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     The Student Voice   Issue 4, Number 5   1.31.1997
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     358+ Readers
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     PCC: Like the skillful fisherman who once he has the fish hooked
     can always jerk it back into compliance by the threat or fact of 
     personal constraint.

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     Who We Are:

The Student Voice is a weekly, on-line commentary and editorial page about
the problems that are prevalent at Pensacola Christian College.  As an
institution that considers itself at the pinnacle of true Christianity, PCC
ought to be willing to back up its practices with Scripture, but
unfortunately, when one compares the "system" of PCC with true Christianity,
PCC falls far short.  Our purpose is three-fold:

(1) To provide public exposure regarding the practices at PCC;
(2) To compare PCC dogma with Scriptural principle, generally accepted
societal behavior, and the law of reason; 
(3) By bringing about this exposure, to see PCC make some positive changes in
the areas of discipline, communication with parents and students, church
practice, ethical behavior, and educational philosophy.

Acts 17:11 "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they
received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures
daily, whether those things were so."

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     QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"It is often more important to understand the question than it is to have an
answer."
     - William Kaplan, "Intellectual Curiosity"

"We should not trust our leaders; we should elect them and watch them."
     - Newt Gingrich

"A gentleman haranguing on the perfection of our law, and that it was equally
open to the poor and to the rich, was answered by another, 'So is the London
Tavern'."
     - John Horne Tooke, from THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE

"We believe that the classroom methods should be teacher directed. . . with
the student acquiringknowledge [sic] through. . . reasoning. . . ."
     Pensacola Christian College, from their public web page (General Info,
p. 2)

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     TABLE OF CONTENTS

   Page 1
   I.  Voice Announcements
   II.  Thoughts On Power, by Max Lucado
   III.  Essays
         "Standardless Standards:  A Case Study"  Part 2, by Paul S. Perdue

   Page 2
   "Standardless Standards: A Case Study" (continued. . . .)
   IV.  Your Comments

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     I.   VOICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

>>> If you would like any copies of back issues, please let us know. However,
we would ask that you limit your request to 2 issues per request in order for
us to be more efficient.  Once you have received the two issues, then please
feel free to request 2 more.  Here is a list of Voice issues and other
information:

          The Student Voice Introductory Letter
          Transcript of Dr. Horton's comments made about The Student Voice
          Issue 1, Nos. 1 - 4
          Issue 2, Nos. 1 - 5
          Issue 3, No. 1 ("Rules Compilation," Version 1)
          Issue 3, Nos. 2 - 3
          Issue 4, Nos. 1 - 4

>>> We are in the process of putting together an "official" web page where
back issues, the Rules Compilation and other interesting information will be
displayed.  Please stay tuned.

>>> If you do not wish to receive The Student Voice, please drop us an e-mail
and let us know.  If you know of someone who would be interested in receiving
The Student Voice, let us know.

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     II.  THOUGHTS ON POWER

[From THE APPLAUSE OF HEAVEN, by Max Lucado]

