Dear Editor,
It was my privilege to visit beautiful Pepperdine University last weekend as a guest of the Graziadio School of Business. I was impressed by the kind reception, the innovative atmosphere and the outstanding school representatives. Pepperdine is clearly a unique place with much to offer its students.
I was disappointed, however, to observe through reading the March 14 edition of The Graphic, that the school’s Christian commitment seems to lag behind its academic achievements. After reading the articles “Junior poses nude in pictorial,” “Condoms no longer available,” and “Finding answers on a journey of faith,” I came to the conclusion that Pepperdine is not quite the community of Christian academics I had hoped for.
As a graduate of a conservative Christian university (BYU), I appreciate the fact that promoting pornography was at least called into question, but it appeared that the school somewhat agrees with one student who “(doesn’t) think it’s a big deal.” Questioned students said it was merely “tasteless,” or even “awesome.” One student showed his profound spiritual sensitivity by declaring: “Everyone takes their clothes off everyday, so why not get paid for it.”
Of course, Ms. Stuchiner may be telling the truth when claiming “I’m not involved in anything like that” — not a bad strategy considering the upright administration would themselves have to look at the vile magazine to verify the accusations. But why should they even bother? They would only be perceived as being provincial. And besides, The Graphic reports that the images of their Christian girl were “modest” in comparison.
If the university has a policy to promote traditional Christian values, it wasn’t obvious to me. But if the schools equivocated about how to handle the “strippers and other ladies of ‘ill repute’ at Pepperdine,” they seemed even more confused about condoms on campus. I applaud the administration’s concern about promoting promiscuity by making condoms readily available. But I think it should be more concerned with what is on the minds of the students than with what is on the shelves of the Student Health Center. Finally, Dr. Maddox’s revisionist interpretation of the Bible in support of gay marriages convinced me that the school’s foundation in faith is under severe strain. To his credit, Dr. Maddox admits that “(he) may be wrong in much of what (he had) written” and is not “claiming here to present definitive answers to biblical questions.” But somehow he claims just enough authority to assert that “Dr. Misch didn’t either” in her defense of traditional marriage.
I have decided against attending Pepperdine next fall, but hope that as this great university completes the foundations for new buildings it will not neglect to fortify its foundation in faith.
Sincerely,
Corey Wride
March 28, 2002