Liberty University Would Fine Students Who Skipped Ted Cruz Speech

[Zaac]

Sen. Ted Cruz delivered the first official speech of his 2016 presidential campaign to over 10,000 students Monday during a convocation ceremony on Liberty University’s campus in Lynchburg, Va.

While it appeared Cruz gave his speech to a packed house, students at the Christian university were obligated to attend the event due to stipulations in their student conduct code.

All Liberty students are required to attend convocation on Monday, Wednesday and Friday or they face a $10 fine and four reprimands. To put that in perspective, though, possession of an R-rated movie on the campus will get a student 12 reprimands and a $50 fine. Involvement in witchcraft or other satanic activity gets 30 reprimands, a $500 fine, 30 hours of community service and possible expulsion.

Some students saw the forced attendance to the Cruz speech as an opportunity to participate in a little bit of civil disobedience. The students, who told the National Journal they didn’t want to appear to support Cruz, wore “Stand With Rand” shirts and sat in clear view of cameras filming the speech.

http://dailycaller.com/2015/03/23/l...ld-fine-students-who-skipped-ted-cruz-speech/

'It is a highly deceptive': Ted Cruz blasted by Rand Paul supporters for launching 2016 bid at Liberty University event where attendance was mandatory

Young backers of Tea Party favorite Sen. Rand Paul are directing their fight for freedom at an unlikely target — fellow liberty-lover Sen. Ted Cruz.

Dozens of supporters of the Kentucky Republican crashed Ted Cruz’s packed 2016 presidential announcement at Liberty University earlier this week and took to social media to blast the Texas conservative for exploiting a policy at the evangelical school requiring students to attend his campaign event.

"I strongly object to Senator Cruz's choice of venue for the announcement of his 2016 presidential bid," Liberty student Joseph McGowan, a prominent campus Republican, wrote on his Facebook account in a stinging rant of the Texan’s “deception.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/pol...-event-attendance-mandatory-article-1.2160686

Savvy move to make it look like you've got 10000 supporters behind you as you make your public announcement to run for President during a mandatory school convocation event.

I do find it odd though that a senator from Texas publicly announces his bid for the White House from a school in Virginia.

 

[InTheLight]

Students would face a fine for every convocation they didn't attend, not just the Ted Cruz convocation.

Savvy move to make it look like you've got 10000 supporters behind you as you make your public announcement to run for President during a mandatory school convocation event.

And remember the uproar from the right when it was learned that Obama bussed in people for some of his rallies?

I guess it's OK for Cruz to game the system because he's a conservative.

 

[preachinjesus]

I'm a LU alum. The media doesn't understand this at all.

All convocations are required for undergraduate students. Missing one (save for medical or other justified reasons) doesn't result in an immediate fine. It does result in reprimands. If someone gets enough reps they can be assessed a fine.

LU is a private institution and can do whatever they wish as regards their rules and guidelines. All students agree to follow their guidelines prior to acceptance.

This isn't an issue worth this much ink.

 

[Zaac]

I'm a LU alum. The media doesn't understand this at all.

All convocations are required for undergraduate students. Missing one (save for medical or other justified reasons) doesn't result in an immediate fine. It does result in reprimands. If someone gets enough reps they can be assessed a fine.

I think all of the media outlets have mentioned that they are fined for missing convocations.

That's why I was saying it was a savvy move.

LU is a private institution and can do whatever they wish as regards their rules and guidelines. All students agree to follow their guidelines prior to acceptance.

This isn't an issue worth this much ink.

I agree. I place in that bucket with Hillary's email. I still wonder why he didn't announce in Texas.

 

[777]

Leave it to the MSM to look and look until they found a couple of Rand Paul supporters upset over this.

I'm a LU alum. The media doesn't understand this at all.

All convocations are required for undergraduate students. Missing one (save for medical or other justified reasons) doesn't result in an immediate fine. It does result in reprimands. If someone gets enough reps they can be assessed a fine.

LU is a private institution and can do whatever they wish as regards their rules and guidelines. All students agree to follow their guidelines prior to acceptance.

This isn't an issue worth this much ink.

Well, I think you understand how LU operates far better than I do but you're right - the convocation is what you signed up for and the rules were known by all going in.


The issue I have with LU is that they cancelled out on the governor of VA (who I can't stand) eleven days before to accommodate Ted Cruz. Not illegal, just inconsiderate and breach of etiquette.