     It might interest you to know that the first power play happened not on
Wall Street nor on a battlefield, but in a garden.  The first promise of
prestige was whispered with a hiss, a wink, and a snakish grin by a fallen
angel.
     Standing in the shadow of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
Satan knew what to offer Eve to convince her to eat the apple.  It wasn't
pleasure.  It wasn't health.  It wasn't prosperity.  It was. . . well, you
read his words and look for his lure:
     "God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you
will be like God, knowing good and evil."
     The words found a soft spot.
     "You will be like God. . . ."
     Eve stroked her chin as she replayed the promise.
     "You will be like God. . . ."
     The snake pulled back the curtain to the throne room and invited Eve to
take a seat.  Put on the crown.  Pick up the scepter.  Put on the cape.  See
how it feels to have power.  See how it feels to have a name.  See how it
feels to be in control!
     Eve swallowed the hook.  The temptation to be like God eclipsed her view
of God, and the crunch of an apple echoed in the kingdom.  You know the rest
of the story.
     Now, perhaps your flirtations with power haven't been so blatant.  No
doubt, you were amused at the thought of spending six grand on a table
manners seminar.  No doubt you've shaken your head in amazement at the
buy-outs staged by the barons of Wall Street.  No doubt you've been chagrined
by the murders ordered by drug lords and kingpins.  That type of power play
has no attraction for you.  If the snake were to woo you with promises of
status, you'd send him back to the pit, right?
     Or would you?  "King of the Mountain" comes in many forms.
     It's the boss who won't compliment her employees.  After all, workers
need to be kept in their place.
     It's the husband who refuses to be kind to his wife.  He knows if he
does he will lose his most powerful weapon - her fear of his rejection.
     It's the employee who places personal ambition over personal integrity.
     It's the wife who withholds sex both to punish and persuade.
     It might be the taking of someone's life, or it might be the taking of
someone's turn.  It might be manipulation with a pistol, or it might be
manipulation with a pout.  It might be the takeover of a nation by a
politician, or the takeover of a church by a preacher.
     But they are all spelled the same: P-O-W-E-R.
     All have the same goal: "I will get what I want at your expense."
     All have the same game plan: push, shove, take, and lie.
     All have listened to the same snake, the same lying Lucifer who whispers
into the ears of anyone who will listen, "You will be like God."
     And all have the same end:  futility.  Please note carefully what I am
about to say.  Absolute power is unreachable.  The pole to the top is greasy,
and the ladder rungs are made of cardboard.  When you stand at the top - if
there is a top - the only way to go is down.  And the descent is often
painful. . . .
     The pole of power is greasy.
     The emperor Charlemagne knew that.  An interesting story surrounds the
burial of this famous king.  Legend has it that he asked to be entombed
sitting upright in his throne.  He asked that his crown be placed on his head
and his scepter in his hand.  He requested that the royal cape be draped
around his shoulders and an open book be placed in his lap.
     That was A.D. 814.  Nearly two hundred years later, Emperor Othello
determined to see if the burial request had been carried out.  He allegedly
sent a team of men to open the tomb and make a report.  They found the body
just as Charlemagne had requested.  Only now, nearly two centuries later, the
scene was gruesome.  The crown was tilted, the mantle moth-eaten, the body
disfigured.  But open on the skeletal thighs was the book Charlemagne had
requested - the Bible.  One bony finger pointed to Matthew 16:26: "What good
will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?"
     You can answer that one.

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     III.   ESSAYS

"Standardless Standards: A Case Study " 
Part 2
By: Paul S. Perdue

I.  Dr. Horton's Introduction in the 96/97 Student Handbook
     A.  Paragraph 1
     B.  Paragraph 2
     C.  Paragraph 3

II.  The Story of Jeremy Piontek
     A.  The Dean's Office
     B.  The Phone Call
     C.  The Confrontation

III.  The Letter
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I.  Dr. Horton's Introduction in the 96/97 Student Handbook

     One of the aspects of Pensacola Christian College that needs no external
verification to anyone who is familiar with the school's hierarchical and
administrative system of control is that Dr. Horton's word is law.  "It is
Dr[.] Horton[']s school[,] and he can make whatever rules he wishes," replied
a current student in summing up a prevalent "thinking" among some students
and faculty.  No checks, no balances, no corrections.  It is as clear an
example of the "E.F. Hutton syndrome" as there could possibly be - when Dr.
Horton speaks, the PCC community listens.  
     I have been somewhat amused by those who have tried to justify and
explain Dr. Horton's public comments that were made about The Voice.  People
intellectually and linguistically tripping all over themselves trying to
point out why what Dr. Horton said was correct and why the clear
mischaracterizations and false statements were not really
mischaracterizations or false statements.  The themes are the same, and the
substance is always shallow, at best.  But one theme that was sickeningly
clear was that if Dr. Horton said it, it was right.  The truth is not
important; rather, the man is, and regardless of all the external evidence to
the contrary, Dr. Horton is always right.  Besides the obvious fallacy of
maintaining human perfection is the lack of willingness to actually examine
what Dr. Horton says.  Of course, there is an obvious risk in doing this
(i.e., expulsion or termination of one's employment), and just the fact that
there is a risk has an awful lot of parallel connotations (see Issue 4, No. 3
on the similarities of PCC's current thinking and cult thinking).
     In this series of essays The Voice is examining PCC's Student Handbook,
and we are simply pointing out many of the difficulties and problems that are
inherent in a system of "regulations" that are incomplete, vague and based
upon no discernable principles.  The very first page of the Handbook presents
a short letter from Dr. Horton with a picture of him sitting on a couch
holding a PCC Update, the Update being the ultimate symbol of arrogant
commercialization and perhaps a symbol of PCC's ultimate god - money and
prestige.  Wouldn't it be more appropriate to be holding something scholarly?
 Or a Bible?  Perhaps it really is not that important. . . .
     The following is the text of the letter found on the first page of the
Student Handbook:

********************

A GREETING FROM OUR PRESIDENT

Welcome to Pensacola Christian College.  It is our prayer that this year will
be one of the happiest and most spiritually enriching years of your life.

