Berry 1 Allison Berry Mr.

Harrell English Composition I 16 October 2013 Impactful Relationships Kevin Rooses relationships in his book The Unlikely Disciple are quite complicated and yet simple and easy to understand. A brilliant writer, Roose gives us insight into the people he met while he was doing his research at Liberty University. No matter how much he planned not to get too invested in Liberty beyond fitting into the evangelical Christian ways, thus appearing Christian, he still formed friendships amongst the students at Liberty University. His friends from Brown University and his family seem to explore Rooses thoughts to see if they have changed, keeping their own ideas in the mix as well. All in all, Rooses relationships impact his vision of the world. Mr. and Mrs. Roose, Quakers, decided to drive their son to Liberty University. Oddly enough, once seeing only one speech from the chancellor of Liberty, they seemingly ran with their figurative tails between their legs. Probably the hilarious part was Mrs. Roose thinking that Jerry Falwell will find [Roose] out as a non-evangelical, and [Roose] will end up on [his] knees in front of a roomful of Christian thugs, getting acquainted with the business end of a bullwhip (17). Because of their freer-style Christianity, I can certainly see how Liberty would be such a big jump from their beliefs. I expect Mr. and Mrs. Roose felt as if they were being suffocated with the rules all around Libertys campus, especially the Liberty Way. Aunt Tina and Aunt Teresa, lesbian pair, are very pushy with their views. The very first several emails Roose received from them while in attendance at Liberty University had links to

Berry 2 gay-rights websites about hate crimes perpetrated by fundamentalist Christians (43). Roose previously wrote that Aunt Tina knows [Roose is] not a Falwell fan and only is worried that [Roose is] taking the issue of homophobia too lightly (43). I have no clue if Homophobia can be a real phobia. I may believe it is a word if it were used more as a fear of homosexuals than mere dislike of homosexuals. Phobia by definition is fear, and for that matter why should Roose feel any other way about homosexuals? He has a pair of lesbian aunts who seem to get along quite well, but his upbringing may not have had a basis of what view of homosexuals he should feel like. Roose already knows that Liberty has an intolerance to homosexuals, so he has to be sensitive about the argument on the other side as well as being pro-gay due to his aunts. His friends from Brown University seemed to dislike the idea of Roose going to Liberty. They cracked jokes about the students at Liberty all the time. A semester with no sex? And this is different how (13)? Judging by Rooses friend Jimmys comment, I am guessing Roose never was one to have sex randomly with just about any girl; thus, Jimmy jokes staying at Liberty would not be much different. Much like everyone else who is non-evangelical, one friend sends an email to Roose I cant believe youre there and breathing and havent been burned at the stake (42). Obviously, a misconception and exaggeration of what could happen if Roose was discovered to be a non-evangelical; historically, burning at the stake was a method used in the Salem witch trials, though now I have heard a few references of burning at the stake because evangelicals are that particular about their beliefs and who they are friends with. Joke or not, everyone doubtfully wants to know what Roose is doing, so long as Roose does not change in any way. Laura, however, is very concerned about this move Kevin has made. She tells Roose, I cant teach you everything, but I can get you some of the way there (13). She does not wish

Berry 3 Roose to be found out to be a secular kid trying to study the Liberty students because of their evangelical ways. As an evangelical herself, she should know that most would not mind being studied. But perhaps that is why she is worried: because not everyone would be fine with being studied because of their religion. While she may or may not have attended Liberty, she should have known that evangelicals enjoy the chance to express their beliefs, though in a more objective manner, so that no one is offended. Of course, people end up offended anyways, but the point is her friendship with Roose. She teaches Roose a few things about himself that he will have to change in order to keep everyone else unaware of his true motive. In a sense, this makes sense from a writers point of view, since if the subjects knew why they were being studied, then chances are they would change how they react and it would be of no benefit to the person doing the study. No matter how much he did not want to become invested in relationships, Roose ended up dating a girl from Liberty. Not that it is completely wrong to do so. He truly seemed to have feelings for her, more than friendship. Their relationship seemed to be just like any other relationship, dating and when the spark is gone, stop dating. The only difference between most secular relationships and evangelical relationships, there was no sex, or making out. The best part was when Roose kiss[ed] hera quick peck in the middle of her left cheek (287). Roose is still being conservativegranted, he is still on Libertys campus, but I really did expect him to give Anna a real kiss. No one was watching! Even at the end, Rooses new friends at Liberty seemed rather respectful of Rooses real reason for attending Liberty University. On Rooses side however, he felt as if he was going to tear their hearts out of their chests with his news. One would think that after spending an entire semester on campus at Liberty University that Roose would actually know his friends would not

