Liberty University
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2008-07-15T21:59:23Z
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/* Academics and rankings */ unsourced. also, not true according to sourced sections :(
{{Infobox University |
name=Liberty University|
image=[[Image:Aflamelogo.jpg]]|
motto=Knowledge Aflame|
established=[[1971]]|
type=[[Private university|Private]]|
chancellor= [[Jerry Falwell, Jr]].|
city=[[Lynchburg, Virginia|Lynchburg]]|
state=[[Virginia]]|
country=[[United States|USA]]|
campus=[[urban area|Urban]]|
undergrad=14,438 (as of 13-May-2007)|
postgrad=5,814 (as of 13-May-2007)|
postgrad_label=postgraduate|
faculty=833 (as of 13-May-2007)|
colors=|colors =Red, White, and Navy Blue <span style="background-color:#AF0000;width:50px;border:1px solid #000000"> </span> <span style="background-color:#FFFFFF;width:50px;border:1px solid #000000"> </span> <span style="background-color:#0A254E;width:50px;border:1px solid #000000"> </span>|
nickname=[[Flames]]|
mascot=[[Eagle]]|
affiliations=[[Big South Conference]]|
free_label=|
free=|
website=[http://www.liberty.edu/ www.liberty.edu]|
}}
{{POV|date=March 2008}}
'''Liberty University''' is a [[Christian]] [[liberal arts]] [[university]] in [[Lynchburg, Virginia]]. It was founded as Lynchburg Baptist College in 1971 by [[Jerry Falwell]] who was also the Senior Pastor of [[Thomas Road Baptist Church]]. The school was previously known as Lynchburg Baptist College and Liberty Baptist College before settling on its current name in 1985.
The [[US News and World Report]] currently ranks Liberty University as a fourth tier institution in the Universities Masters (South) category. <ref>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/directory/brief/drglance_10392_brief.php</ref>
==Religious foundation==
Falwell's vision was to build a university with as many students as [[University of Notre Dame|Notre Dame]] and [[Brigham Young University]], with nearly 11,000 resident students and another 25,000 in the Distance Learning Program.{{Fact|date=May 2007}} Liberty summarizes its philosophy of education in the following principles as being based in spiritual and theological life.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=6899 |title=About Liberty - Purpose/Mission |accessdate=2007-09-19 }}</ref>
===Campus life===
[[Image:July2007-LibertyUnvSign.jpg|thumb|left|450px|Monogram of Liberty University, on Candler's Mountain, as viewed from near campus.]]
Students who live on campus are required to attend convocation three times per week where they have worship services and hear from speakers in all walks of professional life.<ref name="libertyway">"Resident students are required to attend Convocation and must check in with their Resident Assistants upon arrival and sit in their assigned section in order to be counted as present." [http://www.liberty.edu/media/1210/The%20Liberty%20Way.pdf]</ref> Past speakers have included Presidential Candidate [[John McCain]], President [[Ronald Reagan]], President [[George H. W. Bush]],Rev. [[Billy Graham]], Col. [[Oliver North]], [[Steve Forbes]], Leonard Davidson, Former US Senator from North Carolina [[Jesse Helms]], [[Sam Donaldson]], [[John R. Rice]], [[Elisabeth Elliot]] (wife of the late missionary [[Jim Elliot]]), [[Skip Erickson]], [[Freddie Gage]], [[Adrian Rogers]], creationist [[Ken Ham]], governor [[Tim Kaine]], [[Sean Hannity]], and 2008 Presidential Candidates [[Mike Huckabee]] and [[Ron Paul]]. Falwell regularly spoke at chapel, giving his "Never Give Up" speech in the first semester.
Liberty University continues to invest in capital projects, with 19 new dormitory buildings and a tunnel connecting the east and west ends of the campus completed for the fall semester of [[2004]].
For the 2006 school year, Liberty University recently built five new dormitory buildings on Campus East, and completed six additional units for fall [[2007]]. In addition, a campus bus/shuttle system was added in the fall of 2006, providing transportation both on and off campus until midnight most evenings.
Liberty Christian Academy, (formerly Lynchburg Christian Academy) began its Spring semester of 2006 in its new building on Liberty's campus.
