[LUconn]

Part of the fallout of this sad situation it what it has done to the reputation of the school and the students. In an attempt to achieve his goals, Jerry, Jr. ignored the idea of trust and ethics while sending a message that the end justifies the means. Student comments on a campus web site repeatedly talked about how bad it makes them and the school look. One student even complained about being used. Students who came for an education, ended up also being used as political pawns. There was further evidence of manipulating the student's vote on the secret tape. On section of the tape that was originally missing and only partly audible, Jerry, Jr. said to the mayor that if the city can get the zoning changed before the coming election, "I will tell the students to stay home."

Is that us? I'm not aware of any other site where you can make posts like that. And I don't think any posts in this thread say anything about being "used".

Also, is that last sentence true? How could he know that if it was inaudible? I know that our student's are portrayed as mindless zombies, but there is no way on earth Jr. could get away with telling all of them to "stay home". He would never have any credibility in front of the students again.

Most of that article could easily be torn apart but I'll leave it at those things. Gerdy luckily has the benefit of most of the Huffington readers having 0 knowledge of the situation other than what he just wrote.

[Hold My Own]

If he is talking about us it must mean he reads FF....therefore let me say Tom Gerdy, I'm proud of you for having (what seems to be) a few thoughts of your own for once and not talking points from your former roommate at VT Bert Dodson...I suppose being in a recession you're looking for new ways of passing the time with editorials and being a blogger.


Not surprising a roommate, and good buddy of "old Bert" is starting to show some nerves. I would think he'd like what the future looks like for Bert and friends...more time together.

[soccer7]

Guys, I am sure Jesus got some bad press when he drove the moneychangers out of the temple in anger. I am sure the patriots who fought for independence in 1776 got some bad press in King George's England--they were probably called terrorists and their actions were probably called un-Christian. Well, I am willing to take some bad press to expose lies. Just this week, in the News Advance, deceitful letters from Tom Gerdy and John Lawrence have been published. The News Advance even apologized on the editorial page today for the lies in Lawrence's letter and for publishing the letter. A few weeks ago John Lawrence told a Democratic forum that I had stated I wanted LU students to be exempt from paying meals taxes. Given the deceit from Joan Foster's supporters, my staff would have been imprudent not to tape the meeting. And, if the Mayor and City Manager had not denied their statements, Bill McRorie and Lee Beaumont never would have released the tape. No legal, ethical or Christian principles were violated by secretly taping this conversation. I have been secretly taped on at least two occasions (once by the FBI) and, because I told the truth, the taping benefitted LU's position. Because taping conversations is legal in Virginia, I assume that every telephone conversation I have and every meeting I attend is taped. The Biblical way to live your life is to not say anything in secret that you are not willing to have shouted from the mountaintops. It is my responsibility to defend and protect LU and I will use every legal and ethical tool at my disposal to do so. If some are too blind to see the difference between lying and using accepted methods to expose lies, then so be it.

This is why I love LU. Men of principle run the University and they practice what they teach/preach.

[LUconn]

I'm not a fan of City Council lying to LU nor do I like that the City keeps LU from dong a lot of the things it would like to do. But LU just pushed all in AND showed their hand pre-flop...they're essentially betting on the river card (winning the local elections) to bail them out...and if the LU students don't turn out (and many won't because they feel like they're being used, no matter how great LU's cause is), then Liberty will have a REALLY hard time getting anything done, unless they can find the votes somewhere off of Liberty Mountain. I guarantee every LU hater and everyone else who thinks LU is trying to hijack a local election simply to push through the University's own agenda is going to show up at the polls...and if it rains on election day every TRBC person of age and LU student won't be going to the polls. It's going to be hard enough to convince students that a local election in a place that is not "hometown" is just as important as a national election. The lesson is NEVER SHOW YOUR HAND, never give up your bargaining chip, and never give up the most important thing...leverage!

Whoopsie, guess somebody did say that. But that also confirms that this site it what he was talking about. So after reading this entire thread, that is what he got from it? I guess he took from it what he wanted to hear.

[From the class of 09]

Guys, I am sure Jesus got some bad press when he drove the moneychangers out of the temple in anger. I am sure the patriots who fought for independence in 1776 got some bad press in King George's England--they were probably called terrorists and their actions were probably called un-Christian. Well, I am willing to take some bad press to expose lies. Just this week, in the News Advance, deceitful letters from Tom Gerdy and John Lawrence have been published. The News Advance even apologized on the editorial page today for the lies in Lawrence's letter and for publishing the letter. A few weeks ago John Lawrence told a Democratic forum that I had stated I wanted LU students to be exempt from paying meals taxes. Given the deceit from Joan Foster's supporters, my staff would have been imprudent not to tape the meeting. And, if the Mayor and City Manager had not denied their statements, Bill McRorie and Lee Beaumont never would have released the tape. No legal, ethical or Christian principles were violated by secretly taping this conversation. I have been secretly taped on at least two occasions (once by the FBI) and, because I told the truth, the taping benefitted LU's position. Because taping conversations is legal in Virginia, I assume that every telephone conversation I have and every meeting I attend is taped. The Biblical way to live your life is to not say anything in secret that you are not willing to have shouted from the mountaintops. It is my responsibility to defend and protect LU and I will use every legal and ethical tool at my disposal to do so. If some are too blind to see the difference between lying and using accepted methods to expose lies, then so be it.