Life is a blend of privileges and responsibilities.  When you learn to
balance these ingredients, you have personal fulfillment and harmonious
relationships with others.  This is a vital part of your education and your
overall spiritual growth.  This student handbook contains the regulations and
procedures that govern student life and a description of the many student
services provided for you at Pensacola Christian College.  I trust that you
will willingly accept both the privileges and the responsibilities.

If you have questions regarding any part of the handbook, feel free to
contact the office of the Dean of Men or Dean of Women.  We want to assist
you in any way we can.

May God bless you as together we seek to serve Him.

Sincerely,
/s/ Arlin Horton
Arlin Horton, LL.D.
President/Founder

********************

     Three quick paragraphs, but they say so much.  In order to understand
the Handbook and all of the myriad of other factors, one must first read and
comprehend Dr. Horton's comments, because remember, Dr. Horton's word is law.
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     A.  Paragraph 1
          1.  Positive Aspects

     This paragraph certainly lays out some legitimate and substantial goals.
 It is friendly, thereby substantiating PCC's claim to being a friendly
campus.  Dr. Horton speaks of these goals being his prayer and not his hope
or desire, and this is to be commended.  Also, the apparent thrust is for the
student to grow spiritually AND be happy at the same time.  This is often one
of the difficulties the unsaved see in Christianity - happiness AND
spirituality, and so to emphasize these two concepts together is highly
appropriate for a Christian college setting.

          2.  Negative Aspects

     There seems to be a very important ingredient that is left out of the
mix here.  What about INTELLECTUAL GROWTH?  PCC is a college, is it not?  And
a college is supposed to be teaching higher thought, is it not?  I submit to
you that what you are paying for primarily when you pay for college is
intellectual growth; spiritual growth and happiness are aspects that are to
be taken care of through other avenues primarily (i.e., church/personal
devotions and general social activity).  
     The fact that anything regarding intellectual growth has been left out
speaks volumes.  If it was left out UNINTENTIONALLY, then Dr. Horton has
forgotten the school's primary goal to enhance the development of the mind,
as well as the heart and soul.  If it was left out INTENTIONALLY, then Dr.
Horton is setting PCC up as something it is not, which is a college, and the
obvious problems of that are evident, I hope.

     B.  Paragraph 2
          1.  Positive Aspects

     Life certainly is a "blend of privileges and responsibilities," and this
is certainly an important principle to recognize, understand and to apply.

          2.  Negative Aspects

     (1) What are the "responsibilities" that a college student should be
accepting and learning?  Is it the responsibility to grow?  Then why does PCC
not permit this?  Is it the responsibility to be an adult?  Then why does PCC
not permit this?  Is it to search the Scriptures, study them, and reason in a
meaningful way?  Then why does PCC not permit this?
     Obviously, this short letter is not the place to define what the
responsibilities are, but PCC does need to clarify what these
"responsibilities" are somewhere.  Most of you who are parents allow your
sons or daughters to gain more and more responsibilities the older they get,
and it would seem to me that the college experience should be an extension of
this growth.  But it is not, and there are many people who can neither answer
or justify the simple question of why.
     (2) Although part of life at PCC is to accept the responsibilities that
have been put in place, what about PCC'S RESPONSIBILITIES?  If life is a
blend that includes responsibilities for every person to follow, then it
would logically follow that PCC is also subject to some responsibilities to
the students that it encourages to attend, the parents of whose students it
takes their money, the community which allows it to exist, and God who is the
ultimate authority, although Dr. Horton apparently has a problem with this
idea (see his comments regarding The Voice's view on authority).  If PCC is
going to shove the student's responsibilities down their throats, and yet
fail to exercise some itself, then there is a serious problem.
     (3) There is another very important word that should be inserted into
this paragraph, for to leave it out is highly misleading.  Instead of it
saying, "This student handbook contains the regulations and procedures. . ."
it should say instead, "This student handbook contains SOME of the
regulations and procedures. . . ."  Compare our Rules Compilation (Issue 3,
No. 1) - which is only a small compilation - to the Student Handbook, and you
will find that many of the rules listed in the Rules Compilation are NOT
listed in the Handbook.  This is important, for a student reading this for
the first time, or a parent reading this could think that the Handbook is
exclusive in that it contains EVERY rule.  Well, after several trips to the
"Discipline" Committee, that student would learn that the word "some" should
have been inserted into the aforementioned sentence.

     C.  Paragraph 3
          1.  Positive Aspects

     I find nothing positive in this paragraph.

