Oral History Interview

Biola University Centennial Oral History Project

INTERVIEWEE: Edward Norman

INTERVIEWER: Stephen Paul Hale

DATE: November 16, 2006

STEPHEN HALE: Are you working? OK. I am interviewing Dean Emeritus Edward H. Norman. The date today is November 16, 2006. It’s about 3:25 p.m., yeah. We are in the Production Studio at Biola University? Is that right?

PRODUCTION: Yes.

SH: Yes, the production studio at Biola University. Dr. Norman, do I have your permission to interview you?

ED NORMAN: Yes, you do.

Personal Background

Family's Faith

SH: Let’s start by talking about your family, growing up. Can you tell us about the religious beliefs of your family?

EN: I grew up in a farm community back in the state of Connecticut. The church and the family were one unit. Every Sunday, Wednesday, as we grew up, Friday, Saturday, whenever there was a church service, the Norman family would, in all likelihood, be in attendance. So church was a very important part of my early years.

Education

SH: Can you talk about your school?

EN: Schooling was… I attended, as I shared, in the state of Connecticut and I attended elementary and high school in the town of Woodstock, Connecticut; graduated from Woodstock Academy and then continued on to Barrington College for two years. And transferring to Springfield College in Massachusetts, from which I graduated. After graduation from college, my undergraduate degree, I joined the United States Marine Corps, was commissioned as a second lieutenant, and served in the Marine Corps for four years.

Years at Biola

SH: So what brought you to Biola?

EN: The Marine Corps brought me west and I was stationed at Camp Pendleton. My wife and I enjoyed the west coast. We continued with our education—my wife was a teacher, so she had a very good job at Oceanside High School. As we finished our master’s degrees, we began looking at opportunities, either back East, Midwest, or here in California. And, clearly, the Lord directed us to Biola University.

So, in 1962, we came to Biola on the faculty, as faculty members—both of us. And my wife taught and served here as Biola as a faculty member, as a counselor, and as a coach for thirty-three years. And then retired and I continued on until this past year, which I retired in the spring of 2006.

SH: When you arrived, what was your position in the faculty?

EN: My position, initially, was that of Athletic Director and Chairman of the Physical Education department and faculty member. And I had the privilege of developing—the athletic program was already in existence. Dr. Clyde Cook preceded myself and others. And I had an opportunity to continue the growth of the athletic program, adding new sports, developing an affiliation with the national organizations, both the NAIA and the NCAA, we were members of both organizations during the sixties. Which was very helpful for Biola in establishing a solid athletic program.

Athletic Program

SH: Can you talk about the athletic program at that time?

EN: The athletic program consisted of maybe about four sports, primarily basketball, soccer was brand new—it was one year in existence when I came—baseball was an established program, and they had a track and field program. It was my privilege further the soccer program and we enjoyed good success in the early years. We participated with all of the schools in southern California including UCLA and USC and the major universities, because the sport had not developed in some of the smaller schools. So we enjoyed the privilege of playing against them. And may I say, we enjoyed good success against some of the larger schools. With the help of other individuals, we established a wrestling program, which the individuals enjoyed and participated in.

But the athletic program was really designed and developed for the students, so that they had an opportunity—individuals, both men and women, who enjoyed the field of athletics, who enjoyed developing their skills, who enjoyed testing and matching their skills against others. Just for the sheer challenge of, how good can we be. And as coaches, it was our privilege to work with them. And the end result was not only successful individuals in athletics but successful individuals in life. They learned how to compete, compete very well, learn how to prepare, prepare well, and that carried over into the rest of their lives. I think of all of the experiences I had in athletics, it is reflecting upon those individuals that I had the privilege of working with. And then just watching them in their positions today as pastors, teachers, missionaries, businessmen and women. And just to see them continue to develop their skills and to be effective servants.

SH: Can you talk about some of your fonder memories during that time?

