Liberty University NOT among The Best 373 Colleges in America

Several colleges and universities in Virginia were among The Princeton Review's list of The Best 373 Colleges in America.  Liberty University was NOT one of them.  Those making the list from Virginia were UVA, VA Tech, JMU, George Mason, The College of William & Mary, Hampton University, Hollins, Randolph College, Lynchburg College, and Sweet Briar College. 

While there are some surprise omissions on the list from the Commonwealth of Virginia, like Washington and Lee, Mary Washington, Old Dominion and even VMI.  What is very interesting is that three colleges within 25 miles of Liberty University (Randolph College, Lynchburg College, and Sweet Briar College) made the list. 

For the complete list, click here.

In all fairness, LU was also missing from The Princeton Review's 2011 list of Top 10 Party Schools as well.  The honor of the #1 Party School in America went to The University of Georgia.  Other notable categories where LU lost out were: 

Most Conservative Students – Texas A&M University (what was The Princeton Review thinking?!!!)
Most Liberal Students – Hampshire College (LU dodged a bullet there...) 
Most Politically Active Students – American University  (If I were LU, I'd appeal.  LU GOTV RULES!) 
Least Religious Students – Sarah Lawrence College  (I'm seeing and LU Mission Trip in the future)
Happiest Students – Brown University  (Hey, didn't that kid who wrote the book about his semester at LU come from Brown?) 
Lots of Race/Class Interaction– University of Miami  (Andrew Breitbart would just love it at The U!)
LGBT-Friendly – Emerson College  (LU Intervention Mission trip?) 
Top Stone-Cold Sober Schools – Brigham Young University  (that's definitely the Liberty Way)
Best Town-Gown Relations – Clemson University  (Com'on!  Didn't they see the tape?) 

Oh well.  There's always next year.

Liberty University Goons trying to play HARDBALL with Lynchburg Mayor and City Manager

Only a couple of weeks ago, Liberty University Chancelor Jerry Falwell, Jr. was singing the praises of Lynchburg Mayor Joan Foster, touting her as a person that Liberty University could work with.  Then only a week later Jerry Falwell Jr. releases to the local press his interest in recending a Conditional Use Zoning Permit ordinance that was supported by the entire Lynchburg City Council on a 7-0 vote in 1991. 

Citing that it's an overly burdensome regulation that really only applies to companies and institutions within a residential area, Jerry Falwell, Jr. indicated that Liberty University moved away from the downtown areas to an area that was originally zoned for commercial use to avoid battles with residents over expansion.  Falwell feels that Liberty University shouldn't have to ask permission from the City of Lynchburg to build on its own property.  It was his hope was that it would be "fast-tracked" through the process before the City Council Election on May 4th.   Mayor Joan Foster and the rest of the Lynchburg City Council (with maybe the exception of Jeff Helgeson) indicated that they saw merit in what Jerry Falwell, Jr. was saying but they were not inclined to fast-track the process because these types of decissions should be considered carefully. 

Then, last night at the Lynchburg City Council meeting, the matter was brought up and it was revealed that Jerry Falwell, Jr. and the other Liberty University officials had secretly taped their meeting in Chancelor Falwell's office with Mayor Joan Foster and City Manager Kimball Payne.  They claimed that they wanted to have an "accurate" account of the meeting and that Mayor Foster and City Manager Kimball Payne indicated that there would be unanimous support and that Liberty should pursue a fast-track request to do away with the Conditional Use Permit.  The only person on Lynchburg City Council that was defending the secret taping was Jeff Helgeson.  As far as if this is legal, in Virginia you only need one person/party to agree to the taping.  So, this might be legal but it don't make it right. 

Regardless of what was said on the videotape, I can't see how Liberty University thinks this will improve relations between the school and the rest of Lynchburg.  But this does raise a few questions for me, and hopefully others:  What other secret tapes does Jerry Jr. have?  Are there other hidden cameras in other "sensative" places on Liberty University's campus?  Does this mean that he secretly tapes the students?  I am only asking questions, that's all. 

