Oh, and just so everyone knows what they're getting into before they apply to this school, I got this from wikipedia for your information:
Chapel and Bible class attendance are mandatory for students who are taking at least 8 hours for credit in a given semester. Additionally, students must complete at least 8 hours of Bible courses in order to complete the Liberal Arts curriculum. "First Time In College" (FTIC) students must take a survey course in New Testament during the fall of their first year, followed by a survey of the Old Testament in the spring.
Students who live on campus (a majority of students) are required to be in their dorms by midnight during the week and 1 a.m. on weekends. Except in certain circumstances, men and women are not allowed to visit one another's dorm rooms.
Harding has a no-smoking policy on campus. Disciplinary action may be taken against students who smoke off campus, and illegal drugs are prohibited both on and off campus. The consumption of alcohol is also prohibited for students and faculty both on and off campus. A violation of this policy usually results in expulsion for one semester. Exceptions to this rule have been made for missionaries participating in communion services in countries where "
partaking of the cup" includes wine. (
Searcy is in
White County, which is a
dry county.)
Harding requires faculty to dress professionally when attending class, chapel, lyceum and American Studies programs.
Students and faculty may not participate in any sexual activity outside of traditional marriage, including homosexual behavior. The use or display of pornography is prohibited.
So no, I guess pharmacy students don't have to go to church although I'm sure there is strong peer pressure to attend. And pharmacy students probably don't have to take the required bible classes either. But if you're on campus you can't have anyone of the opposite sex visit your dorm and you certainly can't have sex unless married (and of course since gay people are banned from marriage that means even committed gay couples are not allowed). You have to be in your room by midnight. You can't smoke or drink on or OFF campus without risk of expulsion (talk about a draconian policy). And you have to be surrounded by a bunch of repressed fundamentalist christian kids all day everyday. Oh, and look at the special guest speakers at the college this past academic year. George W. Bush and Ben Stein (creationist evolution-denier). How enlightening!
Look, I know the college is private and has a right to exist. But it doesn't have a right to not be thoroughly criticized for its repressive, often hateful beliefs. And I think broadcasting how thoroughly repulsive many of this college's rules are is a good thing so that everyone knows just what this college is all about so that those who do not agree with what it preaches will not make the mistake of sending it an application fee.