EN: Well, the fonder memories might be, as I shared, just watching individuals grow. Some of the victories I recall in basketball, beating some of the local teams. Beating Azusa Pacific, that was a fun experience. Probably the highlight of the athletic program for the fellows in soccer was the year we beat UCLA twice, both here at Biola and at UCLA. And that was a significant accomplishment to them. At the time, we didn’t think a whole lot about it but, as the years go by, we enjoy reflecting upon that experience with a smile, no big deal. Just a privilege to have done that. And many, many others. We won division championships, as I reflect upon them, it brings back some very pleasant thoughts. But again, the most pleasant of all is this recalling the success that individuals had in executing skills and playing together as a team; just the joy that they had in sharing victory together. And learning from the defeats that are naturally part of life, but overcoming and moving on. So those were the highlights: the people and the victories that I just shared. And just establishing a program so that we continue to build upon that today.

Purpose of Athletic Program

SH: You said that the athletic program was fairly new when you came. Why was the athletic program established at Biola? What was the philosophy behind the program initially?

EN: The program before I came was already in place and Dr. Cook was—our president now—was in instrumental in developing, particularly the basketball program. He was quite a good player himself and played and also coached. So we had a foundation and so it was building upon that that we enjoyed doing—adding other sports. The philosophy to provide an opportunity for individuals, as I shared earlier, for individuals who enjoyed competing and exercising their athletic ability to participate. It really, in the end, is a ministry to be able to take the gifts they have, develop them, and then to share them. And the athletic experience just kind of hones their skills, just sharpens their skills. If they didn’t have the opportunity for a game or a contest, then it would just be an exercise. But the athletic program provides a venue for them to test their skill, to match it up against others. That’s the philosophy behind it.

One would say, is winning part of the philosophy? Winning is the goal. The philosophy is to be successful. And you strive toward the goal, which is to win, to win the game—score more goals than the other person; score more points, get more runs, run a bit faster—that’s the ultimate goal. But the philosophy is to be successful, and to succeed in what you’re doing.

SH: You came to Biola at a time of major transition. Can you reflect on that transition?

Campus Growth

Student Body

EN: The transition was led by the fact that Christian higher education was growing. Christian colleges coming out of the Bible school movement into the colleges saw tremendous growth: growth both in size of program, in terms of the student body, in terms of offerings, number of offerings, number of majors that are offered, numbers of degrees that were offered. And it was in sixties and the seventies that that growth began; that was its early growth years. What Biola experienced a number of new faculty members, new faculty positions coming in the sixties and the early seventies. So, student body, new faculty, number of faculty growing, and the campus began to grow. We had some new buildings that were built during the sixties and so that gave vitality to the institution. And success breeds success, so one activity encouraged another activity. So that was indeed a transition of growth during that period of time.

In contrast to the early eighties, when there was a period of slow growth. The student population dropped off and almost all of the colleges and universities across the country, and Biola experienced the same. Biola’s growth drop-off in the eighties was…had a slower pace, for which we were very thankful. Yes, we did drop off. But not like some of the other schools in the local area as well as across the nation. So this were different periods of student growth, student enrollment, that we—over a period of time—we look on as patterns. And Biola experienced both. So growth period during the seventies, sixties and seventies, a little drop-off during the eighties, and then, of course, the more recent has been tremendous growth through the nineties and the early two thousands. So, on a graph or a chart, you can plot that growth, and we have done that.

Bible School Movement

SH: What is the Bible school movement? Is that what you said?

EN: Yes, the Bible school movement.

SH: Yes, what is that?

EN: Coming out of the thirties, yes in the thirties, pre-World War II, there were a number of schools across the country: Moody Bible Institute, Philadelphia School of the Bible, Bible Institute of Los Angeles, a number of them. Maybe fifty or sixty of them across the country began to spring up. Some a little bit earlier but most of them about that time, pre-World War I, pre-World War II. Biola Bible Institute of Los Angeles, 1908, of which we’re preparing to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary. So during that period of time, late 1800s, early 1900s—I’ll not name others but just as an example of the ones that I gave you, and I could name many more. And the fascinating thing about it is it all began to grow, some a little faster than others and each one determined their course of what they would be and what they would become. And, of course, we’re looking and focusing on Biola, and that’s a fascinating journey, isn’t it? The Bible Institute, the Bible College, the Christian College, the Christian University: four major stages, four major steps, along the way. And each of them had their benchmarks and activities that took place around each one of them.

