but to my horror, she laid her hands on me and began to weep, praying for the salvation of my lost soul, that I would find His Light. I think that that was the worst part of that entire day, maybe of the whole ordeal, besides the mental symptoms. My faith is and has always been the most precious part of my life. The fact that they were constantly casting aspersions on it because of my character (funny–I’d never had sex outside of marriage, tried any drugs besides alcohol, cheated on a test, stolen anything, or even said a curse word in all 20 years of my life, and I was in the habit of daily prayer and attending church upwards of three times a week at the church that Joe attends to this day) was a special spiritual assault. I was hurt deeply, and I can’t really explain why. I think I resented her pity, and the fact that she had such a lofty spiritual opinion of herself and such a low one of me. God answered her prayer, though, and I take comfort in that fact now, instead of resenting it, and resenting her. He did it in a little different timing than she expected–I’ve been saved for thousands of years, from the instant that they drove a nail into Jesus’ hand. All of that is to say, that it passes, and it changes you, but if you let it, it will change you in the right way, make you stronger, make you more sure of the truth than ever in spite of (and sometimes because of) the type of vehement opposition you face.
Please feel free to hop on over to Save Our LC’s forum and talk with us. We’re actually pretty nice people, and we have in common a love for Louisiana College and faith that God is working for her betterment. We’d love to talk with you, to hear about your ordeal, and offer what comfort we can. We’re at saveourlc.org. Once you get there, click on “Forum” from the menu bar.
God bless,
Stephanie Mabou
God Bless You, dear girl. If that Episcopal priest in Pineville was Fr. George Genuso, then you are indeed in good hands. I am so glad someone showed you the true love of God. How ironic that it was a non-Baptist that gave you comfort in your time of great persecution and need. (This does not imply that I think all Baptists are like Joe A. and Peggy P.)
There was a time in the late 70s and early 80s that LSUA had a similar crisis, being run by a meglomaniac who used threats and intimidation to complete his power. My husband was on the faculty there and helped start the Faculty Senate and also work with the SGA to combat the dictatorial and vicious ways of the administration. He paid dearly for his activism in similar ways to yours.
I know your Save Our LC forum and it is definitely a good thing. Bless you and keep up the courage and good faith. Things will be righted sooner or later.
Who did you get as a lawyer to represent you? All I know is that I was withdrawn from LC. Peggy Pack was behind much of what happened to me. I was even made to think from the committee that I had had some secret agenda concerning some youth at church when i would text them, of whom I still call friends, and ask for prayer and to see how they were. Dr. Shipley Sr. implyed that. I never had such a desire. I loved those kids like brothers and sisters. That is some of the stuff i had to address at my hearings, acedemic hearings. Other alegations were of porn and being “disrespectful to dr. Pack and dr. Whatley, of whom I would watch like a hawk. she has as much cheer and friendship potential as a king cobra. now I did commit an act of acedemic dishonesty and for that I sincerely apologize but among the many things happening during that time were: my mother was having heart trouble and my dad had been diagnosed with colon cancer. But with all that happening to me i was still to put LC first. Are they out of their fricken mind?? I was adminstrativly withdrawn three days before i was to graduate from LC in religion. i have talked to everybody I could think of and nobody ever wanted to help me. I couldnever find a lawyer to help me. I finished at a secular school and experienced so much freedom there. Not to go out and sin like a heathen but to have freedom. Do you know how it feels to walk out of your dorm and not have the feeling of being watched of kept tabs on? do you you look up on the internet? That is the freedom I witnessed and took part at that secular instutuion. I just want justice and to move on withmy life. I seek counseling twice a month and see a psychiatrist every 3-6 months. since all this took place at lC I have been on three different types of meds for depression and anxiety. I even attempted suicide once. Oh I pray for God to no longer allow these evil people to committ these things and lead people toknow how it feels to not have to worry if that institutuion is keeping tabs and tracking everything hell more than to Jesus. Oh how His name has been blasphemed at Louisiana College. When will God get enough? I dont know. I continue to pray for them and hope my call for prayer and encouragement speaks to all that read this plea for hope and humility from lC. Thanks
TO: “LC_Student”, “Can’t Wait to Graduate”, “Aaron”, “CD”, “Eugene”, “Former Student” – and others – THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS HERE! You ALL have stories to tell and insights to share on your past and present experiences at LC. PLEASE share them on the Save our LC Website! We know it is blocked on Campus, so if you are a current student there are several ways around this. 1- get an iPad and use the 3G cell network and by-pass the campus network; 2-use your laptop at home or in public free Wi-Fi access areas; 3-contact me or any of the sympathetic posters on SOLC and we can arrange for you to gain access to the SOLC site at the homes of former students. faculty and true friends of LC that live in the Alex/Pineville area. YOUR STORIES NEED TO BE TOLD! Do not let the sensors at LC keep you silent. Former students who no longer have to use the campus network can and should log on to SOLC and post any and all information that you wish to share with the larger world. Don’t let your suffering go untold. You may write me at bstubbs@bi-lo.com
Bill Stubbs Class of 1983
Wow,
This blog certainly was an eye opener for a parent whose son was strongly considering attending LC in the fall of 2012.
He was down to four choices of schools to attend. It is now three.
The academic issues are only mildly of concern. I dont even really care about a worm eating video on the internet. He was trying to share his message how he saw fit. This is America. The real thing I have read here that is weighing on our decision is how people’s basic belief and trust in God is called into question because they have simply voiced their concerns or opinions about their own perception of problems that exist at LC.
To put it in simple, and very visible terms, this would be like my son saying, “wow, I sure wish they would fix that giant buckled piece of concrete on the road on campus” (yall all know the one), and have a fellow student or certain administration personell tell him “well son, you must not believe in God’s plan” or “God will take care of it, don’t you trust in God?” That’s what some of you here sound like. It is simply unreasonable.
And like it or not, there are evidently problems. I have seen the state of the Campus on our visit. If anyone here doesnt think there is a difference between LC and other similar schools that are in the 20k$ per year range, then you have simply not visited any other campuses. MC is pristine.
I have not seen one post here wishing the demise of LC from anyone. They are pointing out problems as they percive them. Problems that need immediate remedy.
I am principled and outspoken. I hope I have passed those traits along to my son in my efforts to make him both a man of God and a leader in his community. Parents send kids to Christian colleges to expand their world view, get educated and learn to be adults in a solid Christian environment. I wont expose him to a place where his expression of his opinions will cause him to be singled out while significant problems are ignored or swept under the rug.
Clearly, such a huge turnover in long tenured faculty is evidence enough that there is a serious problem with the administration.
Good Luck LC, sincerely, as many of our friends have already sent thier kids there. I hope things turn around. We will watch from afar.
I must agree with a bit of sadness. I wish things were different there at LC but that is the way things are at that institution. I pray that the institution doesnt reflect bad on Christ Jesus. If you want to know anymore about the cruelty and harshness of the personel at LC especially the administration just ask.
Best wishes.
Eugene.
This blog was… how do you say it? Relevant!
! Finally I’ve found something that helped me. Thank you!
It’s enormous that you are getting ideas from this article as well as from our dialogue made at this time.