July 2, 2006 marked the first Thomas Road services to be held in the new building adjacent to Liberty's campus. The University has official ties with [[Thomas Road Baptist Church]], the church that founded the University.
The facilities at Liberty University include the 90,000 square foot LaHaye Student Center, which boasts an impressive Lounge, Basketball Courts, Cardio and Weight Rooms, Cafe, Multi-Purpose Rooms, Aerobic Rooms and other amenities.<ref>[http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=7014 LaHaye Student Center - Official Page - Liberty University<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Other projects include the expansion of student activity facilities, a Law School and Library, and an [[ice hockey]] rink which was donated by [[Tim LaHaye|Tim]] and [[Beverly LaHaye]], and a new football operations center, donated by AL Williams — a frequent benefactor of the school.
The [[Liberty University School of Law]] has a partial replica of the United States Supreme Court (the bench and podiums are to scale), where students practice oral advocacy.<ref>[http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/03/liberty_university_school_of_l.php OneNewsNow.com - Your News Right Now<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In December 2007, Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. announced plans for the development of a sports park on the 5,000-acre, university-owned Liberty Mountain that flanks the campus; the park is planned to feature hiking and biking trails, a [[ski lift]] and [[Snowflex]] slope, downhill bike trails and will be open to students and the public.<ref name=NYT121207>Erinn Morgan, [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/sports/othersports/12liberty.html Liberty University Pledges ‘Good Clean Fun’ at New Sports Park], ''The New York Times'', December 12, 2007.</ref>
===Liberty Way===
The university has a code of student conduct, documented in [http://www.liberty.edu/media/1210/Code%20of%20Conduct%20Section%201%208_07.pdf "The Liberty Way"], which states: "It is the duty of every student to respect Liberty's Statement of Doctrine and Purpose. 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." <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liberty.edu/media/1210/Code%20of%20Conduct%20Section%201%208_07.pdf |title=Liberty Way - II. Affirmative Duties |accessdate=2008-02-08 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=1378 |title=Student Affairs - Code of Conduct |accessdate=2007-09-19 }}</ref>
The phrase "That's not the Liberty Way" is commonly heard across campus, used by students and professors alike as a good-natured "poke" at the school's rules. On several occasions Falwell described the school as "Bible Boot Camp."{{Fact|date=February 2008}} He exhorted Liberty's students to burn it down if it "ever turned liberal."{{Fact|date=February 2008}}
In the summer of [[2005]], the university announced it was slightly relaxing its in-class [[dress code]] to allow [[flip-flops]], [[capri pants]], [[jeans]], and other casual articles of clothing (but not shorts) to be worn in the classroom as long as the clothing did not have holes in them. Rules such as collared shirts for male students still apply. Faculty members work under a contract requiring them to abide by similar behavioral codes.
===Faculty===
Using "[[tenure|non-tenured teaching faculty]]" was a matter of pride to Falwell, as it allowed the administration to keep a firm grip on the behavior of the academic community.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=6909 | title=Liberty University Distinctives |publisher=Liberty University |date=2006 | first=Jerry | last=Falwell | accessdate = 2007-01-04}}</ref> As Falwell once stated, "When we ask a faculty member be dismissed when he's teaching something wrong, our president understands and it's good to do that — because your paycheck may not be coming along next week if you don't."<ref>[[Michael L. Bentley]], "Creationism through the Back Door," [[Science, Technology, & Human Values]], 9:4 (Autumn, 1984), pp. 49-53</ref> Though Falwell had opposed tenure in the past, the University tenured its first faculty member, Bruce Green, in 2004 and Professors Roger Bern and Jeffrey Tuomala followed within a few years.