SH: Can you compare the role of a Bible college, like Biola was in its early years, to what it is now?

EN: The Bible College focused, not exclusively but primarily, on preparing individuals for ministry, preparing them for seminary, preparing them for Christian education at a local church, or just a good, solid foundation to be a Christian in the community. But primarily for ministry, pre-missionary work… Most of the time, after a Bible institute diploma, they would need to go on for further work, graduate work. But the Bible Institute was primarily the biblical studies. And then we began to offer other liberal arts colleges, other liberal arts courses. And that’s what caused the transition from a Bible college to a liberal arts college. In our case, we moved from an institute to a college. So now we began offering the general education, the baccalaureate degree. So it’s really moving from a diploma to a degree. So Bachelors of Science, Bachelors of Art degree. That’s the major difference between them.

SH: It seems like the difference is a question of the need, of needs that Biola’s meeting. What needs did Biola see that it tried to meet in these various periods of our history?

EN: With the Bible Institute diploma, it met the need of the entry-level of ministry. And the leadership of Biola at that time said we need to do more. We need to prepare leaders who want to go on to graduate school and, in order to go on to graduate schools, they needed to have the baccalaureate degree. We also noted that the Christian community wanted other vocations. They wanted to be teachers, they wanted to be nurses, they wanted to be businessmen and women, they wanted to any one of the professions. And in order to be prepared for that, they would need to move on to a secular school unless the Christian school were to offer those degrees. So that’s what Biola, sensitive to the marketplace, began to offer. And so, a little bit at a time, we began to add professional areas: the School of Nursing…the School of Missionary Medicine, which eventually became the department of Nursing. The department of education, the business department—these are all professional areas that began to develop during that period of time. That’s the undergrad program.

Graduate Programs

Then, of course, the history of Biola as it relates to the graduate program is another part of its growth and development. I don’t know if we want to go into that at this time, but I could comment on that, if you’d like.

SH: Yeah, sure.

EN: Biola’s graduate program, the first would be the Talbot School of Theology. Originally it developed as Talbot Seminary. Dr. Feinberg, the dean, the individual who provided the leadership and the development on that program. And immediately, almost immediately, Talbot School of Theology became a valued institution and, because of the solid biblical training, the preparation for ministry. So the School of Theology.

Following that were other programs; I’m not sure of the exact sequence in which they came but I know in the 1960s—the middle sixties—Rosemead School of Psychology became part of Biola University. They had been a free-standing institution, an accredited, highly regarded, accredited graduate school. But circumstances were such that primarily, in the financial area, that it was right and proper for them to become part of Biola. And that worked out very, very well. And with the addition of the Rosemead School of Psychology, it gave us the critical mass of graduate programs so that it was right and proper for Biola to be considered a university. So thus we moved from a college to a university.

Other graduate programs began to be developed: the School of Intercultural Studies preceded Rosemead Graduate School, so in the sequence we did have a master’s degree in Intercultural Studies, a master’s degree in Missions—Missiology in the earlier years. The School of Business was developed, the School of Professional Studies was developed during the early nineties, and so we have both graduate and doctoral programs in most of the schools. So that, today, we’re full-fledged university, from the baccalaureate to the Ph.D.

Development of Rosemead

SH: You mentioned Rosemead. You had… Well maybe I should just have you discuss Rosemead and its coming to Biola.

EN: In the mid-sixties, we had contact with Bruce Narramore and others who approached about the possibility of joining together. And I recall, with professional delight, the opportunity I had to work with Dr. Chase and other members of the administrative staff, in both administration of academics and the business side, to facilitate the coming-together of the two institutions. And I personally had the privilege of serving as the Dean for Psychological Studies for the university, to which the dean of the School of Rosemead, at the time, reported to myself. And we worked very close together during those early years. So that was a professional delight, to bring Rosemead in to the Biola University community. And, of course, it’s continued to grow. And the growth has been in the number of students but, far more than number of students is in the quality of the program. The Rosemead School of Psychology has led the way in terms of Christian schools of psychology with accreditation and just a leader in every way. So the Lord has blessed Biola’s efforts and the people, the leadership of that particular school within the university.

