Liberty University | |
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City: | Lynchburg, Virginia |
Type: | Private |
Sports: | baseball, basketball, cheerleading cross country running, football, golf, ice skating, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, volleyball, wrestling[1] |
Colors: | red, blue |
Mascot: | Flames (Sparky the Flaming Eagle) |
Endowment: | $1.59 billion (2019)[2] |
Website: | http://www.liberty.edu/ |
Liberty University is a Christ-centered University located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty was founded in 1971 by then-Chancellor Dr. Jerry Falwell; originally an Independent Baptist institution, the university is now non-denominational.[3] Reverend Falwell created the school to provide an opportunity for students to gain the benefits of a rich and diverse academic environment while simultaneously offering the opportunity to become closer to God. Rev. Falwell's son Jerry Falwell, Jr. became president upon the death of his father in 2007. He served as President until a controversial social media photo resulted in his taking an "indefinite leave of absence" on August 7, 2020.[4] On August 25, the Wall Street Journal reported that he resigned as President, following additional allegations of extramarital sexual relationships.[5] Falwell stated that he will receive a $10.5 million severance package.[6]
Liberty has many opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students. The school also shines in extra-curricular pursuits. The school's debate team has been recently ranked #1 in the country, and the Quiz Bowl team recently finished fifth in a national competition. Athletically, the women's basketball team made it to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament in 2005,[7] and the 2017 football team upset FBS Power 5 Conference member Baylor University in Baylor's home stadium.
A lawsuit filed in July 2021 by a dozen unnamed students against Liberty claimed the school created an environment that increased the likelihood of sexual assault. The suit asserts the school failed to help victims of sexual assault and that the school’s student honor code made assault more likely by making it difficult or impossible for students to report sexual violence. The suit also claimed the university repeatedly retaliated against women who reported their allegations. [8]
Liberty has faced criticism from conservatives for allowing, and even funding, the advocacy of abortion by its debate team.[9] The criticism for such comes from the fact that the school's Liberty Way student code of conduct strictly prohibits students from having abortions, prescribing harder punishments for having an abortion than for committing acts that would be classified as misdemeanor crimes in civil society.[10]
Liberty has been criticized because of university president Jerry Falwell Jr's endorsement of Donald Trump for President of the United States.[11] Not only has the criticism come from expected sources (liberals and the Republican Establishment Never Trump movement) but has also come from Christian groups,[12] including several alumni who have taken the meaningless step of "mailing back their diplomas" to the university[13] (though none, of course, have gone so far as to request official decertification of their actual earned degrees).
Liberty University was honored to host President Trump as a speaker at its 2017 commencement ceremony, his first commencement speech as President and his third time speaking at the university.[14] President Trump has twice been awarded honorary degrees from Liberty: an honorary doctorate of business in 2012 (after his first speech at Liberty) and an honorary doctorate of laws in 2017 (after his commencement speech).
As if a large portion of the alumni weren't upset after Liberty's choice of President Trump for 2017 Commencement speaker, Liberty announced that the 2018 speaker would be former President Jimmy Carter (who notably opposes Liberty's support for Israel).[15]
Current Athletic Director Ian McCaw was hired by Liberty only a few months after McCaw was forced to resign as Baylor University Athletic Director in the wake of Baylor's scandal involving football players assaulting females and the university not taking appropriate action to protect them.[16]
Liberty has also been criticized, even by alumni and supporters, for inviting speakers to its Convocations[17] who do not necessarily agree with the school's doctrinal position (or even with Christianity at all), or those having past conduct issues using Liberty as a means of "rehabilitation".
Among the criticized invitees are: