Liberty University revoked recognition of College Democrats in 2009.

[RandySF]

From 2009:

Last week, Liberty University - the evangelical Christian mega-college founded by the late Rev. Jerry Falwell - made the national news when, while implementing a new funding scheme for student organizations, it revoked approval for the campus Democratic organization.

Liberty's Young Democrats club - the first in school history - was formed during last fall's election season, and was given an award for "Up-and-Coming Chapter of the Year" by the Virginia Young Democrats in April. But earlier this month, Liberty VP Mark Hine wrote to club president Brian Diaz that the club's status was being dropped because it had supported candidates whose views were "contrary to the mission of LU and to Christian doctrine," even though the club itself was officially pro-life and anti-gay-marriage. Following a maelstrom of criticism, Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. offered to reinstate the club, providing it aligns itself with a pro-life, anti-gay Democratic group, and not the Democratic Party in general. (Which is kind of like saying that you'll allow penguins at your zoo, but not the black-and-white kind that waddle.)

On one level, reading a news story about a fledgling chapter of the Young Democrats having its club status revoked by Liberty University is completely unsurprising. After all, since its founding in 1971, Liberty's mission has always been to cultivate generations of conservative Christian voters and activists. Before his death, Rev. Falwell often said that he wanted his school to be the "Harvard of the right," and to this day, Liberty's official brochure touts the school's "strong commitment to political conservatism, total rejection of socialism, and firm support for America's economic system of free enterprise."



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-roose/liberty-university-democr_b_207361.html

[Bjorn Against]

1. It is wrong that they would silence their students, I am glad Bernie went there to break the silence

[PatrickforO]

3. His speech there was brilliant.

But I wonder if it changed the mind of even one Liberty student. It was pretty compelling, but these people have had decades of conservative 'christian' propaganda fed to them.

[Chitown Kev]

4. I've talked to multiple LGBT alumni of Liberty U.

on and offline.

Those who needed to hear Bernie's message, heard it.

Please remember, a lot of those students are at Liberty because that's the only type of school that their parents would be willing to foot the bill for.

[virtualobserver]

8. it sounds like a hellish place for them to be

[PatrickforO]

9. God, can you imagine the utter HORROR of being LGBT and having your parents send you to Liberty???

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!



Well, I guess you could drink heavily and get kicked out...

[RandySF]

11. And diplomas are not worth the paper they are printed on.

[Chitown Kev]

13. And many Liberty U. credits

don't transfer very easily to other schools if a kid gets the opportunity to do that...which is more money if a kid chooses to go out on there or her own...my guess is that those who run Liberty U. don't like Bernie's idea of a free public college education too much.

[TM99]

29. I might dislike Liberty University

but that is flat out wrong.

They are fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, one of the six geographic accrediting bodies recognized by the Department of Education.

So yes, a degree from Liberty U holds the same value as far as accreditation, employment, and further graduate work goes as any other regional accredited college or university in the United States.

We can dismiss them for their religious intolerance and their bigotry. We can dismiss them for their overt fundamentalist theology. We can not dismiss the fact that the university itself is fully accredited and has the right to confer legitimate degrees on their graduates.

[RandySF]

30. I speak out of knowledge

I know two people who graduated from there. One tried to transfer and course credits were not recognized. Another graduated and pretty much had to do it all over again. Look online and you will find one story after another. Even Trump Univeristy gave out degree

[TM99]

31. Trump University is not regionally accredited.

All schools state up front that even with regional accreditation, a guarantee of transfer credits is not always forthcoming.

[pstokely]

34. some credits might transfer and others won't

nt

[pstokely]

33. Or Liberty U gave them a full ride because they had a high GPA, not being very selective

nt

[Chitown Kev]

36. With the cost of college nowadays...

you take it where you can get it...I get that.

[Bjorn Against]

5. I would guess there were at least a few in the audience that were genuinely moved by him

You have to remember that many college students don't necessarily go to the school that best represents their values, they often go to the school their parents want them to go to. This is especially true of religious schools, there are a number of parents who will only fund their child's education if they go to a religious school. Not all students hold the values of their parents however so just because a student goes to Liberty University that does not necessarily mean they agree with the University's politics.

[Chitown Kev]

2. IIRC, I believe that this case

is part of the reason that Sanders was able to speak there.

Liberty is trying to keep the federal money rolling in and unless they give equal time to the other side of the aisle, the federal money will cease at some point.

Liberty is using Bernie for their own ends (and I'm sure that Bernie is aware of that) and Bernie went there and...yes, knocked it out of the park.

[Purveyor]

6. It makes Bernie's appearance even more special. Thanks for posting.

[Truprogressive85]

7. just little off topic

Was Bill Clinton a bigot when he signed DOMA ?

and plz dont tell us " it was a different time" because that makes it seem he lacked political courage

I know people will say politicians evolve on issues ,but those politicians were president that sign into law a constitutional amendment defining marriage between man and woman

[RandySF]

10. can you clarify?

That made no sense. And btw Liberty will never change.

[Truprogressive85]

12. To clarify

Was Bill Clinton anti gay ? since he had no problem signing DOMA

[Agschmid]

14. Is Bill Clinton running for something?

[Truprogressive85]

15. Do I need permission

I'm just asking a question

am I not allow to ask a question ?

[Agschmid]

16. No you are allowed...

As am I...

[Kingofalldems]

17. Trying to change the subject?

I'll ask a question of you: Are you a fan of Falwell's Liberty University?

[Truprogressive85]

18. i simply ask a question if op or anyone doesn't want to answer that fine

To answer your question

Not a fan or Jerry Falwell or nor Liberty Univeristy

Im not big religious person

[Kingofalldems]

21. The thread is about a University suppressing Democrats

and you jump in to attack Bill Clinton. Seems rather odd to me.

[RandySF]

19. He had a lot of problems signing it

Congreve at the time had enough votes to pass a Constitutional amendment (which presidents don't sign). It was the least worst option that he regrets to this day. Clinton had openly LGBT appointees throughout his administration. Jerry Falwell, on the other hand, blamed LGBT Americans for 911. Clinton and Liberty are NOTHING alike.

[Truprogressive85]

20. Interesting

Yes ,Jerry Falwell is a disgusting human being
So do you agree that Bill Clinton did not support gay marriage until it was politically safe

Thank you for answering my question

[Kingofalldems]

22. Maybe you should start your own thread on that subject.

[Truprogressive85]

25. Thanks

For your the idea , I shall

[RandySF]

23. Let me repeat in case you missed it

If he didn't sign it, Congress was about to push through a Constitutional amendment.

[Truprogressive85]

24. I see

interesting thanks

[DisgustipatedinCA]

26. That's nice. But of course, Congress isn't the only stop to amend the Constitution.

Never would have happened.

[Whiskeytide]

27. I read Barney Frank's book...

... on all that went down on that. Even Barney doesn't find much fault with how Clinton handled it. Interesting read.

[David__77]

28. I don't know that congress was about to do that if he let it become law without his signature.

It didn't functionally matter if he signed it or not, because it was going to become law with or without his signature.

I'm not aware of any federal marriage amendment being introduced in congress prior to the 2000s.

The Democrats, for the most part, have come a long way on this particular issue.

[spanone]

32. 'christian' taliban

[octoberlib]

35. Sounds like Liberty University is more about using religion to

push free market ideology and a political agneda.