And I might add that we could make the same comments about all of the other schools. Key to the development of programs is the leadership, and it’s not always one person. But often it is an individual who sets the tone, who provides the direction, and if you look across the campus and observe the various programs that we have—it’s a team, yes, but there’s usually one person who leads the way, who sets the tone for it. And that would be true for all of the schools that we have.

Prominent Leaders in Academic Programs

SH: Can you give us some examples of that, from Biola’s history or currently?

EN: The School of Intercultural Studies is one that has a great history of individuals, with Dr. Cook leading the way as the first director of our Intercultural Studies program. Then Dr. Marv Mayers came to us, a highly regarded faculty member at Wheaton College in Illinois, and provided leadership for us. Then Don Douglas continued in the development of the program. Then Doug Pennoyer provides leadership today. So there’s an example of individuals who have set the tone and provided leadership.

The School of Business with Larry Strand is another good example of that. And then, of course, Talbot. We could name Dr. Feinberg—I won’t name all of them now, they’ll be part of the history—but Dr. Dirks, and Dr. Mike Wilkins, dean of the faculty. And Dr. Dirks, dean of the seminary, dean of the school. Have done a wonderful job of leading and guiding in the development, ongoing development as you’re probably aware, the growth of Talbot has been significant in terms of students, in terms of quality of the faculty. So those are two examples, three really, with Intercultural Studies, Theology, and School of Business.

The 60s and 70s at Biola

SH: We’ve talked a little about the changes in Biola over time and different periods of time. The needs of the Christian community changed and Biola tried to adapt to that. The 1970s, it seems, were a particular time of transition in the nation—maybe the sixties and seventies. How did a lot of these national pressures and issues affect Biola?

EN: Biola was not immune to the societal pressures--the Vietnam War and other pressures that were upon us during that period of time. But I think I would be accurate and I would be fair in saying that because of our commitment to biblical truths, to the discipline of studying God’s word, we, as a campus, were not impacted like other campuses. We—and I don’t mean it to be too strong this way but—we weathered that period of time very, very well. Our students were impacted by it but their maturity, their commitment to the Lord, their commitment to personal growth, was a significant part of our campus. That was a very important part of Biola’s growth as we came through that time period and as we reflect now upon it. The stability that was exercised during that time was quite significant. I remember those days. I remember the potential of activities that could have happened as we recall the Kent State and the other activities that local colleges and universities—particularly the protest against the Vietnam War—the coming on-board of the drug-culture. It was a difficult time period for the American society and I’m thankful to say that my recollection of it, my recall of all of that, was that Biola was not negatively impacted as others had been. To which we thank the Lord for that.

SH: It seems like that is a period of time where the church in the United States became more politically active. How… I’m curious as to how the student body did respond to the Vietnam War. Was it… That may be a fairly obscure question…

EN: The students themselves, you’re referring to?

SH: Yes, sir.

Student Response to Vietnam

EN: I can share with you that we had many individuals at Biola who were called to serve in Vietnam. And they served willingly and they served with great distinction. I think specifically of Mike Wilkins, dean of the faculty at Talbot, who served in Vietnam, who served with great—may I say from a great appreciation—he served very, very well, a testimony that rang true, that stood him in great stead today as he reflects upon that. And many others; I name only one. I should name many, many more who were called into the service while at Biola and who returned and came to Biola immediately after the Vietnam War. I worked with many students who had come through that particular experience. It was a difficult time. I don’t want to make it sound like it was a difficult time in terms of other times that we had, but we had to understand it and we came through it well. And individuals did the same. And then, you know, we’re experiencing some of the same today with the Iraq War. Perhaps not with the same trauma as the Vietnam War but the different perspectives: why are we doing it? Why are we there? Should we be there? And all of those questions that are being asked.

SH: These sorts of things came up in a calm way at Biola.

EN: Yes. They did, as I recall. And having been in the military myself, between the Korean War and the Vietnam War, I was close enough to it. I was still in the reserves during that time. I was not called and asked to serve in Vietnam but I was close enough to it, and had many friends who served in Vietnam and continued to maintain contact with them. Many of whom lost their lives, which is the sad part of any experience.

