Olivet University’s Response on Recent LA Times Story

September 22, 2024

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We are deeply dismayed by a recent Los Angeles Times article about Olivet University.

Here are the facts.

Olivet University is an accredited Bible college in good standing. We pride ourselves on providing Christian education for those seeking to work in mission and ministry. Sadly, the Times aired unsubstantiated claims by a handful of disgruntled former students. We believe these students – all of whom were asked to leave the university at some point –are primarily making these false claims to receive human trafficking victim visas.

In addition, these students have sued the university, which was demurred and stayed. They have repeatedly offered to settle this lawsuit against the university multiple times. We have rejected these requests. Why? Because the allegations are false. First, no one has ever been held against their will at our university. 

These students were asked to leave the university for failing academic standards and/or campus conducts. They were freely given transfers out of the university by our admissions office. The students told the newspaper they were “confined” on campus, allegedly surrounded by barbed wire, and restricted from leaving without permission. 

In fact, the so-called “barbed wire” mentioned doesn’t exist. The fencing we have was inherited from the previous owners of the property and common in this rural area. It is designed to keep cattle fenced in – not students. Our entry gate automatically opens when exiting. 

Students are free to leave campus whenever they please. For students without cars, staff members even volunteer to provide rides. During final exams, we encourage students to stay on campus to take exams so they can pass their course and maintain their visa status, but we have never restricted movement during these time periods.

This ease of access was noted in the same police report following the 911 call that the article referenced. The officers concluded this claim was false. (In fact, two of the students the Times profiled participated in our San Francisco campus, which has no barrier of any kind.)

As for the allegation that of forced labor, no one has been forced to do work on the university’s behalf. Period.

Also in the article, one former student claimed that he loaned money to Olivet University. Again, this is false. Olivet University has never borrowed money from this student.

The Times article also reported that the university did not respond to the specific claims that students were forced to work for little or no pay, or that they could not leave campus without permission. The university did in fact respond to those claims and explained they were all false. Anyone who works on campus for the university is appropriately compensated under California state law. 

The portrayal of Olivet's relationship with the Anza community also is distorted. The article suggests that the university is viewed with suspicion by locals yet fails to mention that Olivet has been an active participant in the community. Our chairman serves on the Municipal Advisory Committee, and our faculty and students regularly engage with local events. Just last week, many of our students participated in a community food drive.

It is our hope that the Times and other news outlets will strive to present a more accurate and balanced portrait of the university in the future.

For more Olivet University News visit www.olivetnews.com