 

[Zaac]

Leave it to the MSM to look and look until they found a couple of Rand Paul supporters upset over this.




Well, I think you understand how LU operates far better than I do but you're right - the convocation is what you signed up for and the rules were known by all going in.


The issue I have with LU is that they cancelled out on the governor of VA (who I can't stand) eleven days before to accommodate Ted Cruz. Not illegal, just inconsiderate and breach of etiquette.

I also think that just added to why some of the students did object. There's just something I don't like about using this type of platform for political purposes.

Will 1 or 2 other candidates be given the same honor of speaking during a convocation? Otherwise it's gonna look like a political endorsement by the school's leadership.

 

[go2church]

I guess that was the only way to get people to sit and listen to Cruz talk?

 

[church mouse guy]

If you are a liberal/progressive, you probably do not enroll in a Christian university, and a liberal/progressive probably does not ask to address the Liberty University student body for fear of uncontrollable laughter from the audience.

 

[carpro]

Students would face a fine for every convocation they didn't attend, not just the Ted Cruz convocation.

Makes this story pretty much about nothing, doesn't it?

 

[annsni]

Students would face a fine for every convocation they didn't attend, not just the Ted Cruz convocation.

This. It's interesting to see the twisting of the truth to fit one's need, isn't it?

 

[Revmitchell]

To be fair to Zaac the op goes beyond just the title. It is a legitimate point to make that Cruz made his announcement at a place where attendance is mandatory.

 

[Zaac]

Makes this story pretty much about nothing, doesn't it?

Yep, Like I said. Same bucket as the Hillary emails.

I'm much more interested in knowing why he chose Virginia?

 

[InTheLight]

To be fair to Zaac the op goes beyond just the title. It is a legitimate point to make that Cruz made his announcement at a place where attendance is mandatory.

Yes, because he wanted a guaranteed packed house for the TV cameras.

Contrast that to the Exempt America from Obamacare Rally held in September 2013 when Cruz was the headline speaker. The crowd was about 300 people.

 

[InTheLight]

I'm much more interested in knowing why he chose Virginia?

If he's the GOP candidate he doesn't need to work to carry the state of Texas. Virginia is a state he would need.

 

[777]

I think he picked this venue for its name and also to grandstand.

Liberty University has had many Democrats and liberals speak at LU, including the late Ted Kennedy.

Yes, because he wanted a guaranteed packed house for the TV cameras.

Contrast that to the Exempt America from Obamacare Rally held in September 2013 when Cruz was the headline speaker. The crowd was about 300 people.

Well, then, this would be another difference between Cruz and Obama. Obama had full houses at his earlier speeches when many liberals swooned and literally fainted at his words.

 

[church mouse guy]

Cruz also got a lot of standing ovations and applause so Liberty University students mostly enjoyed his speech. The one that should be worried is Netanyahu that America might find someone to take away his title of leader of the free world.

The press seems to be ignoring that Cruz is a Latino and if nominated would be the first Latino ever nominated by a major party.

 

[go2church]

Considering Cruz is continually and rightly talking about freedom, it is odd that is big announcement would be made at a mandatory meeting. Also, one would think that at Liberty, Cruz could easily attract a crowd of people who would come to his announcement party of their own volition. Strange choice on his part.

 

[Zaac]

If he's the GOP candidate he doesn't need to work to carry the state of Texas. Virginia is a state he would need.

Good point.

I would have waited until after someone else declared though. The first person to declare never seems to do well unless there is no one else really running.

 

[Alcott]

I'm much more interested in knowing why he chose Virginia?

Do all candidates announce their intent to run in their home states? I can't remember paying attention to that. But his reason is likely the same one you are cracking him for-- that Texas is securely Republican, despite all the nonsense spouted about it "becoming blue;" an idea which really took a beating in 2014, and Virginia is one of the up-for-grabs states, like Ohio and Florida. Does that say it plain enough?

 

[Zaac]

Do all candidates announce their intent to run in their home states? I can't remember paying attention to that. But his reason is likely the same one you are cracking him for-- that Texas is securely Republican, despite all the nonsense spouted about it "becoming blue;" an idea which really took a beating in 2014, and Virginia is one of the up-for-grabs states, like Ohio and Florida. Does that say it plain enough?

I like ITL's version better.

Your version smells funny.