But as far as you have prefaced it by the role of the church in that. I think out of some of those experiences the church became more involved in responding and seeking ways in how to respond to some of these issues. Where previously they may not have been; they’d been more focused on living a godly life, studying scripture, what is what we’re supposed to do. But they live in the world and so they became… And then also, perhaps, a time when we began to question some of the leadership. And so the church, the Christian community, began to say, there’s a place for our thoughts on this. We do have a voice; we should be sharing what we’re feeling. And you’re right, it was in the seventies coming through the eighties that we, as a community, became more involved.

SH: How did that… What did that look like on Biola’s campus?

Political Involvement, or Lack Thereof

EN: I think early on it was small pockets of student groups with faculty groups having an interest in the political side of life. Not on a large scale but individuals, smaller groups. I recall several of our faculty members being instrumental in guiding students who had questions about it. Discussion groups… That’s how it exhibited itself at Biola. Not in great numbers but individuals who appreciated and understood the political science, the political scene, the U.S. government. Yeah. They began to become actively involved in civic affairs. Where previously we’d perhaps been more involved in church—church and family activities, as opposed to civic affairs. And then, more recently, we’ve said that’s important to have the Christian voice in the community, in this civic community, in the government.

SH: I confess to you, Dr. Norman, one of the reasons I was attracted to Biola is their commitment to both of those issues—both to studying the Bible seriously and thoroughly and to engage in the world in serious and thorough ways, also. In Biola… not Biola. Like you pointed out, the Christian community has gone through a process where we’ve started trying to do both instead of just the one. It seems like that has occurred while we developed a lot of our different programs. Rosemead came in very new at the period and other departments. How has Biola seen the importance of these other degrees to doing, in tackling some of these issues? Both before and now.

EN: Biola expanded in its growth in terms of numbers of degrees at the baccalaureate and masters and doctoral level because we sensed that it was important for us to be a participant rather than just a spectator in the solving of issues, in the leadership of organizations, of ideas, and so forth. So as a result of that, we began to offer programs that allowed our student to become informed, to know, to understand, to test, to experiment, under the leadership of a faculty member, some of the ideas that you have shared. And I think that’s the role that Biola has in the 2010-2020 years ahead, to identify what is the need, to become involved in it not just have an opinion and keep it to ourselves. But to study, to understand, and to provide leadership and perspective from a biblical, Christian point of view, from a Christian world-view—American and the rest of the world. And that is tremendous challenge for Biola.

Biola will be successful, in my opinion, if we respond to the question you just asked, which is a very good question: how does Biola respond. We must be involved in it. Just as we’re sitting here in this studio, and for our friends who are serving us with lighting and sound and camera, they are doing just exactly what I shared. They’re involved. They’re having an impact by who they are and the way they do their work. And that’s the way it will be in business, that’s the way it will be in government. When I think of our Biola grad, John Thune, who we enjoyed knowing when he was a student, just a person walking about campus, just like you and I. And today he’s a U.S. Senator having an impact. And his impact is just beginning because he’s just now coming in to that arena. We need more and we will have more; we will have more.

And probably, I want to comment on this one also. I think the whole area of teacher education is really important for Biola. The church, yes—pastors, teachers, absolutely; Christian ed teachers, absolutely. But in the public and private schools we need teachers, teachers who know and love the Lord, who carry out what you and I have been talking about here today. About engaging with the issues and things of the day, so that not only the teacher has an impact, but the students who they are working with. Whether it’s in elementary school, perhaps more impactful in their overall life in high school, and then, of course, college. And for many Biola graduates to be teaching at colleges and universities across te country is a great delight, to see that happen. The faculty member teaching at another school—where’d you graduate from? Graduated from Biola. That’s wonderful.

Transition to La Mirada Campus

SH: You came to Biola in a time after, maybe even during the transition from the Los Angeles downtown campus. What do you remember about that transition?

