[INeedAManager]

I hope this hasnt already been mentioned but i heard through the LU grapevine that next year commuters will have to check in at convo. I am not sure of the validity of this rumor just wondering if anyone else has heard anything about it.

ill save my personal opinions till i hear if this is actually true

[flamesbball84]

do residential students have to check-in?

[ToTheLeft]

do residential students have to check-in?

Yes.

[INeedAManager]

do residential students have to check-in?

Yes.

it used to be that commuters had to slide their id's through a scanner at the door to show attendance but they did away with that my freshman year
(fall 05) and since then commuters were "required" to attend but there was no system to make sure they were attending

[ATrain]

do residential students have to check-in?

Yes.

it used to be that commuters had to slide their id's through a scanner at the door to show attendance but they did away with that my freshman year
(fall 05) and since then commuters were "required" to attend but there was no system to make sure they were attending

Those ID scanners were a joke. People were able to swipe blockbuster cards and whether or not anyone swiped in nearly everyone got an e-mail warning them to swipe in the next time.

[Hold My Own]

I will never forget when I went to one of the scanner's and looked up and the end of the cord wasnt even plugged in...I laughed so hard



I love this btw...this answers a lot of the questions on wither or not Liberty was going to change now that Doc is gone....I knew the answer b/c I know and fully trust JLFjr however this just made everyone aware that we're in good hands and our future faith is still very strong.

[SuperJon]

Isn't convo already pretty packed with just 6000-7000 students there? Where the heck are the other 5000 going to sit?

[Hold My Own]

I was thinking the same thing...it's like 2/3 full right now...I'm guessing some will have to go over to TRBC now too

[SuperJon]

Is that 2/3 of the arena full or 2/3 convo seating? They take out 1/3 of the seating with the stage and all of that.


And what's the point in making commuters go to TRBC and watch it on the screen? You're basically telling them to show up when they don't have class and text people or not pay attention. With no RA's to worry about, who's going to enforce they pay attention?

[rueful]

Is that 2/3 of the arena full or 2/3 convo seating? They take out 1/3 of the seating with the stage and all of that.


And what's the point in making commuters go to TRBC and watch it on the screen? You're basically telling them to show up when they don't have class and text people or not pay attention. With no RA's to worry about, who's going to enforce they pay attention?

I wouldnt say they take away 1/3 of the seating for convo. they dont take away that much with the stage, and they add alot with the seats on the floor.

Ive heard from higher ups in religion hall this is true, but not sure if its just wednesday or all three days. Honestly, I would much rather if they make it mandatory, make it all three days, because if I wanted to hear Jonathon Falwell, I would go to TRBC. Dont force me to come here him speak alone.

[SuperJon]

Asking around, I've been told commuters are getting their own RA and even their own prayer leaders.

This is absolutely stupid if you ask me.

By the time most students move off campus they're ready to find their own prayer leader within their church or their group of friends. They find their own church and go there and get involved. The reason so many undergrad kids at Liberty aren't involved in a church locally is because if they're living on campus, they're in convo all the time and prayer groups and hall meeting and all of that. Once students get off campus, they start getting involved in a church and in small groups and things of that nature.

If you think the commuters are mature enough to move off campus, let them live an off campus life. They moved off for a reason. Don't force the on-campus activities on them.

[ATrain]

Asking around, I've been told commuters are getting their own RA and even their own prayer leaders.

This is absolutely stupid if you ask me.

By the time most students move off campus they're ready to find their own prayer leader within their church or their group of friends. They find their own church and go there and get involved. The reason so many undergrad kids at Liberty aren't involved in a church locally is because if they're living on campus, they're in convo all the time and prayer groups and hall meeting and all of that. Once students get off campus, they start getting involved in a church and in small groups and things of that nature.

If you think the commuters are mature enough to move off campus, let them live an off campus life. They moved off for a reason. Don't force the on-campus activities on them.

Does this mean that they'll have to follow curfews and stuff?

[flamesbball84]

Are graduate students supposed to go to convo?

[INeedAManager]

the main issue i see with this is the local commuter student who may still live at home. I know alot of people in that situation since i am from this area. If a student has no classes on MWF are they going to be required to drive across town (burning gas), try and park (oh yeah there is no parking now lets try adding thousands more people on campus at one time) and then pack into the already full vines center. what about people who have a job and have to work during convo?

dont get me wrong i feel that most commuters are very disconnected when it comes to the spiritual aspect of campus, but trying to accomplish this under the current logistics the campus has seems a bit crazy

[SuperJon]

Does this mean that they'll have to follow curfews and stuff?

