Inside Higher Ed:
Bob Jones University has issued a formal apology for its past racist policies, such as refusing to admit black students until 1971 and banning interracial dating until 2000. While the university’s statement noted that segregation was “sadly was a common practice of both public and private universities” in the years up until the civil rights movement, it went on to say that the university “conformed to the culture rather than provide a clear Christian counterpoint to it.” The university added: “In so doing, we failed to accurately represent the Lord and to fulfill the commandment to love others as ourselves. For these failures we are profoundly sorry. Though no known antagonism toward minorities or expressions of racism on a personal level have ever been tolerated on our campus, we allowed institutional policies to remain in place that were racially hurtful.” Some alumni and students — organized into a group called Please Reconcile — have been encouraging the university to make such a statement.
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