Berry 4 be worried too much about Rooses real reason for attended Liberty University. They were so close that Roose was gifted with a bit of an arsenal of nicknames: Roosey, K. Roose, Rooster (63). Rooster is the one that will be seen the most; and my personal favorite, actually. Honestly, though, a nickname signifies friendship and trust. It is possible that Roose was worried about losing his Liberty friends trust with the knowledge of writing their daily interactions, since he would not know specifically what is private. My personal favorite of Rooses Liberty friends, Joey, a.k.a. Jersey Joey, seemed to have an inkling of Rooses true motives. You know, Rooster, I almost feel like youre a mole, and when this semesters over, youre gonna go back and write an article to Rolling Stone about being different at Liberty (279). Apparently Joey is quite terrific at puzzles, because he was close enough to make Roose uncomfortable. Joey seemed to have sensed something was different about Roose from the start, as written by Roose, This semester, Joey has called me gay approximately ten thousand times (279). Roose attributes this time as Joeys unconventional way of calling Roose some other descriptor [Joey] cant quite put his finger on (279). Roose clearly has done quite well in disguising his intentions from even Joey, so much in fact that Joey has no clue what to really call his odd friend. One of Rooses strongest subconscious relationships was with Libertys chancellor, Jerry Falwell. Roose signed up to interview Dr. Falwell to learn about a new side to the head of the university. From Falwells slouch[ing] low in his chair to his widespread reputation as a prankster, Roose seems to be seeing Jerry Falwell in a new light (257). The steadfast Christian even gifted a young boy with a baseball with the permanent markings of This ball entitles you to a full four-year scholarship at Liberty University, whether Im dead or alive.Jerry Falwell (258). That is a very astonishing gift. That baseball probably is very legal considering Falwell

Berry 5 physically signed it; unconventional, but most likely legal since Liberty probably would respect Falwells wishes. The question remains if the boy would accept that, especially if he does not believe in Falwells views. Rooses interview clearly provided insight into the mysterious evangelical but the worst was always yet to come. Roose ended up getting the last interview of [Falwells] life (295). This ended up making him pretty famous, since everyone in the whole wide world wanted to talk to him about Dr. Falwell. But the one thing that really stood out was the difference in Rooses writing. Roose chose to write mostly about his own analysis of quotes from his friends along with his own comments; but for Falwells death he focuses solely on how students like Jessica who wails, Hes not going to be at my graduation! Ive been waiting to shake his hand since I was a little girl (292)! Roose feels as though he is numb to everything, unsure of what to do and so writes about how everyone else feels. Clearly even Falwell had an effect on Roose. Rooses Christian persona did quite well on campus; he remained himself but managed to convince everyone that he was just another Christian in a tough spot spiritually. Liberty itself managed to ingrain in Roose a few of the daily duties of a Christian, like praying or going to church despite the fact he believes none of it. Rooses family however were worried that Roose was going to drastically change, mostly in his views because of the environment he was in. His aunts constantly made certain that Roose remembered that Falwell was against homosexuals, as did Rooses parents. Roose expressed his purpose for attending Liberty, and was raised with the knowledge of his aunts situation, and thus should have drawn his own conclusions and beliefs based on his upbringing. It would seem that either they do not trust Roose or worry way too much. Perhaps the constant mention of Falwells political beliefs based on his religion caused Roose to want to interview Falwell completely differently.

Berry 6 Works Cited Roose, Kevin. The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinners Semester at Americas Holiest University. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2009. Print.