Posted on 05/23/2009 2:04:28 PM PDT by Maelstorm
"What would Jesus do?" is a question many Christians ask themselves when buying a car, choosing a charity to support or invading another country. When it comes to campus poliical clubs, Liberty University in Lynchburg Virginia, thinks Jesus would limit certain First Amendment rights like freedom of speech and the right of assembly... at least as far as Democrats are concerned. In an email dated May 15, Mark Hine, the university's Vice President for Student Affairs, revoked recognition of the campus Democrats Club. In part, the email reads...
"I must inform you that the College democrats club is no longer going to be recognized as a Liberty University club. We are unable to lend support to a club whose parent organization stands against the principles held by Liberty University...
Even though this club may not support the more radical planks of the democratic party, the democratic party is still the parent organization of the club on campus. The Democratic Party Platform is contrary to the mission of LU 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). The candidates this club supports uphold the Platform and implement it."
The Campus Democrats Club, which formed in October and campaigned for Barack Obama, will no longer be able to meet on campus or use Liberty University's name, seal, logo or marks on any publication or online website. Violators may be subject to expulsion. This, the email informs us, is required as a result of a newly-adopted policy for student clubs and organizations. Other clubs, such as LU's long-standing campus Republican club, have not been affected though.
An attempt by this writer to access the Liberty Way Code of Conduct on LU's website, was found to be blocked for anyone not associated with the university. This was the only part of their website this writer found to be blocked against visitors. This, of course, does not imply censorship on their part. That Liberty University's News and Events page makes no mention of the Democrat Club's expulsion from campus despite the fact that it's headline news all over the rest of the country does not imply censorship either, does it?
Jerry Lamon Falwell, Jr (born June 17, 1962) is the chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, appointed in May 2007 shortly after his father’s death in 2007.
I see your point. However I can’t really get behind Liberty U on this one. From what I’ve seen of the world, I’ve come to believe the worst possible form of government is now and always has been a one party system. As a result, I can’t in good conscience support anything that seeks to infringe upon the equal access of multiple parties to individual voters. Not even it benefits my party, and promotes my beliefs because I know that if it continues it will eventually abandon those beliefs.
The truth? I brought the issue up with a couple of friends who happen to be lawyers during a bicycle ride yesterday. What I’ve been posting is the result of that 40 mile conversation. However, Liberty U’s backing off leads me to strongly believe that everything my friends told me was indeed 100% correct.
I agree. But Liberty's action does no such thing.
That is better:
Here is the link:
http://www.theseminal.com/2009/05/23/being-christian-means-you-cant-be-a-democrat/
“As a result, I can’t in good conscience support anything that seeks to infringe upon the equal access of multiple parties to individual voters.”
One more time - this is a private entity that has religious liberty, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly etc. They are not abridging the rights of any of these students by not endorsing a group that is antithetical to the schools mission.
I agree with that. I prefer employers to stay out of politics.
Liberty probably just wanted to stem the fire. They could have fought it. Thanks for the news on what Falwell Jr. said.
http://www.theseminal.com/2009/05/23/being-christian-means-you-cant-be-a-democrat/
Fail. Jerry Falwell is the current Chancellor of Liberty University. He happens to be the son of the late Jerry Falwell. So you try again.
This isn’t about the Democrat Party per se of the GOP it is about the activities of the said group which violates the by laws of the University. A conservative Democrat group would indeed be acceptable where as a log cabin Republican group would not. It is not so hard to understand and I agree with you stand on a one party system. I’m not happy with either one of them in total though the Democrat party is lost to me.
Touché :-)
I’ll make myself clear. I want young people to come to the Republican Party, my party, because they have decided that the Republican Party best represents them in American government after exposure to both parties. That is to say that I want them to reject the Democrat Party on their own. I do not want them to come to the Republican Party because it was given a leg up in a controlled environment during a critical stage of their development.
I think this weakens the GOP on Liberty U’s campus. It makes it appear as though the GOP can’t triumph if the Democrats have equal access, and I don’t believe that for a minute.
Makes sense. I wasn't arguing, excatly, but it's awfully easy for these kinds of conversations to end up being based on preconceptions of the law that aren't always correct.
Jerry Sr. (Liberty president) is a lawyer himself, so I'd expect him to have a pretty decent grasp of things.
Full disclosure, I'm a Liberty grad myself.
“I’ll make myself clear. I want....”
It is not about what you want. Liberty University is a private school that has a stated mission and they should be able to do whatever they please!!!! That they have backpedaled is because the federal government holds the purse string and therefor has them where it hurts.
Do they have a Republican club on campus?
The Supreme Court once made a mistake when it conjured up a vision of school teachers being jack booted thugs ladeling out government policy to first graders.
BTW, not only is Liberty U not a government, it's a private institution.
Seems to me that limiting the evil influence of Democrats on campus would be an acceptable, even desirable activity.
Braver than Notre Dame.
We disagree, and I find it unlikely at this point that either one of us will sway the other, so perhaps it’s just time to leave it at that.
I wasn't aware that anyone, at any time during this dialogue had claimed otherwise.
The Supreme Court once made a mistake when it conjured up a vision of school teachers being jack booted thugs ladeling out government policy to first graders.
The Supreme Court may or may not have made a mistake. However, I don't recognize your authority to make such a declaration either way. Perhaps the justices should consult with you before making any further decisions?
BTW, not only is Liberty U not a government, it's a private institution.
Again, did anyone state otherwise or are you merely trying to falsely attribute the statement to me or someone else?
Seems to me that limiting the evil influence of Democrats on campus would be an acceptable, even desirable activity.
Your first honest statement. I agree with you 100% that it seems to you that it is a desirable course of action.
Yes they do, hence the nature of the problem.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.