Besides the shock and outrage that Jerry Jr. and the rest of the Liberty University Administration would stoop to this level and justify what they did, Jerry Jr. and his Liberty University GOONS must be stopped.  If Liberty University and Thomas Road Baptist Church wonder why they are so vilified, its because of a track record of lies, deception, intimidation, and Goonish behavior like this. 

The Lynchburg City Council Elections are coming up on May 4th and there are three Liberty backed Republicans running for the three open seats on City Council.  A group called Lynchburg 1st has endorsed Mayor Joan Foster, Randy Nelson, and J.P. Vaughan, who are all running as Independents.  If anyone that lives in Lynchburg or knows people that live in Lynchburg are concerned with Jerry Jr. and his Goons taking over City Council, follow the link below to Lyncubrg 1st to get involved with the campaigns.

 http://www.lynchburgfirst.org/Contact_Us_and_Help_Out_.html 

Don't let Jerry Falwell, Jr. and his Liberty University Goons take over Lynchburg City Council! 

Right-wing votes to re-write History Textbooks in Texas

If anyone was wondering what it would look like if ideologues and extremists got control of a School Board (at the State level), then here's a peek. The Texas State Board of Education vote 10-5 to for preliminary approval for new standards for textbooks. This is really scary stuff.

When a group of people can get together and replace actual history for a version of history that is more opinion and conjecture woven into propaganda, we have a very dangerous situation. There are places other than Texas where this is a major concern. Lynchburg, Virginia is one of those places since Liberty University and Thomas Road Baptist Church have made very deliberate moves to have their students register to vote at the local level. They claim their issues are not being addressed and they want a greater say in local government to address those issues.

While Lynchburg is a locality rather than a whole state, what is happening in Texas should serve as a wake-up call for people around Virginia and in Lynchburg. History has shown time after time that when extremists and ideologues get control of anything, persecution follows close behind them. I wonder which Horseman of the Apocalypse they are going to cover first in the new textbooks they print in Texas?

LU College Democrats lose Club Sponsor and President in the same day

As they say, when one door shuts another one opens. This has been just a despicable series of events over the last week at Liberty University. Liberty University College Democrats Advisor, Maria Childress has been dismissed as their sponsor and advisor and Club President Brian Diaz has resigned and will be transferring to a different school.

The story about the misdemeanor traffic, assault charges, and court records of Maria Childress first appeared in the Richmond Times Dispatch on Thursday and then was picked up by WSLS 10 (Roanoke) and reported by them first think Friday morning. The court records that have been obtained by these traditional news outlets are public record, but a closer examination of the assault charges reveals that they were filed previously by the same people. First by Barbara Ann Stanley Childress (Maria Childress' former mother-in-law) and the latest that did stick by Billy Franklin Childress (former father-in-law). It is clear from looking at the court records that issues have developed between Maria and her former in-laws. These are separate issues from the issues with Liberty University and the College Democrats.

My first question about this whole series of events is, why was the Richmond Times Dispatch be reporting on this latest story (article found in the metro business section) as the first paper to report on Maria Childress' court record? How would the Richmond Times Dispatch even know that Maria Childress even had a court record and or even have the investigative instincts to even look in that direction? Why is it that the story went from Richmond to Roanoke before it was reported in the Lynchburg News Advance this morning?

Now, to be fair, there are more things in the court record and only relate to traffic and car equipment issues. These are things that Maria is dealing with or had dealt with, and she will have to address as she moves forward. But, it's laughable for Jerry Falwell, Jr. to accuse Maria Childress, Brian Dias, and the LU College Democrats of distorting facts and issues when the only conclusion I can come to is that Falwell and Liberty University are perpetrating a character assassination campaign against a 2004 LU Alumni who went to work for them after she graduated. It seems that working for Liberty University is like working for the MOB. Defy or step out of line at your own risk.

