A Sea Of Red

Liberty takes step to expand to 15,000 students

By Justin Faulconer
jfaulconer@newsadvance.com
December 27, 2007

Liberty University has filed a request with the City of Lynchburg to renew a conditional use permit agreement that would allow expansion of up to 15,000 students.

The school’s last permit, issued five years ago, expired earlier this year when enrollment hit 10,500. Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. said that figure has gone down somewhat since August, but it should stay well over 10,000 after next semester.

“We’re growing at a rate of 1,000 a year,” said Falwell. “That rate dictates what we can build and when.”
LU needs a new conditional use permit to show officials it can handle escalating growth.

Its engineering firm, Perkins and Orrison, recently submitted plans that show 63 additional dorms housing more than 80 students each. They would be located behind current dorms directly off U.S. 460, as well as on 237 acres east of those dorms and Candlers Mountain Road.

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A lot of interesting info in this article.....

swimming, lacrosse and equestrian sports for women

I guess there's our answer of what women's sports are gonna be added. The horse farm on Candler's Mt Rd is for sale.

My favorite quote in the article:

“It’s easier for us and easier for the city,” said Falwell. “It makes more sense than coming down there every time we want to build a storage shed.”

Also of interest to any women's sport fans:

There also needs to be new swimming, lacrosse and equestrian sports for women to meet federal laws that ensure athletic equality for each gender, he said.

That link's not working. Is it just me?

Nope, not just you.

Anyway, we know women's swimming will end up in the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association, hopefully lacrosse in the CAA, and equestrian will probably be independent unless there are enough schools to start an equestrian league.

jcmanson wrote:That link's not working. Is it just me?

No. The N&A website seems to be down this morning.

Alright thanks.

I'm kind of confused as to where all these new dorms will go. Behind the dorms on East? Will they be accessible only by going through east, or will there be another access road? I didn't know there was 237 acres east of Candlers Mtn Rd. Is this land below the monogram or closer to Candlers Mtn Rd?

The site is working now and I fixed the link in the initial post in the thread.

I am guessing that the permit is really nothing more than a formality. But it will certainly give the locals an excuse to rant about the monogram one more time.

The swimming & lacrosse really aren't surprising but the equestrian rumor clearly had legs (no pun intended). Without doing the research, does anybody know what other regional schools have equestrian teams? Sweet Briar? Washington & Lee? UVa? VT?

i know there has also been mention of a women's rowing team. however, this would not require anything on campus to be done. i think camp hydaway lake would be the location.

The ODAC schools have it. For D-I...I have no idea.

Forgive my memory, but I don't recall Camp Hydaway's lake being anywhere near big enough for crew. You need a seriously large lake and Smith Mountain Lake would be the only one close that I can think of.

Sly Fox wrote:Forgive my memory, but I don't recall Camp Hydaway's lake being anywhere near big enough for crew. You need a seriously large lake and Smith Mountain Lake would be the only one close that I can think of.

the lake would have to be expanded. when i heard the discussion, it didn't sound like this would be in the near future... i would assume mostly because the lake would need expanding.

also, there are very few schools within a few hundred miles radius that have crew teams (HS and college). there were a few around the coast. i think it'd be tough... right now anyways.

UVA has a very good women's rowing team. They won the national championship a couple years ago.

BrysOn_G wrote:i know there has also been mention of a women's rowing team. however, this would not require anything on campus to be done. i think camp hydaway lake would be the location.

Remember, women's rowing is NCAA, men's crew is club. Just wanted to make sure everyone on here knew there was a difference.

jcmanson wrote:Alright thanks.

I'm kind of confused as to where all these new dorms will go. Behind the dorms on East? Will they be accessible only by going through east, or will there be another access road? I didn't know there was 237 acres east of Candlers Mtn Rd. Is this land below the monogram or closer to Candlers Mtn Rd?

As far as I know, the current plan has them continuing up the mountain as far as possible with East dorms. However, currently, there haven't been any plans made to add more buildings.

I think the plan is to start working on some high-rise buildings (similiar to 25-28) on the circle. They are going to have to take a hit in their numbers, obviously, before they can go up. Those buildings are going to take some time to get up and each building on the circle holds about 75 students per floor.

Much positive news included. BTW there are many major men's crew teams that go far beyond club level. They have their own championship--the IRA Regatta. Current powers include Cal, Washington, Wisconsin, and several Ivy schools. Some have scholies and others don't due mostly to Title 9 limits.

http://www.row2k.com/ira/features.cfm?ID=216

I covered NCAA crew in Austin and the national championships are held right near my family's homestead east of Cincinnati. Thta's why I have a good idea what is required as far as a lake is concerned.

I've never covered NCAA equestrian ... rodeo, but not equestrian.

Could a crew team not practice on the nearby James River?

I know a local school has stables over off of coffee road. I think it was RMWC. I don't know if they still have them as RC.

There are already stables at Camp Hydaway.

Cider Jim wrote:Could a crew team not practice on the nearby James River?

Good question. I'm not sure if there are any stretches straight for far enough. But its worth exploring. And it needs to be fairly placid for competition ... that's why most competitions are on lakes or wide canals.

More sports=more Certified Athletic Trainers=increase growth the academic program I am part of. That should help job security.

equestrian is a gigantic waste of time and one of the most expensive sports next to football and lacrosse any athletic department can have. no one gives a crap about equestrian, I dont see how they could justify adding equestrian over another womens sport that costs less and is more popular. on that note, several local colleges have it, including bridgewater, randolph, hollins, lynchburg, W&L, and sweet briar. of course those arent D1...

With our current administration, they won't just jump into a sport without the proper research being done first. If they think it's best for our school, then I trust that.

I mean maybe im crazy but why would we want this horse crap ( no pun intended ). Womens Golf gets us Sasser Cup points and i can't imagine it costing nearly as much. I would think someone needs to explain this decision because obviously im not seeing some benefit or reason and while i have respect for our administration, i don't have blind trust. Im we are asking the question, im sure others will as well and eventually we can find out exactly what this program does for us.....