University has right to shut down student group
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It might seem like a contradiction that there could be Democrat student groups at Jerry Falwell’s Christian Liberty University.
Well, there were.
The private university recently shut down its only liberal student organization, the College Democrats.
The group’s political stances — most notably those regarding abortion and gay rights — contradicted the Christian university’s teachings, leading to the club’s banishment.
It might seem that the university has grossly violated the students’ right to free speech, but in fact it’s exactly the opposite. Falwell’s university has every right to do this.
Liberty is a private university. It can permit or forbid students’ actions based on its exclusive discretion. Private enterprises can stop employees from speaking to members of the media, and even public places such as high schools can have restricted speech. This sort of thing is not uncommon.
If the students want to be part of a Democratic organization in college, they can go to a different university. Liberty has made it no secret they are a Christian school, so the students shouldn’t be shocked that school officials would react this way. It may be an overreaction, but it should be somewhat expected. The students weren’t kicked out of school; they were only told the group couldn’t be officially sanctioned by the university.
Liberty is just taking advantage of its ability to use its own discretion. This is bad news for the young Democrats, but, constitutionally speaking, Falwell and his university should have a clean conscience. However, morally, they have some things to think about.
By shutting down this club, Liberty loses something valuable. These students could just have been trying to distance themselves from the stereotype someone such as Jerry Falwell perpetuates — the Christian-Republican. Lord knows that close-minded image only will be worse after something like this. Maybe the club just wanted to say that they believe in God, but disagree with some issues that are more political than religious.
After all, Liberty is a Christian university, not a Republican one. Its motivation should be to protect Christian values.
The fact that socialism was cited as one of the reasons the group was disbanded shows this was very clearly not the university’s motivation. There’s no way they can claim the club was banned based purely on religious values; the Bible doesn’t address Marxism.
On the surface, Liberty has its priorities mixed up. In our opinion, college should be about meeting people with backgrounds completely different from your own. Students should expose themselves to whatever they see fit and make up their own minds about what is and isn’t important in life. But maybe that’s not what the students are looking for.
Perhaps, however, the university really was protecting the interest of its students. College might not be about meeting different people for these students. For them, college might be about meeting people who are similar to them. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that; it’s just another philosophy. It’s much more comfortable for most students to be around people that are like them. It might be less rewarding, but more comfortable nonetheless.
That could be all Liberty wanted to do — to make a campus that’s safer socially. Its rights allow it to do so. But this aim makes the school much less worthwhile.
Commentary
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Steve
(05/27/09 1:54am)Report
That’s what happens when people become educated. They begin to realize how stupid, insane, and baseless religion is but they are already a few years into their degree so now they are stuck between a rock and a hard place. They want to engage in logical thinking, but at the same time are stuck at a school full of illogical people. Do you leave and kiss all that money away that you sunk into your education to have freedom, or do you stick around and talk logic in private?
Mark
(05/27/09 9:09am)Report
Private enterprises can stop employees from speaking to members of the media, and even public places such as high schools can have restricted speech. This sort of thing is not uncommon.
These are the kinds of things we need unions for. People should be free to speak freely (with the exception of insider info) when they are not “on the clock” without the risk of losing their livelihood.
Should the government enforce this? NO. Should worker unions? YES.
Joe
(05/27/09 9:21am)Report
Stupidity (n.): Going to a right-wing, Christian, private university and expecting them to be happy that you’ve started a left-wing, pro-abortion, pro-gay group. See also: white supremacists enrolling at Howard or pacifists enrolling at the Citadel.
Seriously. Instead of bashing the school, why not question the intelligence of the morons who either put little thought into their college selection or, more likely, were trying to “shake up” a school well-known for its firm position on morality?
“On the surface, Liberty has its priorities mixed up. In our opinion, college should be about meeting people with backgrounds completely different from your own.”
No, college should be about getting an education in sync with your goals. Private colleges rely upon private funding – funding that is likely to evaporate if its starts allowing groups at odds with its overall mission to start protesting, demonstrating, and calling for policy changes.
If you don’t like a school’s message or programs, don’t go. It’s really that simple.
“These are the kinds of things we need unions for. People should be free to speak freely (with the exception of insider info) when they are not “on the clock” without the risk of losing their livelihood.”
Yes, indeed. Your rights should always be protected at the expense of your employer. They should have no voice at all and must provide your livelihood even if your ranting threatens theirs. Very smart.
Editor in Chief
(05/27/09 10:06am)Report
Ummm…Jerry Falwell is dead. Seems the writer thinks he is still running Liberty U.
Bop
(05/27/09 12:13pm)Report
Hey, it’s not like the State News’ editorial board is known for being up-to-date. Do you remember the one a couple months back where they said that MSU needed to provide same-sex domestic partner benefits? HelloooooOOOO, 2006 referendum?? Constitutional amendment? National Pride at Work v. Kalamazoo???
Psh.
Todd
(05/27/09 12:23pm)Report
Mark,
Yeah, cause unions are SO about workers’ freedom, right? In fact, unions even support the freedom of workers to decide whether or not they want to join said union. Not.
erg57
(05/27/09 1:43pm)Report
Yes, but just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
Hope
(05/27/09 2:27pm)Report
Steve I strongly diagree with your statement. I never have felt that my religion is, stupid, insane, and baseless. My faith sustains me. And in no way is an adult fairy tale or something to be made fun of. It is a very personal part of me. I came from a Jewish background and to have finally discovered the Messiah is who he claimed to be, wow really neat. I mean I thought that Jesus was for the Christians and I would have to wait for my Savior. Not so, he already came, so that I could have him everyday of my life. By my own choice, something I freely choose. Don’t knock religion until you at least give it a try. It is not even religion it is that personal time and guidance that you receive from the Lord. Your own relationship with him that matters.
First Amendment
(05/27/09 3:26pm)Report
A UNIVERSITY, by definition is supposed to offer a variety of views and opinions to provide a complete education. Liberty has abdicated that responsibility. We can now be certain that its graduates will not be exposed to any countervailing views but will be completely indoctrinated into the right wing, conservative cult believing fully in the correctness of their own views as they march off to their government and business jobs.
Hey at least you were a Gentleman this time
(05/27/09 3:32pm)Report
Hats off to you. Nicely put, even if I kinda disagree. But I heard that it is getting creepy somewhere else, is that true? Quiet confusing me.
hvt
(05/27/09 4:01pm)Report
The author is right. The university is entitled to remove its imprimatur from a group it feels advocates views that are seriously in conflict with its values. Though a public school, MSU would likely withhold any official recognition of an MSU KKK group, or an MSU group of al Queida. Public schools certainly must be more egalitarian than privates, but are allowed to have their limits as well.