==Accreditation==
Liberty was founded in 1971 and received [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] (SACS) accreditation in 1980.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sacscoc.org/details.asp?instid=43000 |title=Commission on Colleges: Institution Details |accessdate=2007-09-19 }}</ref> In 2006, Liberty successfully completed re-accreditation, and remains currently accredited by SACS.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=7650 |title=About Liberty - Institutional and Program Accreditation |accessdate=2007-09-19 }}</ref> The law school, which opened in 2003, gained provisional accreditation from the [[American Bar Association]] in 2006, which enables its graduates to sit for any [[bar examination]] in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liberty.edu/academics/law/index.cfm?PID=10267 |title=Liberty’s Law School Earns Provisional ABA Accreditation |accessdate=2007-09-19 }}</ref> Provisional Accreditation is the highest level of accreditation available at present; full accreditation cannot be granted until a school has been in operation for five years. Although, students graduating from a provisionally accredited law school enjoy the full rights guaranteed to fully accredited schools. <ref>[http://www.abanet.org/legaled/accreditation/abarole.html Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In 1991 Liberty University applied for additional accreditation with the newly recognized [[Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools]] (TRACS) gave "immediate accreditation" to the university.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} Liberty University recently made the decision to drop it's TRACS accreditation, stating that most Universities are only accredited by one, regional agency and using one accedidation agency streamlines things for the University. .<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liberty.edu/libertyjournal/index.cfm?PID=16046&artid=201|title=Liberty Journal |accessdate=2008-06-25 }}</ref>
{{POV-section|date=March 2008}}
==Academics and rankings==
[[Image:DeMoss Hall.JPG|240px|thumb|Liberty's DeMoss Hall, the campus's main academic building]]
As of March 2007, Liberty offers 71 majors & specializations and among those offered are [[Religion]], [[Worship music|Worship & Music Ministry]], [[Business]], [[Criminal Justice]], [[Education]] and [[Nursing]]. The university's highly-ranked Distance Learning Program offers 36 degree programs.
Liberty University also offers a [[Liberty University School of Law|School of Law]], [http://www.liberty.edu/academics/index.cfm?PID=541 School of Engineering and Computational Sciences], and a [http://www.liberty.edu/academics/religion/seminary/ Theological Seminary].
LU has been ranked in the Top-10 most conservative colleges in the U.S. by [[The Princeton Review]],{{Fact|date=September 2007}} [[Young America's Foundation]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0921/p02s01-ussc.html|title=More students are drawn to conservative colleges|date=2005-09-21|publisher=Christian Science Monitor|last=Karlin|first=Adam|accessdate=2007-09-19}}</ref> and [[The Christian Science Monitor]].{{Fact|date=September 2007}}
In [[2005]], ''[[Barron's Educational Series|Barron]]'s Profiles of American Colleges'' ranked LU as a "competitive" college.<ref>''Barron's Profiles of American Colleges, 26th Edition (Barron's 2005)''. This comprehensive guide provides an index of college majors, admissions requirements, tuition and financial, student-faculty ratios, extra-curriculars and campus life for more than 1650 schools.</ref>
In [[2007]] Liberty University School of Law, provisionally approved by the [[American Bar Association]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liberty.edu/academics/law/index.cfm?PID=3767|title=ABA Accreditation|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref>, announced an 89% Bar passage rate from its first graduating class of Law Students. The bar passage rate far exceeded the State Average of 71.97%.<ref>[http://www.liberty.edu/libertyjournal/index.cfm?PID=15758&artid=36 Liberty Journal<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==Extracurricular activities==
===Sports===
[[Image:LibertyFlames.png|left|thumb|Liberty Flames logo]]
[[Image:LU Flames Basketball.JPG|right|thumb|250px|Liberty Flames men's [[basketball]] in [[2008]]]]
The Liberty Flames are a member of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] [[Division I-AA]] level [[Big South Conference]] for 18 sports. The University regularly competes for the [[Sasser Cup]] which is the Big South's trophy for the university which has the best sports program among the member institutions. Liberty has won the Sasser Cup five times, second only to [[Coastal Carolina University]], which has won it seven times.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4800&KEY=&ATCLID=131062 |title=Sasser Cup - Big South Conference |accessdate=2007-09-19 }}</ref>
In addition, Liberty University students won the inaugural Big South Conference Quiz Bowl competition in 2006, and recently repeated the feat in 2007 to retain the title for the second consecutive year.
Perhaps the most prominent athlete to come through Liberty is current senior [[Josh McDougal]]. McDougal is a 12 time cross country and track All-American and in November of 2007 outkicked Oregon's Galen Rupp to win the NCAA D1 Cross Country Championship. He has also helped lead the Flames' cross country and track teams to numerous Big South Championships.
