February 21, 2006
The Next SC Litmus Test?
For Republicans in '00, it was whether to fly the confederate battle flag atop the state house dome, along with the US flag and state flag. The confederate flag went up in 1961 (to commemorate the Civil War Centennial) and came down in 2000.)
For Democrats, it was supporting the NAACP boycott resulting from the state's refusal to modify the flag. (Remember when Dems didn't dare stay in hotels because they couldn't spend money in the state?)
This article suggests that it may be... Starbucks coffee.
Bob Jones University has changed its coffee suppliers because the company supports "homosexual events and causes." Apparently, one of those message cups contained a pro-gay message.
Will that keep Mitt Romney out of Starbucks in Columbia? Will John Edwards make sure to bring the media with him as he purposefully (and somberly) strides into Starbucks?
Will any potential '08 candidate visit Bob Jones again?
Posted at 03:13 PM
Comments
FYI, Starbucks products are not banned from the campus. In fact, I just finished sipping a cup of Starbucks' Guatemala blend. In short, BJU doesn't want to help fund a company that supports homosexuality. Would you knowingly pay money to a company that supported something you felt was morally wrong? Like genocide? Or a company that endorsed teenage drug use? And the fact that a candidate goes to Starbucks will not deter students/faculty/staff from voting for him/her. Thank you.
Natalie | 02.21.06 05:55 PM
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As much I'd love to see a presidential candidate back at BJU (I'm a student there), I do rather doubt anyone ever will come after the 2000 election fiasco, though I also doubt homosexuality will be the primary reason. Right now, too many other major parties share the University's line on gay issues (including the massive Roman Catholic and Southern Baptist churches), so candidates will likely just stay away from that as a separation issue. Most likely they just won't want the whole controversy of supporting that conservative an organization.
One note, though: to say that BJU "banned" Starbucks is an overstatement (as the article you linked mentioned). They simply switched providers for the campus cafe.
Scott Buchanan | 02.21.06 06:13 PM
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I am curious if you read the article you referenced. In it the Public Relations official is quoted as saying that using the word "banned" does not correctly reflect what has occurred. The article referenced also says explicitly that Bob Jones University did not have a license for a franchise, simply a food service contract. It has nothing to do with political candidates visiting a coffee franchise. I would strongly urge your readers to be discerning when reading things that do not completely make sense or seem to contain strong language. As is the case here, the facts as they are portrayed are not always the facts. It is the responsibility of the media, in all forms, to be responsible in correctly portraying the facts. I am afraid that this has not occurred in this instance and I hope that The Hotline staff recognize this shortfall and issue a correction. Often the media is criticized as being biased towards one side or another. While I would hope that it is never actually intentional bias, misquoting or misrepresenting an issue, however small, can be detrimental to a media organization's reputation.
JT Smada | 02.21.06 06:21 PM
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As a current Bob Jones University Student I have a few corrections: 1) Starbucks is not banned at Bob Jones. The SnackShop no longer sells it. It is perfectly fine to buy Starbucks somewhere off campus and bring it on. It is allowable to have merchandise with the Starbucks logo. It is allowable to go to Starbucks. 2) BJU contacted Starbucks about the offensive quotation (it contained a f-word) and asked Starbucks to stop producing the cups. Starbucks said that it was considering ceasing production of the cups and would contact BJU shortly. They never did. After repeated attempts to contact Starbucks, over the course of a few months, Stephen Jones, the president of BJU, decided to stop selling Starbucks in the SnackShop.
It's really not all that sensational at all. Since students are allowed in a Starbucks I doubt BJU or it's constituency will care if a politician visits a Starbucks.
David Siglin | 02.21.06 07:46 PM
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I think I speak for most logical common sense people when I say :"who the f**k gives a shit about Bob Jones right wing university"??? I wonder how valuable the idiotic degrees from there are worth. Not much considering the drivel I just read. People in SC only care about social issues and gya bashing and trying to outlaw abortion. Good luck George Allen, McCain, Romney!!!
Notcrazy | 02.21.06 08:23 PM
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Kudos to the Bob Jones students for visiting this blog and for coming to the defense of their university. But their comments conflict with the official administration line delivered by Pait, which is that BJU dumped Starbucks on campus because "They were supportive of homosexual events and causes." The silly coffee policy isn't as extreme as their former ban on interracial dating, but it's still an embarrassment for a university trying to inch its way into the political mainstream.
Richard Hand | 02.21.06 11:48 PM
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Dear Notcrazy,
Assuming you have a degree from some academic institution, I'm sceptical in regards to the quality of your education - your logic and arguments (if we can call them that) are a bit, shall we say, illogical.
BJU doesn't care what anyone else thinks; however, they do care about what the Scripture says. Their actions in regards to SBX merely reflect their religious convictions...and as was pointed out - SBX wasn't even banned.
By the way, this BJU alumnus is currently a graduate student at the London School of Economics (#1 in the world rankings) and several of my friends went to Ivy League schools. Thus, I'd say the people who actually know something about academic quality think our degrees are worth quite a bit.
Jonathan | 02.22.06 07:11 AM
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After reading the comment again (the Starbucks comment) I found I was wrong. I thought the quote contained the f-word but it didn't.
To NotCrazy: I find your hubris entertaining.
David Siglin | 02.22.06 10:09 AM
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It is with great delight to see that there are college students who are supportive of a university's decision to establish boundaries of what it will endorse and what it won't. How refreshing to know they are trying to reflect moral standards - this is what made America great in the first place - honoring God instead of appealing to man.
Patriot | 02.22.06 09:46 PM
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As a student of the university I don't find it "an embarrassment", and I don't feel that the university is trying to "inch its way into the political mainstream". I think it's good that the university is willing to stand up for what they believe in. I think to even call it a "coffee policy" is too much. It's not like there is a rule about it. They just don't sell it anymore. I think people are making way to much over what coffee the campus carries. If we were changing carriers because it we thought it tasted better no one would care. BJU is a Christian university in more than just name. It shouldn't surprise anyone that the university is taking a stand on this issue or any other issue they take a stand on.
Roca | 02.23.06 09:36 AM
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Dear Mr. Hand... You said "The silly coffee policy isn't as extreme as their former ban on interracial dating, but it's still an embarrassment for a university trying to inch its way into the political mainstream."
I would not call it an "embarrassment" but more a merit badge. Bob Jones is in no way "trying to inch its way into the political mainstream." Their agenda has nothing to do with the political mainstream and never has. Bob Jones aims for something higher and better than that of falling into place with the 'flow of society.' They are concerned more with their beliefs in a Holy God and pleasing him than what the media, large corporations or politicians think.
EthanStrickler | 02.24.06 05:18 PM
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I am a former student of BJU.. Not alum, just former student and recovering christian fundamentalist. I was originally surprised to hear that BJ was serving Starbucks coffee on campus. The company I work for has a very close and strong relationship with Starbucks. As a whole, the company seems to be very open, accepting and inclusive. Concepts all lost on those closely affliated with BJ. So the fact that they have dicontinued serving their coffee based on something as ridiculous as a quote on a cup is no surprise at all. And the fact that there are so many people on line dogmatically defending this exclusive and elitist institution is not surprising either. Since the university's founding over 75 years ago they do not deal with criticism well at all.
Adam Howell | 03.04.06 02:20 PM
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