This is why I love LU. Men of principle run the University and they practice what they teach/preach.

I get it that Foster lied and this is pretty messed up since she is our mayor but… I just don’t understand why LU records the meeting in secret. Why don’t they just put a recorder on the desk and say it’s for your records. This gives them the leverage of knowing they can hold everybody in the meeting to their word and doesn’t allow the mayor or other’s to give the story a different spin (like they have). The mayor isn’t going to deny them a meeting because of the students vote, so I really don’t see what we gained from recording in secret.

But this is why I have a beef with how LU handled themselves….Junior implies that recording in secret is ethical and Christian??? He than states he has been recorded in secret multiple times…SO WHAT??? We aren’t supposed to justify ourselves by comparing ourselves to this world we are to live our lives above reproach…this sounds to me very borderline ethically and I am very much an LU supporter.

Maybe I’m wrong but it looks like LU wanted to catch the mayor in a lie.

[Hold My Own]

wanting to catch someone and knowing you will catch someone are two entirely different things. You keep saying "secret recording" as if its a law or something not to do it. So because its not the avenue you would have taken it makes it unethical? I'm confused as to where you are basing your conviction. I remember GNED quite well and don't recall any of these. I slept through Philosophy though so maybe that's when it was discussed.

Also you mentioned "why didn't they put the tape recorder on the table.". That kind of proves a lack of understanding with the relationship. If you truly believe you would get straight answers that way then you are lucky enough to have not been bitten by life...yet.

[kuntryboimike]

liberty might have rocked the boat but if they TOLD them the meeting was being recorded they never woulda caught them in a lie and therefore liberty would still be in the same position of getting screwed. was it sketchy? yes. could it backfire? maybe. but i think it could bring PROGRESS! you dont realize it but ur conversations are recorded any time u go to a bank or some gov't buildings for security and "customer satisfaction. - basically there covering themselves." and i agree.....i wish liberty could move to a more appreciative location. i wish lynchburg would open there eyes and realize how much of a dump it would be if liberty wasnt there.

[From the class of 09]

"why didn't they put the tape recorder on the table.". That kind of proves a lack of understanding with the relationship. If you truly believe you would get straight answers that way then you are lucky enough to have not been bitten by life...yet.

The answer they would have gotten with a tape recorder on the table would have been more truthful then the apparent lie they got when the mayor thought she could get away with it. That’s my point.

What they got was a line of BS so how could recording openly be any worse?

I’m not trying to say that recording somebody secretly is illegal, but if you try to tell me it doesn’t appear a little shady then I don’t know what to say. Given LU’s past relations with the city, how did they expect this to play out?

[belcherboy]

Guys, I am sure Jesus got some bad press when he drove the moneychangers out of the temple in anger. I am sure the patriots who fought for independence in 1776 got some bad press in King George's England--they were probably called terrorists and their actions were probably called un-Christian. Well, I am willing to take some bad press to expose lies. Just this week, in the News Advance, deceitful letters from Tom Gerdy and John Lawrence have been published. The News Advance even apologized on the editorial page today for the lies in Lawrence's letter and for publishing the letter. A few weeks ago John Lawrence told a Democratic forum that I had stated I wanted LU students to be exempt from paying meals taxes. Given the deceit from Joan Foster's supporters, my staff would have been imprudent not to tape the meeting. And, if the Mayor and City Manager had not denied their statements, Bill McRorie and Lee Beaumont never would have released the tape. No legal, ethical or Christian principles were violated by secretly taping this conversation. I have been secretly taped on at least two occasions (once by the FBI) and, because I told the truth, the taping benefitted LU's position. Because taping conversations is legal in Virginia, I assume that every telephone conversation I have and every meeting I attend is taped. The Biblical way to live your life is to not say anything in secret that you are not willing to have shouted from the mountaintops. It is my responsibility to defend and protect LU and I will use every legal and ethical tool at my disposal to do so. If some are too blind to see the difference between lying and using accepted methods to expose lies, then so be it.

I don't think this is a matter of right or wrong. I trust, and am proud of the leadership at Liberty. I still don't understand why you could not have just told the mayor and the others, "To ensure an honest and real dialogue, we will be taping this discussion." If they chose not to go on record, than I think it would speak volumes as to what their intentions are in this matter. I feel secretly taping someone, especially if we think they would not want to be taped, makes this a "gotcha" moment that makes so many people disgusted with politics these days. Again, that is no criticism to you or your leadership team, as I don't think you've done anything wrong, and the mayor should be ashamed. IMO, it gives opportunity to unfair criticism. Although you probably would have been criticized either way, knowing the way Lynchburg politics work.

Regardless, I LOVE what you've done with the university. I've been graduated for 10 years now, and could not be more proud of you. Thanks for your service!