EN: The buses… 1962. We occupied the La Mirada campus in 1957-58. And conducted classes here on campus. Dormitories were built, but not of sufficient number to accommodate the student body. So students lived in the downtown facility, the Biola dormitory downtown, Sixth and Hope. I did this at the campus but just for interest’s sake. I did not have contact with the downtown facility at all. but what I do remember is that the students were bused to the Biola-La Mirada campus every day, and back home again at night—three buses. That’s what I remember of the transition.

And if you wanted to live on campus, it was always good to be in a musical group or an athletic group, because they knew you had a better chance of living on campus. And so individuals who thought they were pretty good at music and athletics, signed up for those two. And they worked hard so they could maintain that position. That may be a little lighter on the comment there, but I do remember that.

But then the growth of the campus continued to such time as we had sufficient dormitories on the campus and the buses were used only for transporting individuals to events: chorales, musical groups, athletic teams, and so forth. They were used for a different function rather than transport to the dormitory. That’s what I remember. A delightful experience.

SH: I think that’s a really interesting time in our history. Did you have any impressions as to why the move was necessary?

EN: I’m not real clear on that. Just as a general comment that I think we were limited in our growth at the facility downtown. Others are more knowledgeable on that but I would say, just in a word or two, the limitation of downtown and the cost of downtown property if we wanted to expand downtown. Like so many other development areas, you move out. And I do recall hearing stories about how individuals began looking at properties around the southland. I really don’t know the story of how La Mirada was selected. But, by hindsight, that was a very good choice, a very good choice.

The Look of Early La Mirada

SH: What was La Mirada… I’ll let you talk about it. What was La Mirada like in those first years when we first got here? When you first got here?

EN: When I first got here, La Mirada was well underway in terms of becoming a residential community. It had then a number of both olive groves and citrus. Olive groves—certainly Biola’s… The property that Biola acquired was primarily olive groves--the McNally Ranch. But there was also citrus in the area. But in the early sixties, the housing projects were well underway—not completely covered by buildings but far enough so that it was no longer agricultural land. Except for two or three dairies, and I remember clearly the two dairies that were here on Valley View Boulevard. And one of them, the Van Damm Dairy, was here well into the seventies. They continue to operate both with the cows and the product that cows produce, which is milk. (laughs) And they had an outlet store. For me, growing up on a farm, at a personal level, that was a delight to have a dairy farm right in our back yard.

SH: Fresh milk.

EN: Fresh milk (laughs). That was good. That’s my early recollection of the city of La Mirada. And the city began to grow. I do remember quite clearly when La Mirada Boulevard was named Luteweiler—that was the name of the street which was a two-lane road. And throughout the sixties they had to widen it and eventually change the name to La Mirada Boulevard. Otherwise, the rest of the city is pretty much as it is today, in the sixties.

SH: Now, where did you and your wife live when you began working at Biola?

EN: We lived on the street directly north of the campus, directly north. So we could walk to school, sometimes we did but most of the time we drove because we had responsibilities that might take us from the campus to other areas. But we were very close and it was very convenient; we enjoyed that.

Relationship With La Mirada

SH: What has Biola’s relationship been with the city of La Mirada?

EN: From the very beginning, Biola has enjoyed a very excellent working relationship with the city. Dr. Sam Sutherland, as president and as the leader, assumed the role of leadership that was quite unique. He was highly regarded and respected by the city council, the city leaders, the business community. He was active in the community and that’s a wonderful example of why it is important for an organization to be involved in the community. So from day one—I can say this with clarity—day one, Biola has experienced a relationship with the community and the community leadership that is really unique. There are others like it, but none better, in terms of the relationship between a college, university, and the city. We continue to experience that today.

Borrowing Gym from High School

I’ll give you a couple of examples of the partnership that, at the personal level. When I came to Biola, we did not have a gymnasium. And so I worked very closely with the manager of the Norwalk-La Mirada School District. I still remember the individual—I’ll not share his name—but we worked so close together and they were so supportive of us, that we used their gymnasium at little or no cost. Now, I’ll be careful in saying that—they might want to come back and collect on the past rent. (laughter) But a tremendous relationship—La Mirada High School. Then they built a new school, John Glenn High School, which is just off Rosecrans, and we used that gymnasium for a couple of years. Then they built a third high school in the city called Neff High School, and they offered that to us, which we used for several years.

