Editor’s Note: Michael J. Christensen, an English literature major and co-editor-in-chief of The Point, graduated from PLNU in 1977. He received a Master’s in religion from Yale and a doctorate in theology from Drew University, where he taught for 20 years. Currently professor of theology at Northwind Seminary and executive director of WorldHope Corps, he is an ordained minister in The United Methodist Church and lives in San Diego.
It’s been 50 fricken years, ya’ll!
In the spring of 1976, we made our mark at Point Loma Nazarene University by publishing an underground newspaper named “The Blunt” to protest the administration shutting down The Point. They tried to stop us from writing controversial articles.
Our radical student group of dissenters wrote some crazy things in college in 1975-76, I now admit, but we also spoke truth to power (or rather we published articles and editorials about what we perceived as the misuse of power that challenged authority and the status quo).
Some of our editorials confronted the differential status and treatment of women during a time of budding feminism on campus: “Jesus was a feminist,” one editorial declared. “Should dorm hours be enforced for female students but not for male students?” was another. Other satires and parodies poked fun at the “Ring by Spring” dating rituals, “The Art of Seduction” on campus, and “The Adventures of Melvin Manual and Nancy Nazarene.”
One staff writer asked: “Should the administration interrogate students suspected of being gay?” Another dared to object to the official mascot: “Is Charley Crusader (a reminder of the historic Christian Crusades against Muslims and Jews) a fitting symbol for an institution of the Church of the Nazarene?” Years later, the violent Crusader mascot was replaced with the peaceful Sea Lions, dorm rules were applied equally to men and women, and LGBTQ students were allowed to attend PLNU.
Some of our articles embarrassed the president and attracted criticism from church leaders and college constituents. After The Point was censored, funding cut off and the newspaper shut down, our faculty advisors, professors David McKinney and Noel Riley Fitch, resigned from their oversight role in protest and in support of a free and independent student press.
Within two weeks, we brainstormed, raised money and published an underground student newspaper — The Blunt — which was distributed to dorms in the middle of the night. Our underground rag raised eyebrows and outrage, but we kept writing satires about silliness and managed to publish a second edition of The Blunt before we were suspended and silenced.
We all lived to tell the story and continued to gather for reunions over the last 50 years. Remembering our alma mater, we raised money to endow a “Blunt Scholarship” to encourage critical thinking, free speech and independent journalism on campus and in the world.
Fifty years later
Our Blunt group is still remembered by the institution and the class of 1976. I love what Professor McKinney (who we honored with our scholarship) said about us:
“The Bluntees were a unique group of students, ranging from conservative to liberal, who had brilliant minds, unquenchably creative spirits, a disdain for the lie, for the hypocrisy and for superstition … I proudly associate with this wild pack of unpredictable saints.”
And we are grateful to Dean Nelson, professor of journalism, for writing in support of our scholarship:
“I need to tell you how impressive those Blunt students were. … They poked and scrutinized and held powerful people accountable. That’s what journalists do. So maybe some financial support to students to carry that torch that they lit would be the best way to go. We could call the person ‘A Blunt Scholar.’”
So far, we’ve raised over $50,000 for the scholarship. Enough to award $1,000-1,500 to 12 of the most Blunt-worthy students who applied since 2014.
Our group is returning to campus for Homecoming to see how much the place has changed after 50 years. We will be busy on Friday, Feb. 20, with events to honor McKinney, who defended us back in the day.
Many of the new Blunt Scholars were or became staff members and editors of The Point. Some are now professional journalists, professors and faith leaders. Our newest Blunt Scholar, Sydney Brammer — currently co-editor-in-chief of The Point — has received several journalism prizes and awards.
I remain proud of our Blunt work and legacy and grateful for those who support us. I invite current students to apply for the scholarship, and faculty and staff to contribute to the fund.
Long live the spirit of The Blunt,
Michael J. Christensen, The Point editor-in-chief, 1975-1976
