James Madison must be exhausted. The poor guy just can’t catch a break – with all of the government interference in religion (the faith-based initiative-turned-partnership) and religious interference in politics (Propositions 8, 102 and 2), he’s probably been rolling over in his grave nonstop for years.
The latest offense against religious freedom is Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University deciding to kick its chapter of College Democrats off-campus, a decision they announced late last week.
Usually when you hear about a student organization getting kicked off-campus, it’s a Greek that’s had its charter revoked for hazing. At Liberty, it’s apparently the desire for two-sided political discourse that will get you asked to leave.
Liberty University, which shares the conservative Christian views of its founder, Jerry Falwell, didn’t approve the presence of any student group affiliated with the Democratic Party (although College Republicans has been a presence on campus for some time) until this past October, when they recognized a chapter of College Democrats. Recognition was granted on the condition that its members would support neither gay marriage nor abortion – two issues that are major no-nos at Liberty.
The students say they’ve held up their end of the bargain. Unfortunately, Liberty’s powers-that-be have decided that endorsing candidates – something the College Republicans also practice and is in the College Democrats’ constitution, which its president, Brian Diaz, says was approved by the university – who “clearly promoted abortion” violates their agreement, and have revoked their recognition of the student organization.
Legally, Liberty has done nothing wrong. They’re a private institution, and as such they can make whatever decisions they want about student organizations.
But (and let me just insert here that I would be making the same argument if this were a liberal college denying its students a College Republicans chapter) one of the purposes of a college education is to teach you to discuss things – important things, big things, change-the-world things – with your peers. Those who agree with you, and those who don’t. In the real world, your peers aren’t limited to far-right conservatives who vehemently oppose both a woman’s right to choose and the (future, I hope) right of any couple to be married by the government. In the real world, you have to learn how to express your opinion, your reasoning for believing as you do and your rationale for disagreeing with “the opposition” – and be civil about it. (Not to mention that in the ivory tower of academia, rational discourse and the exchange of ideas are supposed to be sacred.)
Liberty has a perfect right to do what they did – but choosing to do so shows their poor sportsmanship, small-mindedness and fear of anything beyond the extremely limited scope of their definition of the norm.
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There are 6 comments
Then perhapsThe alleged "Christian" leadership at Liberty will consider banning the College Republicans as well for their support of the Anti-Life policies of The Chimp and Dickhead which have resulted in the deaths of up to one million Iraqis.
No, I don't think so. A strong tolernce of hypocrisy is a prerequisite for being a Repugnican.
WWJB --Whom would Jesus bomb?
I'm probably gonna get slammed for saying this, but....as long as Liberty isn't getting federal funding, or breaking some kind of federal or state or local law, I think they were probably within their rights to ban the club. I'm NOT saying I approve of it at all, just saying that I'm not sure there is anything actionable here. Perhaps they could argue their First Amendment rights are being violated, but it may be a tough sell considering it is a religious university, and they claim they shut the club down because it espoused views that went against the religious teachings on campus. If someone wanted to form a muslim club on the campus of Notre Dame, would the university be within its rights to block that group? Perhaps.
Having lived in Lynchburg for several years, and getting more than my share of the Liberty University crowd, I have nothing but loathing for them. However, that loathing is no excuse for looking at this situation as logically as possible, and seeing if they violated any actual laws. My take is that it is a reprehensible act, but not necessarily illegal.
Truth is whatever you can get other people to believe - Tom Smothers
Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone - John Maynard Keynes
By deanrddMay 29, 2009 - 1:38pm I would argue that both sides of the equation have a tendency to twist and turn figures to fit their own agenda. Or to take quotes out of context or ignore certain details that might change one's opinion on something. Seems that there's entire web sites devoted to just that type of thing on either side of the aisle. I've taken to always looking for more objective sources (ignoring the super-partisan sites put out there by either side) on any issue.
Two-sided political discourse is one thing. Just making shit up is another. Conservatives have a difficult time understanding the difference.
And that foot is me......Those guys had been on double secret probation for a whole semester. It was the toga party that took it over the edge. That and the bikini posters of Hillary.
I do have to point one thing out....
At Liberty, it’s apparently the desire for two-sided political discourse that will get you asked to leave.
As opposed to Air America where many have been asked to leave (banned) of late for two-sided political discourse or any number of other reasons?
I wonder what Falwell thinks of hell now?.
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