Student who chose Bible college over Yale now feels 'royally screwed'

MOORHEAD — A college freshman who stood on principle and chose a Bible college over Yale now considers himself "royally screwed," and says he may very well have ruined his career. "I'm stuck at this tiny campus in Minnesota with a room overlooking a vast, snowy plain, surrounded by people whose highest aspiration is to be an associate pastor or church accountant," Paul Denerbain says in a phone interview from his dormitory room. "They don't even have my major here. I thought I was standing up for God, but I've devastated any chance I have for success." Denerbain, a straight-A student and National Merit Scholar, made his bold decision last spring after visiting Yale and observing what he calls its "loose moral atmosphere." His church rallied around him, and his pastor called him a modern-day Martin Luther. But after moving to the North Fork Bible College campus and attending classes for a semester, Denerbain felt "overwhelming desperation to leave." He wrote to Yale and asked if they'd re-consider letting him in, but Yale is no longer interested. "He wrote us a scathing letter," says an admissions officer. "It's curious that he now wants to attend 'the crucible of Hades.' We suggest he delve into the Bible for more answers. Ha ha." •