In 1966, which was four years after I came, we built the gymnasium on campus. But from the early years to 1966, the relationship that Biola had with the Norwalk-La Mirada School District—which is part of the community—was just a wonderful example of partnerships. So that after we completed our gymnasium on campus, we offered to the Norwalk-La Mirada to the CIF—California Interscholastic Federation—the use of our gymnasium for their games, particularly for their playoff games, CIF playoff games. And we did so with great joy because we were exchanging something that they had given to us in an earlier date. And that’s at a person level because I was responsible for that program and, without a gym, it’s hard to have a basketball-wrestling program. You could do it outside but that’s not first-class. And we were able to do it. Yes, it was a high school, but it was a first-class high school, it was a first-class facility, equal to what a small college at the time.

SH: Where was that first campus at, the first high school where we played?

EN: La Mirada. The existing La Mirada High School. And the others were high schools that came later. By sharing that they didn’t just give us a high school, they gave us the best one. So they were brand new gymnasiums, brand new facilities, which we enjoyed.

SH: That sounds like a remarkable relationship for a city to have with a college, and then a university.

EN: Yes, it is. Not unique, but it is very special, it is very special. Others have enjoyed it but, I’m not sure I can name them but I’m positive many communities work together. So now I’ve made reference to the city council, to the community leaders, the school district, and we continue to experience that today. The sharing of our swimming pool, for example, is another one we currently offer to them, to the school district. Of course, the city of La Mirada is building probably a first-rate, equal to only the very best, the new aquatic center here in the city. And Biola will be a welcome participant in using that facility as well. So again, the relationship, very ,very important.

Activity in Chamber of Commerce

I mentioned Dr. Sutherland. Dr. Chase was also another person that was very much involved in the community. I remember one of the service clubs in the community, he was active in the Chamber of Commerce, and that’s another role that Biola has done a very good job with, by being involved with the Chamber. which is the professional and business community. Our Biola personnel has served as president of the Chamber on a number of occasions, including the immediate past-president, Rick Bee, head of our alumni. He has served as president of the Chamber last year. And others down through the years. But that cemented the relationship with the city and it demonstrated our commitment to the city and to the community—more than a city, to the community.

Dr. Peters and La Mirada

SH: Can you talk about Dr. Peter’s relationship with the city?

EN: Dr. Peters, as a historian, as a political scientist, brought his gifts and talent and interests to Biola and the city. If you’re familiar with his early goals, which were to be a politician, to run for the Senate—I read that in a recent biography that he put out celebrating his fortieth or thirty-fifth year, I’m no sure what number of years. But it was a recent one, in a Biola publication. So David, as a committed member of the community, became involved in the community as a member of the city council. And served on the city council for twenty-four, twenty-five, years. A local city, a government, is such that we elect council members and the council selects, or elects, a mayor from their group. And so it’s somewhat on a rotation basis, but not an automatic rotation. So I do know that Dr. Peters served as mayor three or four, maybe five times. As a member of the city council he was elected to serve as the leader of the council known as the mayor. And he served with honor, served with distinction. And he chose not to run several years ago, having served many years and providing opportunity for others to do that. But very well-respected, highly respected in the community.

That’s in the community. But what’s also been a blessing is the fact that, as a professor, the students appreciate the fact that their faculty member was involved. And I know students have often said how much they appreciated the example that the faculty member in that area—political science—with the example that he gave to them by being involved. And he brought first-hand experience into the classroom. And also his involvement in the political science area was instrumental in his involvement in the American Studies program, of which Biola is a member of the Christian College Coalition, Christian College organization, is a valued member. So we have an opportunity for our students to go to the American Studies program in D.C. As well as other programs in the CCCU—Coalition of Christian Colleges and Universities.

Relationship with Other Universities

SH: Can you discuss Biola’s relationship with other Christian universities? Historically, not just now.

