General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLiberty University revoked recognition of College Democrats in 2009.
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
(12,041 posts)PatrickforO
(14,587 posts)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
(2,197 posts)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
(8,760 posts)PatrickforO
(14,587 posts)Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!
Well, I guess you could drink heavily and get kicked out...
RandySF
(59,225 posts)Chitown Kev
(2,197 posts)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
(8,352 posts)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
(59,225 posts)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
(8,352 posts)All schools state up front that even with regional accreditation, a guarantee of transfer credits is not always forthcoming.
pstokely
(10,530 posts)nt
pstokely
(10,530 posts)nt
Chitown Kev
(2,197 posts)you take it where you can get it...I get that.
Bjorn Against
(12,041 posts)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
(2,197 posts)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
(29,876 posts)Truprogressive85
(900 posts)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
(59,225 posts)That made no sense. And btw Liberty will never change.
Truprogressive85
(900 posts)Was Bill Clinton anti gay ? since he had no problem signing DOMA
Agschmid
(28,749 posts)Truprogressive85
(900 posts)I'm just asking a question
am I not allow to ask a question ?
Agschmid
(28,749 posts)As am I...
Kingofalldems
(38,476 posts)I'll ask a question of you: Are you a fan of Falwell's Liberty University?
Truprogressive85
(900 posts)To answer your question
Not a fan or Jerry Falwell or nor Liberty Univeristy
Im not big religious person
Kingofalldems
(38,476 posts)and you jump in to attack Bill Clinton. Seems rather odd to me.
RandySF
(59,225 posts)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
(900 posts)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
(38,476 posts)Truprogressive85
(900 posts)For your the idea , I shall
RandySF
(59,225 posts)If he didn't sign it, Congress was about to push through a Constitutional amendment.
Truprogressive85
(900 posts)interesting thanks
DisgustipatedinCA
(12,530 posts)Never would have happened.
Whiskeytide
(4,462 posts)... on all that went down on that. Even Barney doesn't find much fault with how Clinton handled it. Interesting read.
David__77
(23,504 posts)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
(135,874 posts)octoberlib
(14,971 posts)push free market ideology and a political agneda.