Senior supports Tabor College lifestyle
Editor's note: The following opinion column by Debbie Miller was first published in the school's student newspaper, the Tabor View, for which she is the editor. Miller, a senior, also serves as the Tabor College campus correspondent for the Star-Journal. She currently resides in Hillsboro with her husband Adam Miller.
By DEBBIE MILLER
Tabor correspondent
To those of you who'd rather I not take a stand against any form of authority at Tabor College, be it known that I have never purposely broken a rule in the Lifestyle Commitment. I am more than willing to live under its authority, but I am also just as willing to be a critic of any policies that seem unfair or unreasonable.
That being said, the following is a look at why the Lifestyle Commitment isn't as bad as you may think:
Let's start by looking at what most students would consider a worse-case scenario: Bob Jones University, located in Greenville, S.C., is a Christian institution offering a liberal arts education, much like Tabor College.
Like Tabor, Bob Jones has expectations for student life meant to help each student become more Christ-like.
While Tabor requires student attendance at a certain number of chapels, Bob Jones requires attendance at Sunday school, Sunday morning worship, vespers services, Bible conferences, and nightly prayer meetings.
While Tabor only allows men and women to be together in student rooms with an open door during Open House hours, Bob Jones only allows men and women to be together, on or off campus, with a chaperone present, whether a couple is dating or someone is simply cheering on the opposite sex at a sporting event.
While Tabor asks that all community members respect quiet hours from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m., Bob Jones makes sure you are in your room and quiet by 11 and the lights are out by midnight.
Then there are the areas that Tabor doesn't even worry about:
Going off campus? Be sure and check out before you do at Bob Jones, so that you can be kept accountable.
Heading to work? At Bob Jones, you can't work past 10:25 p.m. on a weekday, have to have a prayer captain or upperclassman accompany you if you are a freshman, can't work at a family-friendly restaurant like Applebee's where you'd have to serve alcoholic beverages, and shouldn't even think about missing that nightly prayer meeting to fit in an extra shift.
Think cleaning the bathroom is bad? At Bob Jones, be prepared for a daily inspection to ensure your room is neat and clean.
Looking for entertainment?
Although not explicitly stated, I bet I'm safe in saying that Bob Jones would take away your Nelly and Aaliyah, since students can't listen to new age, jazz, rock, country, or even contemporary Christian music.
Checking out the dress code?
Short of restrictions on pornographic images and references to alcohol and tobacco, Tabor sets no restrictions.
If you're thinking of transferring to Bob Jones, get ready to say goodbye to that trendy hairstyle, tattoo, piercing, and most jewelry.
Women, purge your closet of shorts, jeans, save one pair to wear in your own residence hall or while partaking in strenuous outdoor activities.
Men, stock up on ties, jackets, dress pants, and collared shirts. You may keep your shorts, but only to wear while playing or working out in an athletic facility.
Compared to Bob Jones, Tabor seems like a model of freedom in Christ.
Each college has chosen its own way to keep students accountable to faith, law, and community, and each college attracts students because of it.
The rules aren't to make you miserable; they're to make you better. They're to keep you law-abiding and safe and comfortable
Although you may not agree with specific policies, at least you can respect that Tabor is trying to help each of us live a life that sets us apart from the world, and you can now be grateful of the freedom of choice we do have in most matters.
If you don't think any of this is Tabor's role, that it won't make a difference in anyone's life and especially to students who don't share the institution's Christian perspectives, feel free to speak up. We always appreciate a good debate in these pages.
If you think you've been treated unfairly, whether you've been penalized for spending time with a family member who smokes or had your room searched without probable cause, you have my permission to make a fuss, starting with the appropriate authorities.
Our God desires justice.
Tabor College has never been bashful about being a "decidedly Christian" institution, and it makes no secret of the Lifestyle Commitment each of us must sign.
At the airport, your choice is to take off your shoes and submit to a preflight search, or turn back and find another way to travel across the globe.
At Tabor, your choice is to sign and follow, or find another way to make friends, play sports, get involved, grow in your faith, and get a degree at the same time.
The choice is yours, and I think you've already made it.