          2.  Negative Aspects

     I could sit here and technically explain why this paragraph is a
complete lie, but I think I will let another student who learned that this is
NOT, in fact an accurate description of either a student's "privilege" nor of
PCC's "responsibility."  Read the following story, and then you determine for
yourself whether or not this paragraph has any truth in it whatsoever.  Bear
in mind also that the following story is only one of numerous ones The Voice
has on file (a rapidly growing file, I might add) that is similar in content.
 In other words, don't take my word for it, but listen to those who have been
hurt by following Dr. Horton's less than candid statements.
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II.  The Story of Jeremy Piontek

[As a preferatory remark, let it be noted that the "devotions policy" was
explained by Dr. Horton is his comments about The Student Voice, and we have
further explained why his position is unsupportable by logic or Scripture in
Issue 2, No. 4 if you need some background information regarding this topic.]

     A.  The Dean's Office

     Dear Voice,
     First of all, this took place in the Fall of 95, immediately after the
public devotions policy took effect.  I simply wrote a letter to the
administration expressing my negative sentiment regarding the policy. [See
the attached letter in Part III - eds.] I pointed out in the letter that they
were putting themselves in the place of the Holy Spirit by deciding that
everyone who chose to worship might be doing so with a motivation of false
piety.  This is, of course, a very dangerous position to be in, commanding
such spiritual authority--that which is not divinely endowed to you.  I also
mentioned in the letter that a majority of the students disagreed with the
policy.  I said that this division might not yet be evident, but that it
definitely existed.  That is why I appreciate the stand you are taking at the
Voice.  Also included in the letter was a brief mention of the fact that no
state college or university can forbid its students to have public devotions.
 This is an infringement upon [their] constitutional rights to meet and
peaceably assemble. How sad it is that the one place public fellowship is
forbidden is on a "Christian" college campus.
     I considered my actions for several days before following through with
sending the letter to the administration.  I consulted my parents, and they
supported me in that they thought I should do what I believed the right thing
was to do.
     I delivered the letter to the administrative offices in person, and left
it with the secretary shortly before my 2:00 history class.  Having observed
other cases such as this, and wanting to spare myself a bit of embarrassment,
I didn't even bother going to my class, knowing full well what
would happen.  I returned to my room immediately, and within 15 minutes, the
phone rang.  It was the dean's office.  The secretary told me that I should
come to the dean's office immediately.
     I arrived at the dean's offices shortly thereafter.  I had no more than
signed in and turned around to sit on the couch when a friend of mine who was
also a floorleader walked in.  He sat next to me on the couch.  "I guess
you're my shadow, huh _____." I said.  He said nothing.  "Don't worry. I
doubt if I'll be here too long."
     At this point, the secretary's phone rang and she told me to go into
Dean Ohman's office.  I opened the door and walked in with my Bible, a
notebook, and a micro-cassette recorder.  As I entered the office, I noticed
Dean Ohman was seated behind his desk, and Mr. Graham, his assistant, was
seated to the left on a couch.  I had suspected there would be two of them
present, and this is why I had opted to bring my recorder.  
     I seated myself and started recording.  Not trying to be deceptive, I
had not hidden the recorder.  Dean Ohman didn't notice, however, as he began
speaking.  He said that the administration had received the letter, and that
it was a very serious letter.  By this time, the recorder had
caught the eye of Mr. Graham, and he interrupted Dean Ohman, saying that he
needed to speak with him privately.  Dean Ohman told me to go back out into
the waiting room and have a seat.
     After a short period of about 30 seconds or so, the secretary's phone
rang again, and I was summoned again.  I returned to the office and turned on
the tape recorder.  Dean Ohman, having been briefed that I had the cassette
recorder, began speaking again.  "There are to be no tape recorders on in
this office when we are talking." he was saying.  I expressed to him that it
was my view that, since I had no witness (as he did in Mr. Graham), I thought
it was merely a safety measure for me to have the conversation on tape.  The
logic of my argument didn't sit well with the dean.  "Either you shut off the
tape recorder, or we can't have a conversation."  "I don't think I can do
that." I answered.  "Okay," was all he said, and motioned for me to return to
the waiting room.  
     I sat down next to my "shadow" one more time and waited.  After a few
minutes, I watched as Dean Ohman came out of his office and left the dean's
offices area.  In about ten minutes he returned and stood before me (I was
still seated).  "Is this what you want?" he said curtly, shaking a white form
in my face.  I looked at the heading on the paper, and recognized it as a
"request for withdrawal" form.  "No sir, this is not what I want.  I would
rather talk to someone about the policy.  I don't WANT to leave necessarily."
 "That's it!" Dean Ohman said, raising his voice at least one threshold above
mildly loud.  "You're outta here.  ______ (floorleader's name), show him
out."
     Having said all he intended to say, apparently, Dean Ohman turned
around, went back into his office and closed the door.
     I stood there in a sort of daze, not sure of what exactly had just
transpired.  The floorleader who had been "assigned" to me, myself, and Mr.
Graham returned to my room where we were met by Young Tower residence
director, Mr. James Kallas.  Within an hour, all of my things were packed in
the back of my truck.  Two of my friends called my room while I was in the
process of packing my things.  Mr. Kallas saw fit to intercept the calls and
denied me the opportunity to communicate with my friends in any way.  
     Mr. Graham took care of cutting up my ID card, and left.  Mr. Kallas
tried reasoning with me to just back down and stick it out.  I told him I
didn't think that would work.  There was no way I could live with myself if I
sacrificed my beliefs and convictions.
     It was at around 4:30 that I drove through the gates and left the campus
of PCC.  What the date was exactly escapes me, although I believe it was in
the very early days of November.  I stayed overnight at a friend's house in
town.  The next day I drove home to Wisconsin.