Liberty's [[college football|football]] program is headed by [[Danny Rocco]] (2006 & 2007 Big South coach of the year), who had coached for the [[New York Jets]] and [[Virginia Cavaliers football|Virginia Cavaliers]] under [[Al Groh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm?PID=10867&CoachID=120&TeamID=9|title=Coaching staff - Danny Rocco|accessdate=2007-10-16}}</ref> In 2006, Rocco's first year at the helm, he led the Flames to a 6-5 winning season after going 1-10 the previous season in 2005 (noted the biggest turnaround in the nation in the FCS{{fact|date=June 2008}}) and in 2007, his team narrowly lost at [[Division I#Football Bowl Subdivision|Division I FBS]] team {{cfb link|team=Toledo Rockets|year=2007|title=Toledo}}. Liberty plays their home games at [[Williams Stadium]] which has a capacity of 12,000.
The University gained some media attention in the winter of 2005 when their women's basketball team, the Lady Flames led by [[Katie Feenstra]], made the [[Sweet Sixteen]] of the [[2005 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament]], being labeled a "[[Cinderella (sports)|Cinderella" team]]. After defeating fourth-seeded [[Penn State Nittany Lions|Penn State]] and fifth-seeded [[DePaul University|DePaul]], the Flames' winning streak was halted by top-seeded [[LSU Lady Tigers basketball|LSU]]. Feenstra was later [[WNBA Draft|drafted]] by the [[San Antonio Silver Stars]] of the [[Women's National Basketball Association|WNBA]]. Volleyball and both Men and Women's Basketball are played inside the 9,000 seat [[Vines Center]], which also hosts special events and concerts, such as WinterFest.
2006 marked an important event in Liberty athletics, as the Flames returned to wrestling competition for the first time since 1994. Former Flames’ wrestler Jesse Castro was hired as Liberty’s new head wrestling coach; he graduated from the program in 1981 after earning his bachelor’s degree in physical education. Wrestling is no stranger to Liberty University as the school sponsored the sport from 1974 to 1994. The reinstatement of the wrestling program was aided by the support of the Liberty University Wrestling Foundation, which is a group of alumni and supporters of the former program who have been raising funds to help facilitate the return of wrestling to Liberty University.
===2007 Big South Conference Champions===
[[Image:LU Flames Football.JPG|right|thumb|300px|Liberty Flames [[American football|football]] in [[2007]]]]
On [[November 17]], [[2007]] the Flames captured their first Big South Conference Football championship with a commanding 31-0 victory over [[Gardner-Webb University]]. The Flames capped off their second year under head coach [[Danny Rocco]] with an 8-3 record and an unblemished 4-0 Big South record to claim the title. The same week, The Liberty University Men's Soccer team beat [[Radford University]] 2-1 to capture the Big South Conference soccer title and their first appearance in the national tournament. Also that same week, the Liberty Women's Volleyball team shutout [[Winthrop University|Winthrop]] in the finals of the Big South Volleyball tournament. it was the first conference championship for the volleyball team since 2001. The Liberty Men's and Women's cross country teams also won the Big South Championship with Josh McDougal, Jordan McDougal and Jarvis Jelen sweeping the top 3 positions in the men's race for the third straight year. <ref>[http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm?PID=10869&newsID=1977&TeamID=9 Football - News - LibertyFlames.com]</ref><ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=273212241 ESPN - Liberty 31, Gardner-Webb 0 - NCAA College Football Recap]</ref>
===Debate===
Liberty's [[Inter-Collegiate policy debate]] program, formerly led by Brett O'Donnell, was number one in the overall rankings Championships in the [[National Debate Tournament]] for 2005, 2006, and 2007.<ref>[http://www.whitman.edu/rhetoric/ndt/00-ndtreport-dec-05.doc National Debate Tournament Fall 2005 Report] National Debate Tournament, 2005. (MS Word file)</ref><ref>[http://www.whitman.edu/rhetoric/ndt/00-ndtreport-apr-06.doc National Debate Tournament Spring 2006 Report] National Debate Tournament, 2006. (MS Word file)</ref> The touting of this by Liberty and in the press<ref>[http://msnbc.msn.com/id/11078887/site/newsweek/ Cut, Thrust and Christ] Susannah Meadows. Newsweek, February 6 2006.</ref> has led to controversy, as the overall ranking included results for novice and junior varsity debates. In varsity rankings, Liberty was 20th in 2005, 17th in 2006, and 24th in 2007.
Criticism of the debate program extends to the Christian community as well. John Lofton of [[The American View]] Christian radio show accused Liberty University of not being "a truly Christian college" when Jerry Falwell gave permission for the debate team to debate in favor of abortion when required.<ref>[http://www.theamericanview.com/index.php?id=590&AMVIEWUSER=ab2589bf6719b6b7b6fe530956e14959 A Truly Christian College Would Teach Biblical Defense Of The Faith Not "Debate" As A Game] John Lofton, The American View, 2006</ref> The issue arose when the team was faced with the need to argue for abortion rights or give up the debate program for that year.
==Finances==
In the past the institution faced a series of financial crises. Today, the university is self sustaining and financially independent. Total enrollment has increased to nearly 24,000 students (undergraduate, graduate and distance learning) in the past five years — a 74% increase. Tuition has also increased significantly during this time, though not at a pace that exceeds tuition increases at other schools.<ref>[http://www.bizjournal.com/content/article.php?id=308 Blue Ridge Business Journal]</ref> In 2007 Liberty was between $20 and $25 million in debt, but when Falwell died in May he had a $34 million insurance policy, which was used to pay off the debt.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1677098,00.html | title=Oral Roberts to the Rescue? | publisher=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=October 27, 2007 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-11-04}}</ref>
==Controversy==
===1972 Securities and Exchange Commission investigation===
Jerry Falwell started Lynchburg Baptist College by selling bonds to a small group of private investors. However, in 1972, the [[United States Securities and Exchange Commission|Securities and Exchange Commission]] investigated the bonds alleging Falwell's church committed "fraud and deceit" in the issuance of $6.5 million in unsecured church bonds.<ref name="FalwellNPR">{{cite news | url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5522064 | title=Religion, Politics a Potent Mix for Jerry Falwell|publisher=[[National Public Radio]] |date=June 30, 2006 | first=Steve| last=Inskeep | accessdate = 2007-01-04}}</ref> The church won a 1973 federal court case prosecuted at the behest of the SEC, in which the Court completely exonerated the church and ruled that there had been no intentional wrong-doing.<ref>www.nytimes.com/2007/05/16/obituaries/16falwell.html?pagewanted=print</ref>
===1994 Debt Buy-out===
[[Sun Myung Moon]], founder of the [[Unification Church]] and owner of the ''[[Washington Times]]'', helped to financially stabilize the University through two of his organizations: News World Communications, which provided a $400,000 loan to the University; and the [[Reber-Thomas Christian Heritage Foundation]], which contributed over $3.5 million toward the school's debt.<ref name="Washington Post">{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/cult/unification/main.htm | title=A Church in Flux Is Flush With Cash|publisher=[[Washington Post]] |date=November 23, 1997 | first= Marc | last= Fisher | accessdate = 2007-11-14}}</ref> Liberty University spokesman Mark DeMoss said the school was not aware of News World's connection to Moon when it obtained the loan through a broker. "I'm not going to be pious and tell you we would have turned it down," DeMoss said. "Because it was a business transaction, we probably would have moved forward even if Dr. Falwell or somebody in the organization knew who News World Communications was."<ref name="Washington Post">{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/cult/unification/main.htm | title=A Church in Flux Is Flush With Cash|publisher=[[Washington Post]] |date=November 23, 1997 | first= Marc | last= Fisher | accessdate = 2007-11-14}}</ref> Liberty University founder Jerry Falwell stated that the source of the funds does not influence his ministry, Stating: "If the American Atheists Society or Saddam Hussein himself ever sent an unrestricted gift to any of my ministries, be assured I will operate on Billy Sunday's philosophy: The Devil's had it long enough, and quickly cash the check."<ref name="Christian Today">{{cite news | url=http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/1998/february9/8t2082.html | title=Finance: Moon-Related Funds Filter to Evangelicals|publisher=[[Christian Today]] |date=February 9, 1998 | first= John | last=Kennedy | accessdate = 2007-10-30}}</ref>
Ron Godwin, now Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer at Liberty University, was previously employed under Rev. Moon as Vice President of the Washington Times.<ref name="Liberty University">{{cite news | url=http://www.liberty.edu/universityrelations/index.cfm?PID=11850 | title=Dr. Ronald Godwin Biography|publisher=[[Liberty University]] |date=2007 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2007-11-14}}</ref>
===2005 Equality Ride===
Liberty made news in 2005 when students from the [[Equality Ride]] visited the university and spoke informally with Liberty students.<ref name="freedomride2005">{{cite news | url=http://www.insidehighered.com/layout/set/print/news/2005/04/26/gay | title=Gay Freedom Riders |publisher=[[Inside Higher Ed]] |date=April 26, 2005 | first=Scott| last=Jaschik | accessdate = 2007-01-04}}</ref> According to organizers, they were turned away from the library when they tried to donate books about [[homosexuality]]. The organizers were also unable to turn over to Jerry Falwell, the founder and chancellor of the university, anonymous letters from alleged current students at Liberty who claim they are gay. They were, however, able to speak with some of the students who attend the school. In March of 2006, the Equality Ride returned, resulting in 24 arrests for tresspassing when they attempted to cross into campus property after being warned not to.<ref>{{cite news | http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,187524,00.html | title=Gay Rights Activists Arrested at Liberty University|publisher=[[FoxNews]] accessdate = 2007-11-13}}</ref>
Don Egle, director of public relations at Liberty, said, "We don’t feel that this situation warrants a comment."<ref name="freedomride2005"/> When asked about the school's policies toward gay students Egle said only "we follow [[The Bible and homosexuality|Scripture]]."<ref name="freedomride2005"/> Falwell reiterated the University's stance when confronted with the issue, "We do not believe in gay marriage or polygamy or any other family form than a man marrying a woman singly."<ref name="Advocate2006">{{cite news | url=http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid30397.asp | title=Rabbi to Liberty University: Gay couples deserve rights |publisher=[[The Advocate]] |date=April 28, 2006 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2006-11-04}}</ref> Jake Reitan, director of youth programs for [[Soulforce (organization)|Soulforce]], said that the group requested the library accept books that could be added “that students could decide to read or not,” and called for the University to designate some place on campus where students could talk about being gay without fear of being expelled or having their parents informed.
In early 2005, SoulForce asked to return and was granted permission by Liberty University to sit in quiet protest in one of Liberty University's weekly convocations. After the convocation, the Soulforce members were met with kindness from Liberty faculty and staff- many who stayed after the service to have friendly conversations with the Soulforce members. Students at Liberty University even baked homemade cookies for members of Soulforce. Soulforce sent word back to Liberty saying that they were pleased with the way they were treated.<ref>http://www.wset.com/news/stories/0306/309582.html</ref>
In April 2006, Falwell allowed Reform Rabbi [[Eric Yoffie]] to speak at the university on behalf of gay rights citing legal protections for gay couples.[http://urj.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=10264] "You oppose gay marriage while we believe in legal protection for gay couples. We understand your reading of the Biblical texts, even if we read those texts in a different way." Falwell said Yoffie's tone was as important as his message. "He came across in a loving, respectful way," and students were also responsive, and expressed interest in common ground.<ref name="Advocate2006"/>
===Biology and fossils===
Liberty University supports [[Young Earth creationist]] organizations including [[Answers in Genesis]].{{Fact|date=June 2007}} In Biology classes students are taught [[creationism]] alongside evolution and Intelligent Design theory in what the Biology department calls "an attempt to provide a balanced view of the different origins theories". A good amount of consideration is given to [[micro-evolution]], however large scale (macro) evolution, although still taught, is rejected. An additional class called Creation Studies: History of Life investigates issues of creation and evolution, and how to refute evolution.