Maria still has a job at Liberty University in a capacity that she will have little or limited contact with the students, as the secretary of the Honors Program in the Student Affairs Office (hum, OK?). At some point, when this whole thing has come to a final resolution, I hope that Maria has her chance to tell her side of the story.

As for Brian Diaz, good luck. He will be moving onto a better school that doesn't crack-down on opposition political parties like they are the Iranian Ruling Council.

Liberty University sinks to a new low with character assassination campaign against LU College Democrats Advisor

I'm just going to let the Richmond Times Dispatch article speak for itself, but if this is how Liberty University treats their alumni that go to work for them and a disagreement develops, let this be a warning to anyone who goes to work for the Jerry Falwell CLAN. Liberty University is RADIOACTIVE and anyone that stands shoulder to shoulder with them or takes their money does it at their own risk. This is not very CHRISTIAN. Shame on Liberty University and Jerry Falwell, Jr.

Liberty University Democrats Update: LU and College Democrats closing in on a resolution

According to today's News Advance, the LU College Democrats have submitted a form of an apology and a proposal to be a recognized club on Liberty University's campus once again. Negotiations are ongoing but appear to be coming to a final resolution. One of the points to still be worked out, if the College Democrats want to have campus recognition, is their ability to endorse candidates as a club. If they plan to endorse Democratic Candidates, Liberty University will not grant them recognition. If they agree not to endorse Democratic candidates, then they will likely be recognized by the University.

If this is the case, then will this stipulation apply to the College Republicans as well? If not, I don't see how the LU College Democrats can operate as a campus club or organization if other clubs and organizations are not compelled to comply with the same rules and stipulations as they have been presented with.

This hark-ens back to the earliest days of the Christian Church, where the Romans governed and had control over most of the people (alive at the time) in the known world. Christians were persecuted and had to meet in secret to worship in accordance to their beliefs. The symbolism of this is eerily uncanny. Those that were once persecuted for their beliefs and forced to meet, worship, fellowship, in secret or in places that didn't openly display their faith or have public recognition, are now guilty of the same persecution of a group that does not share the same vision of fairness, equity, or interpretation of the Bible.

These courageous young men and women have to make up their own minds and come to their own conclusions, but if the same stipulation of not being able to endorse Democratic candidates is not imposed on other political clubs that Liberty University "recognizes", they should reject this latest offer of recognition from Liberty University.

One last thought, or question. Mr. Mark Hine has never explained where he got the idea that the Democratic Party supports Socialism, or Hate Crimes? I have read nothing or seen nothing that indicates to me or states Democrats support Socialism or persecuting/harming marginalized groups and people. If his preference is to only give his support to groups that support family values and protects traditional marriage, that also support concentrating wealth and power in the hands of a few or a social and religious elite, then give the the groups that will fight for individual freedom and the protections of the individual to make their own choices and decisions how they want to live their lives, not by a narrow and rigid vision of self righteousness which is advocated by Liberty University and all it stands for. It seems that the Ruling Council at Liberty University has a lot more in common with the Ruling Council of Iran than they want to admit.

Splitting hairs, parsing words, the “Liberty Way”

Over the last couple of weeks, there has been much said about the shocking decision by Liberty University to not recognize the College Democrats that they recognized back in 2008 prior to the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States. That recognition came with the caveat, the condition that the petitioning LU College Democrats include in their club constitution that they were a pro-life organization and supported “Traditional Marriage” as a Democratic Party affiliate on Liberty University’s campus. While it was a surprise that Liberty would even show this level of tolerance for divergent political views, it is clear now that this little experiment with acceptance of different ideas, beliefs, and attitudes about politics has flamed out.