     B.  The Phone Call

     A few days after I had arrived home, Dean Ohman apparently felt that a
little damage control was in order.  He called my home to speak with my
parents.  They refused to talk to him until I had spoken with him first.  I
had already made them aware of all the previous goings-on.
     I spoke to Dean Ohman briefly to determine my status as a student.
Because of the nature of my departure, I was somewhat concerned as to whether
my grades would be noted as withdrawn, or if I would be penalized for
expulsion.  The reason for my concern was that there had never been any
official acceptance on my part of the request for withdrawal offered me by
Dean Ohman.  I had never taken the form from him.  When I asked Dean Ohman
about this, he reassured me not to worry.  I asked him categorically, "How
will I be treated, then?  As a student who withdrew, or as a student who was
expelled?"  Once again he answered reassuringly, "You will be considered as a
student who has withdrawn."
     At this point, I said goodbye to the dean, and turned the conversation
over to my father.  I continued to listen in on the phone extension, however,
in order to note any inconsistencies in Dean Ohman's explanation.  One
glaring inconsistency nearly floored me.  Dean Ohman reported to my father
that I had SIGNED THE REQUEST FOR WITHDRAWAL.  This is, of course, not true.
 There was never any official interaction regarding my withdrawal, and still
has not been, other than the mailing of my transcripts to Liberty University.

     C.  The Confrontation

     The next February, I returned to the Pensacola area once again.  I
stayed in a condo at Perdido Key during a short vacation.  I thought I would
"test the waters" at PCC, mostly out of amusement, but also because I have
many close friends who attended PCC, as well.  I decided to attend church
with some friends of mine at the Campus Church.  The Dale Horton Auditorium
was filled to capacity for the Sunday morning service, so we headed for the
overflow in the Sports Center.  I sat through the service, only interrupted
once by someone sitting behind me (apparently a floorleader, who asked me not
to speak with my friend during the song service).  Afterwards, however, the
fireworks began.  I was exiting the Sports Center through the main lobby,
when an RA recognized me.  He called me over, and I offered him a handshake
and a smile.  I thought he just wanted to say hi, but I was wrong. "Jeremy,"
he said, "you're not allowed on campus.  You're going to have to leave."  I
laughed a little, and told him that everything was cool with Dean Ohman and
I, and that I was told there was no problem because I was considered
withdrawn and not expelled.  He continued: "I just talked to Dean Ohman this
morning (I guess I had been spotted earlier by the RA's watchful eyes), and
he said you're not allowed here."  As he said these words, the elevator door
opened, and Dean Ohman stepped out.  By this time, everyone else had left the
Sports Center.  My friends had gone on and were waiting for me outside.  As
Dean Ohman walked toward me, I noticed something else to my left out of the
corner of my eye.  Mr. Gillespie, then the head of security at PCC, came and
stood next to me.  He simply stood there with his arms crossed, never once
saying a word.  Dean Ohman spoke first.  "Jeremy, I'm sorry, but you're not
welcome on this campus.  I'm afraid you'll have to leave."  "But Dean Ohman,"
I countered, "you said when we talked on the phone that I wouldn't be treated
like an expelled student.  What's going on?"  "That's just the decision of
the administration, and I'm just telling you what's what."  I assured the
dean that I was not there to make a scene and cause trouble.  My intention
was merely to visit with friends.  I told him I would leave, and then I
walked out and rejoined my friends.  After a brief reunion with my roommates
in my former room, I left the campus for the last time. 
     I have heard of things like this happening to other people, but never
realized how truly humiliating it might be.  It's not that I didn't expect it
to happen, I just thought that perhaps someone would simply inform me that I
should leave in order to avoid making a scene.  Instead the scene was made,
and I just walked into it.  It is something that I'll never forget. 

