To the ARP Church:
Two weeks ago, I brought my four years at Erskine to a close, graduating with a B.A. in Mathematics. I cared deeply about Erskine while I was there, taking leadership in four organizations (including a two-year tenure as an editor for The Mirror, Erskine’s student newspaper) and graduating with a 4.0 GPA. As I open a new chapter in my life, I still care about Erskine and will do whatever I can to help her succeed in her mission.
During my time in Due West, I had some outstanding professors; they were knowledgeable in their field, they knew precisely how to communicate that knowledge to their students, and they cared deeply about their Christian faith and its integration into the classroom. Sometimes I disagreed with their theology or academic positions (then again, sometimes I agreed wholeheartedly), but they were clearly committed to an excellence in academics which rested on a deep Christian faith. Their classes, along with some great friends I met along the way, made me glad that I chose Erskine as the location for my undergraduate experience.
However, during those four years, I saw some disturbing actions by Erskine administration and faculty members. Most disturbing were the common responses by administration members: feigning ignorance, making empty promises, and flat out lying. I saw friends led astray by certain faculty members. In fact, there were times that I could draw parallels between a student’s progression in a particular class and his regression in commitment to the church. When I confronted the President of the College on the matter, he claimed ignorance. If the undercutting of Erskine as a Christian institution were more subtle, I would be able to see the President’s position on the matter. But the simple fact is that the divide between faculty who support a Christ-centered education and those who would separate faith and learning is well-known. I talked to a professor who told me that if Erskine fired either its pro-integration or its anti-integration faculty, the number of professors would be cut nearly in half. This professor made the comment after only one year in Due West; if our President is ignorant, he has no excuse.
To use a more concrete example, my time at Erskine was not half gone before I felt compelled to defend Dr. John Wingard when his teaching methods (particularly in regard to his faith) were attacked by another professor in front of the entire class as unbecoming of a scholar. When professors take pot shots at each other in front of their classes—particularly in such cases as this, when the professor being criticized is not even present to defend himself—there is clearly something wrong. As a side note, Dr. Wingard won the Excellence in Teaching award that year.
He probably never heard about this particular incident, but Dr. Wingard left Erskine mere weeks afterwards. In a recent conversation with the President, I mentioned that Erskine never should have let him go. The President responded that Erskine made a lucrative financial offer but that it was not accepted. I mentioned that if the college were not so divided, outstanding faculty may have more incentive to stay, regardless of finances. (Dr. Wingard is not the only one of Erskine’s best professors that has left during my time there. For length’s sake, I will refrain from giving more). The President responded that my perceived division was not the main factor in Dr. Wingard’s departure. Soon after, I was made aware of a letter written by Dr. Wingard that very clearly substantiated my claim and invalidated the President’s. Is the President unaware of why the College’s best faculty members leave? I think not.
A more egregious example of poor administrative responses to problems at Erskine came in the Student Forum during the last week of school. Two students and one professor, all three of which I trust greatly, had accused the Admissions Office of shirking its duty to recruit Christians by refusing to allow faith in Christ as an interview question in the Presidential Scholarship competition. When one formalized the complaint at the Student Forum, the Vice President for Enrollment directly contradicted their claims, saying that faith most assuredly was a question. One side is lying.
Why do I bring my complaints before the ARP Church? I presume that the ARPC desires its denominational college to deliver a strong academic education on a foundation of even stronger Christian commitment. I also presume that the ARPC has some sway over the actions of the college. Thus, I humbly ask that the ARPC intervene in Erskine’s identity crisis, directing her in a way that will strengthen the school and bring glory to God.
God bless,
James N. Brantner
Class of 2009