Issue: Summer 2014 | Posted: June 2, 2014
Dub Oliver and “the Light on the Hill”
Dub Oliver stands with ETBU 2013 graduate Brad Mashburn under the new archway marking the entrance to the University. PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN PERRY, ETBU
On a hill just outside the center of town stands a university that has been a part of Marshall, Texas, for more than a century.
Put Texas geographic stereotypes aside. Harrison County is neither a treeless plain nor a rocky desert. In fact, Texans refer to this easternmost part of their state as the “piney woods.”
East Texas Baptist University spreads across acreage that once was known as the Van Zandt Plantation. The nearest major city is Shreveport, La., about 40 miles from the ETBU campus.
ETBU and Union University have longstanding Baptist affiliations, and each is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.
A closer look shows deeper connections.
ETBU originally was known as College of Marshall. Henry Eugene Watters served as the president of the College of Marshall from 1916–1918. He left COM to become the president of Union.
The late Robert E. Craig, the university president who presided over Union’s move from East Jackson to its current campus, was a graduate of this school (then known as East Texas Baptist College) and later returned to serve as president from 1986–92. The building on campus that houses the department of nursing is named in his honor.
Howard C. Bennett, a 1936 graduate of Union, was president of ETBU from 1960– 1976. Union gave him its Distinguished Service Award for alumni in 1973. Bennett married into the family of John Jeter Hurt, Union’s president from 1932–1945.
But the connection that has drawn far more attention in recent weeks is the fact that President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver left ETBU at the end of May to become Union University’s 16th president.
The title “president” is a formality reserved for official communication. At ETBU, most refer to him as “Doctor Dub,” or simply “Dub.”
On an Upward Trend
Because of its hilltop location, ETBU has been called the “Light on the Hill.” Pole banners on campus offer the message “May the Light on the Hill never die.”
Faculty members say they’re confident ETBU will build upon the advances made during the Oliver administration.
“We’re on an upward trend,” said Kathleen Mays, associate professor of management. “The whole atmosphere on campus is much more optimistic, much more positive, looking towards the future in more optimistic ways than before he came. I wish he could be here longer.”
Other faculty members praised Oliver for the work he did with the faculty senate and with a push for better funding of faculty development opportunities.
Assistant Professor of Missions Elijah Brown notes that the faculty senate made direct reports to trustees during annual board meetings, and that Oliver funded campus wide book studies about the integration of faith and learning.
“Dub has really raised the profile of East Texas Baptist University while he’s been here,” Brown said. “I think you’ll find a partner in Dub Oliver.”
In Defense of Relgious Liberty
Dub Oliver testifies in front of Congress on Feb. 16, 2012. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM
ETBU draws the vast majority of its students from Texas and Louisiana; only about 4 percent come from other states. The athletics teams, known as the Tigers, compete in non-scholarship NCAA Division III and play mostly nearby competition.
But this campus made national news in 2012 during the debate about religious liberty and the Affordable Care Act.
Under Oliver’s leadership, ETBU joined Houston Baptist University in a lawsuit against the federal government in connection with a mandate to provide abortion services in employee health care plans. Oliver went to Capitol Hill to testify before Congress, as did C. Ben Mitchell, Graves Professor of Moral Philosophy at Union.
Oliver fielded questions from national media about the decision to fight the mandate. In an interview with National Review, he was quoted as saying, “We are united with Catholics and people of all faiths in the conviction that a religious group should not be forced to provide services to which they have deep moral objections.”
In December, a federal court in Houston ruled in favor of ETBU and HBU. The court issued an injunction against the abortifacient requirement, ruling that such a mandate violates federal civil rights laws. “The religious organization plaintiffs have shown a sincerely held religious belief that the court cannot second-guess,” the ruling stated.
ETBU Trustee David Rice remembers that there were concerns about the possible ramifications of suing the federal government.
“I think it said a lot about his leadership in the university community,” Rice said. “It has been the decisive, courageous nature of Dub’s leadership that has led the university community through this.”
Rice, who is also Oliver’s pastor, said the legal issues now largely have moved beyond schools such as ETBU, but he added, “It’s not over. It won’t be over until we get to the Supreme Court.”
Difficult Good-byes
Oliver began as president in 2009. Since then, ETBU has completed a 32,000— square-foot student center, completely remodeled the former student center for use as a commons and added four new graduate programs.
Centennial Hall, a 362-bed, 124,000— square-foot living and learning center, is scheduled to open in time for fall semester 2014.
“I’m thrilled with the things that have happened here,” said Paula Nichols, an ETBU alumna who also attends Sunday School with the Olivers. “The institution has grown with buildings and programs, and it has been exciting to see.”
Nichols and many of the ETBU students are also quick to mention the impact of First Lady Susie Oliver.
“I always just walk in her office. We talk all the time,” said Skyler Womack, a senior sociology major from Houston. Womack notes that Susie Oliver manages the student center, and students know they are welcome to drop in and start conversations with her.
Womack says during one of those talks about his need for a certain color of tie, she offered to let him borrow one of the president’s ties—something he hadn’t expected.
“She’s an amazing woman,” Womack said.
Tyler Martin, a junior religion major from Crowley, Texas, remembers the reaction on Facebook the day Oliver notified the ETBU community of his decision to come to Union.
“I saw post after post after post saying that this school would never be the same,” Martin said. “There were many people saying it was a really sad day for them.”
Why would college students have such a strong reaction to the loss of an administrative leader?
“As soon as you shake his hand and introduce yourself, he’ll say, ‘It’s a pleasure to know you,’” said Zach Jones, a junior criminal justice major from Arlington, Texas. “He will not forget your name.”
Jones says Oliver even remembered his parents’ names after meeting them only one time. They returned a year later for homecoming.
“I said, ‘Mom and Dad, you remember the president?’ He greeted them as Sam and Amy. I was speechless,” Jones said.
“He wants to know you,” said Natalie Davis, a sophomore biology major from Houston. “He always loves to laugh and hear what you have to say. It’s just great to have a president like that.”