Student Activities
Student Ministry A distinguishing feature of Biola Univer sity is its emphasis on student ministry for undergraduates which gives the student practical experience through a program of in-service training and Christian character development. At present, students serve in more that 300 churches in Southern California. Opportunities are provided in gospel teams, youth directorships, hospi tals, released time education classes, Juve nile Hall, child evangelism and other activ1- t1es. While enrolled at Biola, the student is given the privilege of expressi ng his prefer ence in Christian outreach and is encour aged to accept the opportunity which best suits his desires and abilities. Each student is expected to devote a minimum of three hours each week in his assigned area. Since completion of one assignment for each se mester is necessary to satisfy graduation requirements, a record is kept of complet ed ministries.
Each week SMU sponsors the chapel program by which students are challenged and informed concerning mission opportu nities, and each year they present the an nual Missionary Conference. Other activi ties include missions multi-media presenta tions, organizing mission prayer groups and financing missionary proJects of several thousand dol lars. Athletics Intercollegiate athletics at Biola Universi ty provide men and women with interest and ability in athletics an opportunity to compete with other institutions of higher education whose size and athlet ic pol icies are similar. Intercollegiate competition for men 1s conducted in the following sports: baseball, basketball, cross-country, wres tling, soccer and track and field . Women compete with other colleges in basketball, tennis and volleyball. Intramural activities are organized in both team and individual sports for men and women who do not have the interest, ability or time for varsity teams, but who desire well-planned physical activity and sports competition. Student Publications The undergraduate student body spon sors two student publications: a weekly newspaper, The Chimes, and a yearbook, the Bio/an, which also contains a fine arts section. These serve to transmit news. keep a record of school life and provide further opportunity for student creativity and expression. Forensics In recent years Biola University has been ranked in the top ten percent of successful speech squads among colleges and univer sities nation-wi de. As an active member of the Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association, Biola regularly attends debate and individual events speech tournaments throughout the western states. Each year in the fall and spring, Biola hosts intercolle giate speech tournaments on campus.
Devotional Life The university believes the spiritual life of the individual student in the midst of a program of study to be of utmost impor tance. Therefore, every student is urged to set aside time, both morning and evening, for personal devotions. In addition to these personal devotional periods, undergrad uate students meet daily, Monday through Friday, for a half-hour chapel service w ith worshi p and praise as the primary pur pose. The chapel programs include speak ers chosen from faculty, alumni, students and visiting guests, musical groups, Chris tian films, drama and other special events. Each fall, soon after classes are in progress, there is a Spiritual Emphasis Week. Once each semester the school observes a planned Day of Prayer and informal prayer groups meet as a regular part of residence hall life. The Torrey Memorial Bible Con ference and t he Missionary Conference are high points in t he development of the spiri t ual life of the student. Attendance is requ ired at al l of t hese events. Associated Students The Associated Students is the under graduate student government of Biola Uni versity in which all students registered for seven units or more are members. The Associated Students has as its stated pur pose: to develop a community that is seek ing t he person of God and is committed to glorifying H im in al l its t houghts and ac tions.
The representative power of the stu dent membership is vested in the Assoc iat ed Students Council. The AS. Council is composed of eleven members who work together as a team to carry on the func tions of the government. The Council in cludes the AS. president, controller and secretary, Chapel Board chairperson , Stu dent Missionary Union president, Student Services Board chairperson, Social Activi ties Board chairperson, Athletic Board chairpe rson, Publications Board chair person, Spiritual Life Board chairperson, and Student Relations Board chairperson. All of these, with the exception of the sec retary, are voting members. Members of the AS. Council are re sponsible for facilitating and formalizing dialogue with the administration and facul t y of the university. They gather weekly to discuss business, resolve conflicts and init i ate programs. All students are welcome to attend and participate in all regular meet ings of the council. Council members have their offices located on the upper level of the Student Union Building. Tuition fees paid by graduate students do not include membership in the Associ ated Students. Student Missionary Union The Student Missionary Union is a stu dent organization of which every under graduate student of Biola University is a member. A major function of SMU is to provide opportunities for students to share their faith in Christ by various means of evangelism. These opportunities take place locally in ministries to East Los Ange les, Watts, La Mirada and the surrounding vicinity. In addition, many students spend their summers in overseas ministries with experienced missionaries through the Stu dents Abroad program.
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