     I have moved on now to Liberty University.  I hope to graduate in the
spring of 1998, Lord-willing.
    You may use my story however you wish.  I hope that others at PCC will
continue to stand up for what they believe in, even though an oppressive
administration seems insurmountable at times.  I would like to leave you with
a verse which I included in the letter I sent to the administration, and
claimed during the entire ordeal, and just about every day since then.  It
was the follow up to the story of Daniel and his refusal to change his ways
to suit the new laws regarding worship of God.  "So Daniel prospered in the
reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian."  Daniel 6:28  I am
sure that I took the right stand at Pensacola Christian.  I know that God
will take care of me.

                In Christ's unfailing love,
                Jeremy Piontek
                student at PCC fall '92-fall '95    
------------------------------------------------------------


"Standardless Standards:  A Case Study" (continued. . . .)
------------------------------------------------------------

III.  The Letter

     To the administration of PCC,                                           
     (written Nov. 95)
        
     That I am writing this letter to the administrators of a "Christian"
college is indeed an irony.  I am aware of no public university which forbids
individuals to meet with one another to read and study God's Word together.
As far as I know, most colleges and universities recognize the constitutional
rights of their students.  I am deeply disturbed by this administration's
attempt to amend the holy and infallible Word of God.

     While I am sure your motives are pure, I urge you to reconsider your
stance on this issue.  You may have reasoned it through many times, but
please be aware of the dangers of essentially slipping into the shoes of the
Holy Spirit of God.

     "Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, ye
shall also be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to
you again." (Matt. 7:1-2)  

     God does, indeed, despise false and shallow piety.  But nowhere in His
Word does He bestow upon man the right to determine to what degree public
worship should be permitted.  When you displace an almighty God in choosing
to assume the role of determining when and where His children may worship,
you are walking on a weak thread of assumed holiness.  If I were in your
place as administrators, I would have to ask myself: "What does God hate
more?" Preaching against false piety is one thing.  Instruction in wisdom,
backed with Scripture leaves room for the Holy Spirit to work in hearts.
 Policing piety requires that men--not God--determine what will, and what
will not be allowed.  As administrators, you are treading on thin ice.  In no
way would I want to be in your place.

    I have been a student at Pensacola Christian for nearly seven semesters.
 I stand to lose a lot for going against the grade on this issue, but I know
that God is only preparing me to stand up for what is right when I enter the
world.

     I would die for my faith.  It is certainly not too much for God to ask
that I sacrifice a few years of college education.  I am prepared to do so if
necessary.

     With this in mind, I would ask that you remove this policy which denies
students the privilege to study God's Word and pray together as they choose.
I would also ask, since the policy was announced in a chapel service, that
you publicly recant the stand you have taken up to this point in time.  If
you feel that you cannot do this, I have already decided that I will withdraw
from Pensacola Christian College.  I would no longer be able to remain here
"in the spirit of this institution."  I will never surrender any right to
worship freely--not at this school, or any other.  This is what you are
asking the student body to do.  Are you in the place of God? (Gen. 50:19)

     "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey
God rather than men." (Acts 5:29)  God never promised us that His service
would be easy, but service to God is a command and not an option.

     Upon my withdrawal from Pensacola Christian, should this become
necessary, I will endeavor to relate this incident to as many people as
possible.  It is my prayer that those who may be considering coming to PCC to
continue their education would be made aware of this administrations'
policies before they arrive on the campus and sign away a good part of their
constitutional protection as American citizens.

     I may stand alone in my endeavor, but I know that I am not the first,
nor will I be the last.  I know there are others who believe as I do--who
believe that there is no place for regulating the worship of our God.  As
Jesus said in Matthew 12:25, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought
to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself shall not
stand:" There is a great division on this campus.  A division which is not
all that apparent at this point because there have not been enough people who
have stood up for the right.  It is my fervent prayer that God will give
others the courage to stand up to this administration.  "So that we may
boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto
me." (Heb.13:6)

     The administration has apparently succeeded in stifling the protest of
this policy for the most part.  But I claim II Chronicles 20:12.  "O our God,
wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company
that cometh against us; neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon
thee."

     My eyes are upon God.  I will not change my mind.  I will not
compromise.  I have the peace that accompanies a clear conscience.  "If God
be for us, who can be against us?"

     Please reconsider.  I would ask that you inform me of your intentions by
Saturday's end.


