North Greenville: We’re now allowed to dance
Carrie Hendersen, Vision Magazine Staff Writer
Over the years, North Greenville University has been known for it�s no dancing policy. A series on YouTube about the school, �North Greenville 101,� even included the fact in its theme song.
�North Greenville! We are a Christian school! / North Greenville! we are really cool! / North Greenville! Give it a chance! / North Greenville! We�re not allowed to dance!�
�It�s just been a long standing tradition in the Baptist Church and Baptist schools and some other places that you didn�t dance,� said Billy Watson, director of student services.
However, with the new year coming, North Greenville reevaluated some of its policies, including the no-dancing rule.
�When we looked at the dancing policy, we wanted to have different types of social interaction,� Watson said.
Elizabeth Nelsen, a junior broadcast media major, said she was excited whenever the new policy came out, as she didn�t have the opportunity for school dances before college since she was home schooled.
�That�s another great part about North Greenville,� she said, �Adding a new dancing policy adds to the community we have on campus.�
The new student handbook emphasizes NGU�s focus of building a community of grace.
�It is a place where rigid rules kept in place by strict enforcement are replaced by right living through a covenant agreement based on the shared values and marvelous grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.�
This is part of what NGU is striving toward with it�s new policy. As Watson said, NGU is still holding true to its motto of �Christ makes the difference.� Dances are planned by student life and only certain appropriate dances are allowed, such as swing dancing or line dancing.
�It�s a big group activity, more than what people would conceive as a dance, or what people see as dancing that happens at clubs. I don�t think it�s anything like that or ever will be like that,� Watson said.
The goal is to allow students to interact and have fun without compromising any of NGU�s values.
North Greenville�s first dance at the beginning of the semester was a success, according to Watson. The students were able to have fun and there were no issues with violating NGU values.
�It�s up to the students and us to make sure it�s done in a proper way,� Watson says.
Nelsen said she enjoyed the first NGU dance.
�[It] was a lot of fun. . . We could just dance and be goofy,� she said.
The plan is to have five or six dances a year with a formal closer to the end of the year, Watson said. Nelsen said that she is especially excited about having a formal dance.
�[We�d] get to dress up, get asked to dance. . . It�d be super cute,� Nelsen said.