I have no clue. I don't see any way they could enforce that.

[El Scorcho]

Those ID scanners were a joke.

They worked. (When they were set up properly)

What was done with the data collected by them is a different story.

[ToTheLeft]

Asking around, I've been told commuters are getting their own RA and even their own prayer leaders.

This is absolutely stupid if you ask me.

By the time most students move off campus they're ready to find their own prayer leader within their church or their group of friends. They find their own church and go there and get involved. The reason so many undergrad kids at Liberty aren't involved in a church locally is because if they're living on campus, they're in convo all the time and prayer groups and hall meeting and all of that. Once students get off campus, they start getting involved in a church and in small groups and things of that nature.

If you think the commuters are mature enough to move off campus, let them live an off campus life. They moved off for a reason. Don't force the on-campus activities on them.

I disagree with having commuters come to convo, but this argument is terrible.

If you moved off for a "reason", and that reason was to get out of the spiritual aspects of campus, go to Longwood or LC. If you're moving off to get away from convo and having a prayer leader, then you might want to take a look at why you're even here. I am going to guess that a good amount of off-campus students are significantly less spiritually involved since they left campus. I can understand if you move of because you have a job and curfew cuts into that, or if you're just ready to go live on your own. But I don't but that most of these kids are moving off because they feel like they're mature enough to live out on their own. There are a ton of reasons why kids move off, and I really don't want to go into them all but suffice it to say, some of the reasons are rather "immature", or troubling, at best.

It's not an issue of being mature enough. It's an issue of consistency. Students at Liberty come here to get a different college experience, one with an involved spiritual aspect. Having thousands of kids who get to skirt past this because they think they are "mature" enough to move off-campus is pretty bogus. (And it's not as if kids get to go off campus because they're mature enough... we don't have enough dorms and so they're happy to let people move off).

And aren't commuters supposed to go to convo, anyways? It's just not "checked" so they never go, but I am pretty sure they're supposed to.

[ToTheLeft]

the main issue i see with this is the local commuter student who may still live at home. I know alot of people in that situation since i am from this area. If a student has no classes on MWF are they going to be required to drive across town (burning gas), try and park (oh yeah there is no parking now lets try adding thousands more people on campus at one time) and then pack into the already full vines center. what about people who have a job and have to work during convo?

dont get me wrong i feel that most commuters are very disconnected when it comes to the spiritual aspect of campus, but trying to accomplish this under the current logistics the campus has seems a bit crazy

This is why this is a joke of an idea. Let's try and get thousands of off campus students onto campus at once. Then have them all check in, and then leave, all at once.

[SuperJon]

They're supposed to go on Wednesday.

To some people (I am one of them), the amount of stuff required while living on campus is too much. Even as a commuter, when I was in all of the Liberty classes (Old Testament, New Testament, GNED, Theology, Evan, etc) and not going to convo, hall meeting, etc I was further away from God than at any other point in my life. I had a better relationship with God while I was at Coastal than I did my first two semesters here. To me, it was an overload. It didn't help that the classes and the way they were set up (GNED and Evan especially) were absolutely terrible (evan has been revamped, I don't know about the others). I know a lot of people who have said the same thing.

One of my projects for my youth class this year was to interview students who used to go to church in high school but don't anymore. I asked around to people I knew here and most of them said the same thing. By Sunday morning, they weren't interested in getting up and going to church to hear the same things they'd heard 8-10 times earlier in the week.

You say what did we come here for if we don't want all of the stuff residential students get. I came here to be in a Christian environment, where prayer was encouraged, and you could learn more about the Gospel. I came here because I thought it was amazing that the teachers prayed in class and genuinely cared for the students. I came here to get away from the excessive partying that was the focus of other schools. I never once wanted the stuff that residential students are forced to be a part of. If I wasn't allowed to live off campus when I first transferred here, I wasn't going to come here. I was going to find some place else to go.