Prayerfully,

Jeremy Piontek  
------------------------------------------------------------

     If you want to know the core problem of Pensacola Christian College, you
have just read it.  PCC believes that it and it alone may determine what is
the will of God and the movings of the Holy Spirit.  This is not a preference
problem.  This is not an educational problem.  This is, first of all, a
problem of honesty and forthrightness.  Dr. Horton clearly maintains that the
Dean's offices are there to help - including many of your children.  But what
he doesn't tell you is that they will only help insofar as it HELPS PCC.
 They are not concerned with helping or loving the students, your children,
but they are concerned with making sure your children do not know enough to
question their self-ordained theology.  
     But more importantly than that is the second problem that is as clear as
can be here.  What this is is a problem with the Word of God, and I submit to
you that a problem with the Word of God is a serious problem.  You can
continue to try to justify it, and you may continue to try to tear The Voice
down for speaking up, but as long we have a voice, and as long as PCC decides
to go against the clear "spirit of Christianity," The Voice will continue to
tell the stories of heroes such as Jeremy Piontek, and the stories of those
who slander the halls of truth, such as the PCC administration.
     
########################################################

     IV.  YOUR COMMENTS

The opinions, ideas, and facts stated in this section do not necessarily
represent those of The Student Voice.  We make our best efforts to be fair
and to verify factual statements.
-------------------------------------------

[From T---, a recent alumnus - eds.]

Dear [Voice]:

For a month now I have continued to be only an observer to the Voice and
its critics and friends.  After remarking again and again about the pros
and cons read by both sides of mountains of issues surrounding PCC, I
have come to realize that both sides have become involved in a "cold
war".  Neither side wanting to actually "fight it out" only threaten and
try to motivate its followers.  You were right in identifying yourself; I
only hope Lupos will do the same next.  

I will continue to read your letters each week.  Each new issue brings
new meaning to the term internet warfare.  May the best man win!

Sincerely,

'96 Alumnus
-------------------------------------------

[From R---, - eds.]

[Voice],

Please listen carfully to what I have to say, I do not need nor do I want
any response to this email.  Read it, take it for what its worth, delete it
and go on.

I do not know or even care about what happend to you at PCC or who you are
holding a gruge against, I could care less, but... You know down in your
heart as well as every reader of your Voice that there are far worse places
on earth than PCC.  PCC has never claimed to be perfect.  There is not a
single Christian college in the world that is perfect.  There are big and
small problems with all colleges.  I don't see you trying to put down those
other colleges... why not?  

You can justify your reasons for putting down PCC till you are blue in the
face, but you know deep down in your heart that there really is know reason
at all.  You can say that "I just want to inform the potential students of
what they might be getting into" Trust me they already know, PCC does have
a big reputation.  I knew more than anyone what I was getting into when I
went to PCC, however I did not let Satan give me a rebellious heart and I
had fun there.  And listen to this, If I wanted to I could easily give you
a number of things to print in your student voice against PCC, the very
staff itself could give you a number of things also.

My point is this... You and I were not put here on this earth to pick apart
all the problems a Christian ministry like PCC may have, every ministry has
them!  There is nothing you can say about PCC that I do not already know
about them, I am sure that most (not all) of the things you and your
readers say against PCC are to some degree true, like I said any ministry
will have problems.  You need to focus on the good things like how many
people have come to know the Lord at the personal saviour at PCC and things
like that!  If you could care less about those things, don't say anything
at all.

I don't know you very well, but I am sure you are a normal level headed
guy... however you should refocus on the big picture.  I am sure you are
capable of forgiving PCC for what ever they might have done to you and go
on with your life.  My purpose for this letter is not for a debate,
primarily because there is nothing to debate and also because you would
probably win.  I can't sit here and say every thing you say about PCC is
false because some of it is true.  However there is a need to refocus if
you just can't bring youself to refocus just let it go.  Is it really worth
losing sleep over?  I believe that you do know down in your heart that what
you have been doing is pretty shallow and meaningless.  People know what
they are getting into when they choose to attend PCC and if they can't
stand it they will leave or get kicked out.

As a matter of fact there is a faculty member at PCC whom I can't stand and
I actully went to his office and yelled at him for his teaching methods or
lack thereof.
But I rolled with it and went on.  There is deeper meaning to life than not
getting along with a teacher. And hey I made it through PCC and I believe
you did to.

See ya

			R----
-------------------------------------------

In reponse to what has happened with the phones at PCC recently -- 

Those of us who have had the fun and fortune to go surfing on the 'Net,
we know just how wonderful this new technological era is.  The Internet
is the best thing that's happened since Ben Franklin discovered male
pattern baldness, and for the college to deny the students the use of
such a tremendous resource is nearly the same as depriving milk from a
baby - without proper nourishment, how can you expect the baby to grow? 
And since PCC is so bent on treating their students like children, the
metaphor seems all too appropriate.

