Liberty U Rejects Campus Democrats Club

Colleges and universities typically offer meeting space and other benefits to on-campus student clubs so long as the clubs register and abide by rules set by the university (typically nondiscrimination guidelines). Last October, Liberty University--the largest evangelical Christian university in the world--recognized the LU Democratic Club. It was like College Republicans for idiots and the illiterate.

However, last week, LU revoked the Democratic Club's recognition:

According to the e-mail, the club must stop using the university’s name, holding meetings on campus, or advertising events. Violators could incur one or more reprimands under the school’s Liberty Way conduct code, and anyone who accumulates 30 reprimands is subject to expulsion.

Hine said late Thursday that the university could not sanction an official club that supported Democratic candidates.

“We are in no way attempting to stifle free speech.”

Hine said the university had recently completed a policy that would govern clubs and organizations on campus.

“We looked at each club and organization to determine where it stood and unfortunately this one kind of got in the sights of policy, if you will,” he said.

I gotta say, going to Liberty University as a Democrat and expecting to be welcomed seems like a pretty dumb move. And this sends a signal to any Lefty students considering attending LU: "You are not wanted here." Still, it's got national attention now, with Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe holding pressers on it.

LU can do what it wants with its meeting space. It's stupid and comes across as thugish, but it is a private university and the people crying about "free speech" need to reaquaint themselves with the actual text and purpose of the First Amendment.

posted by Gabriel Malor at 12:23 PM

| Access Comments