In December 1991 ''Creation'' reported, Arlton C. Murray "excavated a dinosaur for Liberty University’s museum," which proclaimed "this dinosaur was the first of its kind in any creationist museum."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v14/i1/fossil.asp | title=The fossils shout creation|publisher=[[Answers in Genesis]]/Creation magazine |date=December 1991 | first=Robert | last=Doolan | accessdate = 2006-11-04}}</ref>
Currently, the school is looking for biology teachers with "a [[young earth creationism|young-earth creationist]] philosophy."[http://www.liberty.edu/administration/humanresources/index.cfm?PID=4353] Furthermore, the school asserts "there is now mounting evidence that man and dinosaurs did indeed live on earth at the same time" and says that "the chances are good" that there were dinosaurs on board [[Noah's Ark]].<ref>[http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=214&DisplayTheological=1&Searched=dinosaurs&SearchType=Theological%20Topics&AID=151 ''Were there dinosaurs on board the ark?''] from Theological Topics section of Liberty University web site. Retrieved 2006-12-29.</ref>
Liberty professor [[Marcus R. Ross]] was featured in a report on creationism.<ref name="MarcusRoss">{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/12/science/12geologist.html?ex=1329022800&en=97c24e3503c26985&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink | title=Believing Scripture but Playing by Science’s Rules | publisher=[[New York Times]] |date=February 12, 2007 | first=Cornelia | last=Dean | accessdate =2007-02-12}}</ref> Ross "believes that the Bible is a literally true account of the creation of the universe, and that the earth is at most 10,000 years old," but earned his Ph.D. in geosciences from [[University of Rhode Island]] with a dissertation about "the abundance and spread of [[mosasaurs]], marine reptiles that, as he wrote, vanished at the end of the [[Cretaceous]] era about 65 million years ago."<ref name="MarcusRoss"/> Dr. [[Eugenie C. Scott]] of the [[National Center for Science Education]] said fundamentalists who capitalized on secular credentials "to miseducate the public" were doing a disservice to society.<ref name="MarcusRoss"/> Whereas, Dr. Michael L. Dini said, "Scientists do not base their acceptance or rejection of theories on religion, and someone who does should not be able to become a scientist."<ref name="MarcusRoss"/> Commenting on his dissertation that repeatedly described events as occurring tens of millions of years ago, Ross explained, "I did not imply or deny any endorsement of the dates."<ref name="MarcusRoss"/> Ross's dissertation and his subsequent statements with respect to the consensus of conventional science as opposed to his own beliefs as he expresses and teaches them at Liberty has resulted in controversy, and includes questions about intellectual and philosophical integrity and consistency with respect to science and creationism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/12/science/12geologist.html|title=Believing Scripture but Playing by Science’s Rules|last=Dean|first=Cornelia|date=2007-02-12|publisher=The New York Times}}</ref>
During a lecture given at [[w:Randolph-Macon Woman's College|Randolph-Macon Woman's College]], Dr. [[Richard Dawkins]] of [[University of Oxford|Oxford University]], said that "If it's really true, that the museum at Liberty University has dinosaur fossils which are labelled as being 3000 years old, then that is an educational disgrace. It is debauching the whole idea of a university, and I would strongly encourage any members of Liberty University who may be here... to leave and go to a proper university."
==Notable alumni and associates==
===Sports===
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{| class="wikitable"
|-
!bgcolor="#e5e5e5" width="30%" | Name !! bgcolor="#e5e5e5" width="42%" | Known for !! bgcolor="#e5e5e5" width="28%" | Relationship to Liberty University
|-
|[[Sebastian Barrie]] || former [[National Football League|NFL]] player for [[Green Bay Packers]], [[Arizona Cardinals]], and [[San Diego Chargers]] ||
|-
|[[Fred Banks]] || former [[National Football League|NFL]] player for [[Cleveland Browns]], [[Miami Dolphins]], and [[Chicago Bears]]||
|-
|[[Sid Bream]] || former [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] player ||
|-
|[[Dwayne Carswell]] || former [[National Football League|NFL]] player with the [[Denver Broncos]] ||
|-
