May 22, 2009

No Liberty at Liberty

by Cliopatria

Private universities aren't bound by the First Amendment, of course. But it's impossible to take seriously an institution of higher learning that revokes recognition to the campus organization of student Democrats, on the grounds that"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.)." Socialism?

It seems to me the best recent historical parallel to the conservative response to the Age of Obama is the Labour Party's Michael Foot era. I suspect the GOP will share a similar electoral experience to Foot's Labour Party.

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Barry DeCicco - 5/28/2009

Jeff, I'd bet that the code of required conduct at Liberty does let the administration punish students who organize in a politically-incorrect way.

The relevant pages which I could find at liberty.edu were blocked,
but Wikipedia says (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_University#Liberty_Way):

"They may not engage in any activity on or off campus that would compromise the testimony or reputation of the University or cause disruption to Liberty's Christian learning environment." [4] The code of conduct includes possible reprimands and, later, fines, for such activities as attending dances, violating curfew, viewing R-rated movies, drinking, smoking, viewing sexually explicit material, entering the bedroom of a member of the opposite sex, having an abortion, and participating in unauthorized petitions."

Jeff Vanke - 5/24/2009

Isn't this like a college's choice whether to recognize new fraternities or any fraternities, even if those already exist? The college gives formal recognition and a few associated benefits. It's not like Liberty is telling the Democrats they can't organize in an unaffiliated manner. Or is it?

Jeremy Young - 5/23/2009

Very interesting -- thanks.

Ralph E. Luker - 5/23/2009

I think there's not a significant public college or university in either Lynchburg or Roanoke, the two major cities in the area. Longwood at Farmville is the nearest important public school; UVa, Charlottesville, is a substantial distance away. Liberty shares an evangelical heritage with the African American community.

Jeremy Young - 5/23/2009

Amazing -- why do you think that is? Why do African-American Democrats go to Liberty? Are the other schools in the region really that bad?

Ralph E. Luker - 5/23/2009

The last time I was in Lynchburg, I was surprised to learn that the University's Thomas Road Baptist Church has the largest Afro-membership of *all* the churches in Lynchburg -- including the black churches. I'm not surprised to learn that there are Democrats at Liberty University,

Jeremy Young - 5/22/2009

Is that anyone who considers themself a Democrat would attend Liberty University.

Alan Allport - 5/22/2009

LU is not bound by the First Amendment, to be sure, but they may be placing their 501(c)(3) non-profit status in jeopardy.

Robert Edward Vaughan - 5/22/2009

At least they didn't call it the "Democrat Party."