Bob Jones University Has Way of Shutting That Year-Long Sex Abuse Study down

Wonkette
February 12, 2014

http://wonkette.com/541557/bob-jones-university-has-way-of-shutting-that-year-long-sex-abuse-study-down


Nothing looks the least bit suspicious about this, right? Back in January 2013, fundamentalist Pod-People incubator Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, hired an independent third-party consulting group to investigate claims of long-running sexual abuse at the school, as well as ineffective administration responses to reports of abuse. They were to prepare a report, and make recommendations on how BJU should respond to cases of sexual abuse. And then, after almost a year, and just a couple months before the group was supposed to issue its report, BJU fired the investigators with no explanation, citing only vague “concerns” about how the group was conducting its investigation. But they will definitely be praying for any students who may have been abused. If any. No need to dig into it too much, because ultimately God knows the truth and will take care of things in His own time.

You also have to love the name of the group that was hired to do the investigation: GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment), which sounds like something from a bad Christian adventure comic book (Nick Stigmata, Agent of GRACE). But apparently, despite the silly name, GRACE is supposed to be a reputable, independent group that doesn’t sugar-coat its reports, according to blogger John Shore:

Read more at http://wonkette.com/541557/bob-jones-university-has-way-of-shutting-that-year-long-sex-abuse-study-down#ME6b2dbDEX4ZfylP.99

By all accounts, GRACE was and is an integrity-based organization that could be counted upon to be honest, thorough, fair, and above all protective of the BJU students with whom it would necessarily speak in the course of its investigation.


That last part is crucial.

Bob Jones University students are terrified of the power elite at BJU, and none more so than any BJU student who has been the victim of sexual abuse.

completed approximately 80 in person interviews in Greenville and in Charlotte, conducted numerous phone interviews with individuals throughout the country, and reviewed all written statements and other materials submitted to us.

At this point, we are most concerned about the potential impact of this termination on those who participated in the investigation and are waiting for the final report. We grieve with those whose hopes will be crushed should this independent process remain incomplete. Please know that we heard your voice and it was not spoken in vain. GRACE offers its assurance that we will do our utmost to protect your confidences in the interviews and surveys from unauthorized use or disclosure. You have honored us with your courage and trust. We are privileged to have sat with each of you.

Over the last several months, we grew concerned about how GRACE was pursuing our objectives, and on Jan. 27, 2014, BJU terminated its contract with GRACE

We grew concerned that in the process GRACE had begun going beyond the original outlined intentions. And so we wanted to sit down and talk about them, because it had gone askew. And so we terminated our agreement with GRACE.

I just want to reiterate that we are committed to identifying and reaching out to those individuals.

Burchwell claims when her parents finally reported the assaults to university administrators, they were told not to go to the police.

Burchwell says administrators also tried to blame what happened on her clothing.

“What was I wearing when all these incidents occurred? What did I have on? Was it tight? Was it low? Obviously, the point being it was somehow my fault,” she said.