| [[Kelvin Edwards]] || former [[National Football League|NFL]] player with the [[New Orleans Saints]] and [[Dallas Cowboys]] ||
|-
| [[Katie Feenstra]] || current [[WNBA]] player ||
|-
| [[Samkon Gado]] || current [[National Football League|NFL]] player with the [[Miami Dolphins]] ||
|-
| [[Eric Green (football tight end)|Eric Green]] || former [[National Football League|NFL]] player ||
|-
| [[Lee Guetterman]] || former [[MLB]] player ||
|-
| [[Wayne Haddix]] || former [[NFL]] player ||
|-
| [[James McKnight]] || former [[NFL]] player ||
|-
| [[Darryl Roberts]] || current soccer player with [[Sparta Rotterdam]] ||
|-
| [[Johnny Shepherd]] || former [[Canadian Football League]] and NFL player ||
|-
| [[Donald Smith (football player)|Donald Smith]] || former [[National Football League|NFL]] player with the [[Dallas Cowboys]] ||
|-
| [[Osei Telesford]] || current soccer player with [[Chicago Fire (soccer)|Chicago Fire]] ||
|-
| [[Randy Tomlin]] || former [[MLB]] player ||
|-
|}
===Entertainment===
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{| class="wikitable"
|-
!bgcolor="#e5e5e5" width="30%" | Name !! bgcolor="#e5e5e5" width="42%" | Known for !! bgcolor="#e5e5e5" width="28%" | Relationship to Liberty University
|-
|[[Aaron Horton]] || Member of the band [[Escape Velocity (band)|Escape Velocity]] || Alumnus
|-
|[[Mark Lowry]] || Christian comedian and vocalist || Alumnus
|-
| [[Jody McBrayer]] || Member of Christian vocal group [[Avalon]] ||
|-
| [[Toby McKeehan]], [[Michael Tait]], and [[Kevin Max]] || The members of [[dc Talk]], a [[Christian rock]] band || Alumni
|-
| [[Guy Penrod]] || Member of the gospel group [[Gaither Vocal Band]] ||
|-
| [[Bob Sturm]] || Radio host on [[Dallas, TX|Dallas]]-based [[KTCK]]'s BaD Radio ||
|-
| [[Phil Stacey]] || Singer, [[American Idol]] contestant || Distance-Learning student ||
|-
| [[Jeremy Nicholson]]<ref>[http://wildflorida.tv/low/bios.html Wild Florida - a series from WPBT Channel 2<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.liberty.edu/libertyjournal/index.cfm?PID=15758&ArtID=46 Liberty Journal<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> || [[Emmy Award]] Winning Videographer || Alumnus ||
|-
| [[Vic Mignogna]] || [[Anime]] [[voice actor]] || Alumnus ||
|}
===Miscellaneous===
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{| class="wikitable"
|-
!bgcolor="#e5e5e5" width="30%" | Name !! bgcolor="#e5e5e5" width="42%" | Known for !! bgcolor="#e5e5e5" width="28%" | Relationship to Liberty University
|-
|[[Jerry Falwell Jr.]] || Current Chancellor of Liberty University ||
|-
|[[Kevin Beary]] || Current Sheriff of [[Orange County, Florida]] ||
|-
| [[William Franklin Graham IV]] || Evangelist; [[Billy Graham]]'s grandson ||
|-
| [[Angela Elwell Hunt]] || Christian author ||
|-
| [[Barry Minkow]] || Sr. Pastor, Community Bible Church, San Diego, CA & ex-convict ||
|-
| [[Ben Parkhill]] || Political consultant; Sr. advisor to Miss. Gov. [[Haley Barbour]] || Correspondence student
|-
| [[Tony Perkins (evangelical Christian figure)|Tony Perkins]] || [[Family Research Council]] president and former [[Louisiana]] State Representative (1996-2004) ||
|-
| [[Adrian M. Smith]] || U.S. Congressman || Attended for a year-and-a-half<ref>[http://uschambercongress.illumen.org/meetnewcongress?action=viewLegMem&legMemId=30661 :: US Chamber of Congress
::<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|}
==References==
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{{reflist|2}}
== External links ==
{{sisterlinks}}
*[http://www.liberty.edu Liberty University Official Website]
*[http://www.luonline.com Liberty University Online Website]
*[http://www.libertyflames.com Liberty University Official Athletics Website]
*[http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/directory/brief/drglance_10392_brief.php U.S. News & World Report rankings]
*[http://www.luglobal.com Center for Global Ministries Official Website - Liberty University]
*[http://www.flamefans.com FlameFans - Liberty Sports & Alumni Message Boards]
*[http://www.liberty.edu/library A. Pierre Guillermin Library - Liberty University Library]
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[[Category:Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]]
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[[Category:Big South Conference]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention]]
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