EN: This area is one… The need for Christian colleges is tremendous. The need for institutions to prepare Christians for service and leadership is significant. So we want to encourage each other. The fact that we are a part of a body of, or an association of Christian colleges, is an indication of the importance of being together, working together, supporting each other. And the CCCU, which I’ve made reference to that body, has over a hundred members in that body. The relationship that we have with other schools is one of supporting, one of encouraging, one of learning from each other, one of benefiting from the experiences of others, which would be the learning. As deans, we meet periodically—as a matter of fact we meet regularly just to share ideas at the very practical level. The presidents get together and share trends, directions… We exchange faculty. We have some shared programs. I know that we have a program in Biological Science that Biola and Azusa Pacific share together. Students attend, I’m not sure of the mechanics of how that works, but we do have that. So there’s a great deal of support for each other.

We also have the athletic program, which we talked about earlier, and thereby we have competition. So the rivalry—good, wholesome rivalry, I trust—in the athletic arena, and in other areas—in forensics, in debate—that is competition. You match your skills with others. That’s a benefit. That’s an absolute benefit. So the Christian colleges really help each other by having these programs so that we can compete against each other. Even though when you say “compete,” it doesn’t sound like you’re supporting, does it? (laughter) So the word “competition”—I don’t know if there’s a better word—but I think our definition of it, as we’re talking today, is one—it’s a good thing we have each other. So we can compete against each other. Isn’t that good? And in all areas, we strengthen each other, we really do. And so we need each other. I hope that’s helpful.

Biola's Impact on the World

SH: Yeah. What is Biola’s impact on the…

EN: …on the group?

SH: …on the world?

EN: On the world. Biola’s impact on the world is through its graduates. The individual who goes out, one by one by one, and is faithful to the Lord and good in their profession—that’s where the impact comes from. And that’s Biola’s impact. When someone does a real good job of teaching, of operating the camera in a studio, or producing a film of which we have a number right now, and they say, where did you get your training? Biola University. That’s the first level of impact of Biola on the world.

Now when you talk about the world, now we’re talking about other nations. Reaching other nations come from Biola graduates going to the utmost parts of the earth as missionaries, as teachers, as pastors, as business men and women. Through the various organizations, whether it be Peace Corps or other agencies through which they can work and channel their gifts and energy, that’s where the impact comes from.

Biola’s impact is also felt by the faculty who do teaching, who do lectures, who travel to other parts of the world, to just want to share. Also by their writing. So when a book is published, and they write in there that J. P. Moreland is a faculty member of Biola University, that has an impact. Biola’s impact is through the people: students, faculty, administrators, staff—all of them having an impact.

SH: Well so far we’ve been limited by what questions I happen to ask. Is there anything you’d like to discuss that I haven’t brought up.

Current Spiritual Life at Biola

EN: Ohh. (laughs) I think you’ve done a very good job of touching some of the key areas of Biola. Sometimes I’m asked the question…; I’ll pose this situation and then respond to it. Have you seen a change in the spiritual life on the Biola campus from the 1960s to the present? And the response is, Biola remains the same today, in terms of its spiritual commitment, as it did in the early years. For me the early years were the sixties; for others it may have been the fifties and earlier. But the place of the spiritual growth and development of the members of the community remains the same today. The spiritual tone may be different from year to year. The fervor may be different from year to year. But it’s still there. With just a degree, a focus.

And a lot of times that has to do with world conditions. We talked about the seventies, the Vietnam War. The spiritual life of the campus was a bit different in terms of its fervor and commitment than it might be at another time. But it’s still there—the commitment to the spiritual life of the campus. In my mind, and my sense is, that that is important for Biola to continue to be the kind of university it is into the future. The spiritual life, the commitment to growing in the Lord, must always be there. Not just on the part of a few, but on the part of the whole, knowing that each individual will have levels in different degrees and development. But that’s still a tall mark of its spiritual growth and development. And that’s important. Without that, probably there isn’t any need for a Biola. Then there probably is no need for it, there are other institutions that could do most of what we attempt to do in the just pure sharing of knowledge and information. But there is a need for a Biola and schools like Biola—as I shared earlier, we need all the help we can get to complete the job of impacting the world for the Lord, Jesus Christ.

SH: Dr. Norman, thank you for allowing me to interview you.

EN: You’re very welcome. Thank you for the good questions. Thank you for setting it up so we can respond.

SH: OK, that’s it.