[ALUmnus]

Guys, I am sure Jesus got some bad press when he drove the moneychangers out of the temple in anger. I am sure the patriots who fought for independence in 1776 got some bad press in King George's England--they were probably called terrorists and their actions were probably called un-Christian. Well, I am willing to take some bad press to expose lies. Just this week, in the News Advance, deceitful letters from Tom Gerdy and John Lawrence have been published. The News Advance even apologized on the editorial page today for the lies in Lawrence's letter and for publishing the letter. A few weeks ago John Lawrence told a Democratic forum that I had stated I wanted LU students to be exempt from paying meals taxes. Given the deceit from Joan Foster's supporters, my staff would have been imprudent not to tape the meeting. And, if the Mayor and City Manager had not denied their statements, Bill McRorie and Lee Beaumont never would have released the tape. No legal, ethical or Christian principles were violated by secretly taping this conversation. I have been secretly taped on at least two occasions (once by the FBI) and, because I told the truth, the taping benefitted LU's position. Because taping conversations is legal in Virginia, I assume that every telephone conversation I have and every meeting I attend is taped. The Biblical way to live your life is to not say anything in secret that you are not willing to have shouted from the mountaintops. It is my responsibility to defend and protect LU and I will use every legal and ethical tool at my disposal to do so. If some are too blind to see the difference between lying and using accepted methods to expose lies, then so be it.

I don't think this is a matter of right or wrong. I trust, and am proud of the leadership at Liberty. I still don't understand why you could not have just told the mayor and the others, "To ensure an honest and real dialogue, we will be taping this discussion." If they chose not to go on record, than I think it would speak volumes as to what their intentions are in this matter. I feel secretly taping someone, especially if we think they would not want to be taped, makes this a "gotcha" moment that makes so many people disgusted with politics these days. Again, that is no criticism to you or your leadership team, as I don't think you've done anything wrong, and the mayor should be ashamed. IMO, it gives opportunity to unfair criticism. Although you probably would have been criticized either way, knowing the way Lynchburg politics work.

Regardless, I LOVE what you've done with the university. I've been graduated for 10 years now, and could not be more proud of you. Thanks for your service!

I'd agree with this for the most part, and the knowledge of being recorded does make for a more honest discussion. But...when you're getting conflicting answers about the status of your requests, it makes it impossible to plan for anything, and causes tons of wasted time and money. I think this is what was being brought to light. Don't jerk us around, we don't have the patience for it anymore. If they would have just been honest, even if it's not the answer we want, at least we know how to move forward.

[Rooster Cogburn]

I'm hearing there is much more to come tonight on this on the news and in the paper. Our friend JFLjr aparently held a presser this afternoon.

[kuntryboimike]

now whose playing the victim:
http://www2.newsadvance.com/lna/news/op ... ers/25976/

im getting tired of the media and these lynchburg locals being so DRAMATIC! its like they never really got out of high school and grew up.

[4everfsu]

Funny but I could not find who wrote that article. I would think the person would have penned his or her name.

[LUconn]

And disbelief, primarily, because behavior such as this is not something one would expect from an institution of higher learning, where trust is the common currency of discourse and understanding.

I want to live in this person's world.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Dear jfljr, please give us your feelings on Mr, Schewels free advertisement disguised as a letter to the editor in the N&A today!

http://tinyurl.com/38ansbd

Make no mistake. Unless the Lynchburg First ticket of Joan Foster, J.P. Vaughan and Randy Nelson is elected, Jerry Falwell Jr. will not only be the Chancellor of Liberty University, he will be the Chancellor of Lynchburg, as well.

Perhaps then he will move into the city.

Wow! is all I've got. Talk about fear tactics from the left.

[LUconn]

If only by clicking on this sentence we could find out where Schewel stood in the political spectrum!

I would advocate boycotting there because he's obviously the figurehead of the Lynchburg Liberty hater club but I don't know of anybody that would buy furniture there anyway.

[Rooster Cogburn]

They don't sell furniture. they sell credit dependence!

[Hold My Own]

Schewels is Jewish so these thoughts are not surprising....and anyone who knows him isnt surprised at all. Although he does want whats best for Lynchburg...wait...no he doesnt...he openly discourages any talks of an interstate because it would drive his salaries up and he wont be able to pay 10 year employees minimum wage any more. You sir should run for council!!!!

[LUconn]

They get paid min wage? I would have thought it was all commission. That place is worse than a used car lot. You can just see the sales guys' face pressed up against the window when you pull up.

[Hold My Own]

If you dont earn enough commission to make minimum wage (they dont do much business) they must pay you minimum wage

[Libertine]

Schewels is Jewish so these thoughts are not surprising

What does his being Jewish have to do with anything?

[Hold My Own]

Your aware of the complicated relationship between Jews and Christians right?

[SuperJon]

Ha, talk about a huuuuuuge sweeping over-generalization.

[Hold My Own]

Why because I said the relationship between Christians and Jews is complicated? I think that's fair.

[Libertine]

Your aware of the complicated relationship between Jews and Christians right?

So to be Jewish is, by definition, to be anti-Christian and to be Christian is, by definition, to be anti-Semitic? Please.