I have friends and know of many others who have found jobs as the direct
result of the Internet, and to me, to prohibit Internet access is to deny
many soon-to-be-graduating students the means to increase their chances
of success in the job market.

But, seeing what PCC has done, it just goes to show you the lengths that
administration will go to maintain absolute control, and how much they
fear open minds and the doubts which undoubtably must plague the
consciences of the PCC hierarchy.  Just as we question them, they must
also be continually asking themselves if they truly believe, before God,
that what they are doing is right.  It's like a good friend of mine once
said to me after chapel at PCC:  "If they're so right about everything,
why do they hafta keep reminding us that they're right?"

Oh, and BTW - I have a question for all those anti-Student V people out
there:  Please, for my benefit, attempt to give me the name and location
of ANY educational institution in America, secular or Christian, other
than PCC, where the students have been denied any and all access to the
Internet.
C---
-------------------------------------------

[This is from parents of a PCC student - eds.]

Greetings Student V:
Have you heard this one?  I just received a call from our daughter who is 
a student of PCC.  I was again rendered speechless when she told me that 
she was not allowed to visit her intended at his house under his parents 
supervision (both are on staff).  What caused my speechlessness, though, 
was that if we, her parents, lived in the area he would be allowed to 
visit her, under our supervision.  His parents are not very happy about 
this.  It caused me to wonder if they (PCC head honchos) believe that 
parents of young women are able to control their offspring better than 
parents of young men.  To carry it one step further, maybe they just 
believe that young men, even though, they may belong to Christ cannot 
control themselves and are totally rendered defenseless because of raging 
hormones.  This is all regardless of the fact they are in the company of 
their parents.  
On behalf of my daughter and her young man I would like to say  that we 
are quite pleased with her choice.  We could not ask for a more 
level-headed, non-legalist, Christ-centered friend, in spite of the 
slanted views he has had to put up with at PCC.  The reason is, neither 
he nor his parents have closed their minds and continue to study and 
search the scriptures to see if these things be true, just as Paul 
exhorted the Berean Christians to do.
Continued Blessings on you and your newsletter,
-------------------------------------------

Paul,
	I am disapointed that you would publish an article "from an anonymous
observer."  You have called "those who adhere to the PCC system" cowards,
and yet you print comments from a person who is too cowardly to add his
name to his two cents.
	I read your newsletter simply for the laughs.  You claim that the StudentV
newsletter is your ministry.  You claim that these articles shine the light
of the truth on the problems of the PCC system.  I would like to read an
article in your newsletter that tells the story of someone who read the
StudentV and drew closer to the Lord as a result.  	If your newsletter is
ever going to be more than a gossip column, you must not publish articles
sent by anonymous observers or publish second-hand stories about people who
have made mistakes.  Your newsletter could indeed be a ministry if you were
to focus your God-given talents on expounding the Truth of the Word. 
Gossip will never defeat a corrupt system, but God's Word can.  As it is
with every ministry run by people, PCC will make mistakes.  However, if PCC
has erred Scripturally, your newsletter would be more effective if you were
to fill it with Bible passages that addressed the error.
Chris Sallee

>>> Chris, perhaps if you would stop laughing and start reading, you would
find all of the things you so desperately are looking for.  Paul S. Perdue,
Editor 
----------------------------------------

[From an alumnus regarding the Campus Church - eds.]

Another remark about the Campus Church...Isn't the pastor supposed to be the
"leader of the flock?"  He is supposed to be the spiritual director and work
with the people of the congregation according to what I understand about the
"New Testament model" we hear so much about.  Something that I noticed in
addition to the virtually mindless head-nodding that you wrote about is
equally disturbing to me in light of the above.  Whenever a speaker would say
something that the "congregation" did not know what to think about, who did
they automatically look at for a reaction?  It usually was not Pastor
Schettler or Pastor Redlin or Mr. Allen.  Who's sermon reactions did everyone
refer to when they would say (after the sermon and concerning the speaker),
"I wonder if he'll ever speak here again."  Dr. Horton's presence on the
platform is quite the reminder that even the Campus Church must still pass
"Ad Check."  So much for the pastor being the leadership in the church.  Who
do you think would come out the winner in any disagreement between Dr. Horton
and Pastor Schettler regarding the direction of the Campus Church?  Usually,
if you reduce it to those terms, most people get the point.

########################################################

     The Student Voice is:

Paul S. Perdue     <studentv@aol.com>
lupos   <lupos@usa.net>

Please feel free to voice your thoughts, stories, and opinions.  
Thank you for reading The Voice!
########################################################
THE STUDENT VOICE, PCC's alternative newsletter