In Sunday’s Editorial section of the Lynchburg News Advance, it was pointed out that “Liberty University, first and foremost, is a private institution that has every right to craft its own mission, set its own standards and principles and enforce those standards as it sees fit.” This witness, or testament, to the Beast that is Liberty University is as accurate a statement about Jerry Falwell’s school, Liberty Christian Academy, and Thomas Road Baptist Church as I’ve seen in a while. It is also their prerogative to change the rules or re-interpret their policies as they see fit. It is also within their rights as a private institution of higher learning to challenge their students to stretch their intellectual curiosity by their own standards and strengthen their moral and spiritual commitments according to their interpretation of God’s will and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

On May 15th Liberty University exercised those rights and prerogatives to re-interpret their policies concerning recognized clubs and organizations consistent with the “Liberty Way.” Liberty University’s administration changed their mind about the LU College Democrats and decided that putting a pro-life and “Traditional Marriage” plank into their club constitution wasn’t enough to warrant Liberty University recognition. According to the email sent to the College Democrats by vice president of student affairs, Mark Hine:

“The Democratic Party platform is contrary to the mission of Liberty University and to Christian doctrine (supports abortion, federal funding of abortion, advocates repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, promotes the “LGBT” agenda, hate crimes, which include sexual orientation and gender identity, socialism, etc.)”

While abortion will be always be a point of contention conservatives and liberals, I don’t recall from my reading of the Bible where Christian doctrine supports discrimination and marginalization of any person or group of people. I also don’t recall seeing any mention of socialism in the Bible, the literal word of God as evangelicals believe. I also don’t remember reading anything that calls for Christians to exclusively support Democrats, Republicans, Fascists, Socialist, Communists, Libertarians, or any other political party. I do remember reading, in the New Testament, for all of God’s people to share the peace and spread the word about God’s love for me, you, and all sinners who walk the earth. When they talk about putting on the whole armor of God, the “Liberty Way” doesn’t even cover an eye lash.

Such narrow understanding and teaching of Christianity is dangerous. While Liberty University is a forth tier institution, their Law School is very good. What happens if enough of their “Liberty Way” trained lawyers are let loose on the world and evangelicals find their way back to the halls of political power in Washington, D.C.? How long will it take for the legal scholars of the “Liberty Way” to split hairs and parse the words of the Constitution of the United States until we have an Iranian style theocracy and the Bill of Rights is erased? Institutions of higher learning that promote marginalization and discrimination should not be “tax exempt.”

A Coming to Jesus Meeting? Falwell and LU Democrats Club to meet today

This should be interesting. Liberty University Chancellor, Jerry Falwell, and the disavowed Democrats Club are scheduled to meet today according to the Lynchburg News Advance. So, it goes without saying that this is a "coming to Jesus meeting" of sorts. But, the question is for which party? More to come...

Update - 3:30 pm:

Jan Dervish, Secretary of the LU College Democrats, responds to Liberty University Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr.'s op-ed from last week regarding the decision to ban the LU College Democrats Club. In a very well written op-ed in today's Lynchburg News Advance, Dervish states that as a condition of the LU College Democrats being recognized by the University, they had to include in their Constitution that they were 1) Pro-life and 2) support Traditional Marriage." It seems that there is a bit of the "Animal House" double secret probation going on from the LU Administration, changing the rules and conditions after they have already complied with the request of the University to include those two clauses. Doesn't God punish liars and perpetrators of dishonesty?

Liberty University REBUKES campus Democratic Club

In line with the continued efforts to purify the Republican Party and squelch political descent on campus, Liberty University sacked the College Democrats Club. While it is a private college and they are within their rights to make and enforce any policies to run their school, this is a very alarming move on the part of Liberty University.

While I am no lawyer, I do wonder if this crosses the line as far as their non-profit status? It is clear they are engaged in overt partisan activities and only recognize clubs and organizations that support the Republican Party ideology and platform. I wonder if this move would impact their SACS accreditation (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) and their eligibility for federal Stafford and Plus loan payments?

If their views and doctrines are so weak that they can't stand up to scrutiny and debate, then maybe their version of Christianity is nothing more than a dressed up cult. Get thee behind me Democrats! So much for the love of Christ and the concept of tolerance.