I have no problem with the classes Liberty requires. I know why we require them and that's ok. I don't like the way some of them are set up (or should I say the way they were when I was in them) but I have no problem with us having to take them. I don't like the way some of the stuff for residential students is set up (hall meeting, prayer groups) but can somewhat understand why they are the way they are and all of that.

You can disagree with me if you want (and obviously you do) and that's fine, but I honestly feel that the residential life aspect of this school is not for every single kid who wants a Christian education. That's why we move off campus. Yes, there are kids that want to party and stuff like that. I know quite a few of them. I know even more who wanted a little bit of freedom from all of the stuff that was forced on them on campus who are now more involved in church than they ever were while on campus.

I come from a viewpoint of having never lived on campus. You come from a viewpoint of having never lived off campus. We're obviously not going to see things in the same light because we don't have the same perspective. That's what makes "arguments" like this fun and interesting.

[ToTheLeft]

I agree with a lot of what you said, but I don't think it's a compelling case for every off-campus student.

For you and some others, sure. But not for everyone.

[Barbie's Biggest Fan]

First when superjon said people move off for a reason, I don't think to avoid spirituality was the "reason." But rather that each student who wants to move off has a reason whether it be cost, job, curfew, etc. My primary reason is definitely cost. I'm saving thousands by moving off. I'd say convenience plays a huge roll and I highly doubt I'll have hall meeting withdrawals. I don't think disliking prayer groups, convocation, etc is any reason to not come to Liberty. I feel that I am a very strong Christian. While on campus I attend the prayer groups, hall meetings, convocations no matter how much I dread the thought. As a girl, I feel like pgs are nothing more than a time to chat and catch up. Sure they may throw in a bible verse or two, but lets face it... not all prayer leaders take their role seriously. It give them a pretty easy CSER. I'd rather find some friends that I can share accountability with on my own time, without my Tuesday 10:00 hour being tied up. I feel that besides feeling somewhat "encouraged" by my prayer leader, I don't think that there has been any type of 'hercules' moment that emerged from attending. Also, some convo speakers are very enlightening, others make me want to gouge my eyes out.

The issue of consistency that you speak of... in "coming to get a different college experience" is very valid. But for the kids who are sent because mommy and daddy are paying them, why force them into convo to be a distraction to others? I don't think being a commuter is an issue of skipping out on spiritual aspects because those who want to be spiritually involved will find a way. I completely agree with SJ that shoving convo, hall meeting, pgs down the throats of Liberty students isn't the best way to evaluate their spiritual lives. The kids who want to drink and party are going to do so regardless, so let them move off and take their Saturday nights up with God.

[rueful]

his logic doesnt work for everyone, your right, there are alot of commuter students are disconnected spiritually and didnt move off campus because they are more mature.

but the same logic applies to those students who are on campus. Sure, some of them are super plugged in spiritually, but there are alot who arent, which is what he is trying to say, and im not sure your understanding.

Alot of off campus people Ive known dont get it. I honestly dont know why they come to liberty, they are just idiots and nothing about them says they are different than a non-christian. They get all defensive and upset when people think they do the stuff they do, (but honestly, if you dont want people thinking you do something, be above reproach)

but those same kind of people live on campus. And i think the ratio is probably just about the same between the percentage of students who are mature and want to be spiritually plugged in on and off campus

[JDUB]

SJ, several points in your argument are wrong. The seating thing has already been addressed, but there is enough space supposedly.
Commuters are supposed to go to EVERY convo right now, not just wednesdays. show me anywhere that says commuters only have to go on wednesdays. I can show you the liberty way, my off campus approval letter, my commuter ecogs, etc. All say every convo.
I do not think it is ridiculous at all to begin enforcing a rule that has always been in existence. Inconvenient? yes. But its not something you should be crapping your pants and flipping out over, especially since it doesn't effect you at all.

[SuperJon]

I'll thank Jerry for feeding you those points. Doesn't mean that I agree with it or like it at all or even think it's a good thing.


The Vines Center can't even seat 11,000. There's barely 8500 seats in there. Even with the seating on the floor, there's not room for 11,000.

[JDUB]

That didn't come from jerry it came from me. He hasn't even seen this thread that I know of.I'm sorry the facts sting, but this isn't just an off the cuff decision. All of this stuff is thought about before a decision is made, and they are aware of the space and other issues. Trbc has room for at least 3k more people, and I think vines could get a few more. It will probably take a few tries before they get it right, but it will work out.