History of Biola's Dancing policy.
There are few mentions of dancing in the student handbooks from the earliest years of the school. However, Biola's residential students in those years lived together in one building downtown, and agreed to abide by a very strict code of conduct that stipulated such things as when they woke up (5:55 a.m.)and went to sleep. The 1928 student handbook left many things unsaid, mentioning only that students were not "allowed to use tobacco in any form." (source: 1928 handbook, quoted by Flory, p. 268)
R. A. Torrey considered social dancing to be one of the three areas (along with attending theatre and playing cards) in which Christians were too likely to apply worldly standards rather than asking whether it would please God. (See his remarks on dancing in his 1924 book (The Power of Prayer and the Prayer of Power) His assumption was that anybody who wanted to please God and have an unhindered life of prayer would, upon examination of their consciences and motives, completely reject social dancing. The founders seem to have shared this low estimate of dancing.
The 1943/44 student handbook was the first to spell out restrictions more specifically, indicating "certain practices which are contrary to the standards of the Institute, and from which, therefore the student is to refrain... The use of alcoholic liquor and tobacco in any form, attendance at theaters, dancing, card playing, and gambling in any form." (footnote: student handbook 1943/44, as quoted in Flory p. 268). Students who agreed to these rules affirmed that "in agreeing to live by the regulations of the school they give their word of honor to abide by these regulations whether under supervision or not. Students living at home are bound by the same agreement as are those living in the dormitory." (1943/44 handbook, p. 17, as quoted by Flory page 269).
In 1988 the University reconsidered its total ban on social dancing, and modified its policy. With the 1989/90 Student Handbook, students were no longer prohibited from dancing, but dancing could not be associated with the University in any way: "Biola does not allow social dancing at university-related or sponsored activities (that is, at any activity that involves any identifiable university group, is publicized on or off campus)" (footnote: no page numbering in handbook) Students were free to decide for themselves whether they would dance socially. The handbook offered the following advice: "As a guideline for dancing as an individual off-campus, it is important to note that three aspects of dance be taken into consideration. They are: 1) the mode (such as the form of dancing and the type of clothing worn), 2) the music (such as the message in the text of the lyrics and the message perceived in the music itself), and 3) the mindset (as it contributes toward the mind of the flesh or toward the mind of the spirit). In all cases, discernment should be exercised in individual decision to dance off-campus." (footnote: no page #s in 89/90 Handbook)
President Clyde Cook described this new policy as a step to "shift the responsibility" about the morality of dancing and its bearing on Christian witness "from the institution to the individual." Cook also reflected that "having danced my way through high school... most of my dancing did not improve my relationship to my Lord. In fact, after holding a beautiful girl in my arms, bod to bod for three hours, I wasn't thinking of Philippians 4:8, 'those things that are honorable, right, pure, lovely, and of good repute.'" (footnote: "President Cook's Remarks," Biola Chapel service, March 25, 1988. Flory, p. 270-271)
At some time after the 1989/90 Student Handbook, the policy was re-written, and now has this form:
"No social dancing is permitted on campus at any time. No University related or sponsored dances are permitted off campus at any time. This includes any activity, which involves any identifiable University group, is publicized on campus and/or has the appearance of being University related.
"With respect to dancing off campus in non-University related and/or sponsored functions, each member of the Biola community is expected to exercise individual judgment, in accordance with the above noted guidelines, and with full recognition that some dancing is morally degrading. Furthermore, faculty and staff should make their decisions with full recognition that they are role models for students and, in the eyes of outsiders, may be taken to be spokespersons for Biola University. Members of groups representing Biola traveling or studying abroad or participating in short or long-term mission trips should not participate in social dancing."
References:
Student handbooks from various years.
"Development and Transformation within Protestant Fundamentalism: Bible Institutes and Colleges in the U.S., 1925-1991," by Richard Flory. Unpublished dissertation, University of Chicago, June 2003. This dissertation includes case studies of Wheaton College, Moody Bible Institute, Biola University, and Bob Jones University. The Biola section is pages 191-277. Dancing section is in pages 269-271.