[Humble_Opinion]

A man that will be in the middle of ramping up his campaign for the highest office in the land chose to come here to our little part of the country.

I'm not one to guess Romney's personal intentions, but I'd be shocked if Virginia being a battleground state didn't have anything to do with it. Kind of when the White House (I can't say the word I want to use,) pushed out Moochelle Obama to speak at Virginia Tech. I doubt Liberty would allow Romney to do something like that.

I wasn't suggesting that Romney "forced" Liberty into anything, and yes his decision to come here likely was political. At the same time, of all the places he could have gone, all of the other events he could have attended that day, he chose Liberty University. Is that not something to be proud of?

But is there anything that isn't political these days? Church is political for crying out loud... I agree with Belcher - I don't understand why people think Commencement is supposed to be some 3 hr. long church service. When I graduated Ben Stein was the speaker - and it was fine. There's plenty of praise and worship, Jerry Jr. speaks about the legacy that is Liberty University, there's plenty of references to the Word throughout the ceremony and then the speaker speaks for 45 minutes or so. If you want a church service go to the Baccalaureate - that's what it's for!

[SuperJon]

This is a celebration of 4, sometimes more, years of work for a graduation class whom 90%+ will use their degrees in a non-christian based vocation. Bringing in a guy who isn't a christian, but has lived an exemplary life in comparison to christian morals, and has had a GREAT deal of success in business and political realms is a IMPRESSIVE thing for Liberty.

See, that's where we disagree. I'd rather have a Christian who has worked in a non-Christian based vocation challenging our students to be the light in their businesses and be someone they can look up to. You're right that it's not a church service. You're wrong in that it isn't an opportunity to send out our students with a practical message from a prominent Christian leader.

[belcherboy]

This is a celebration of 4, sometimes more, years of work for a graduation class whom 90%+ will use their degrees in a non-christian based vocation. Bringing in a guy who isn't a christian, but has lived an exemplary life in comparison to christian morals, and has had a GREAT deal of success in business and political realms is a IMPRESSIVE thing for Liberty.

See, that's where we disagree. I'd rather have a Christian who has worked in a non-Christian based vocation challenging our students to be the light in their businesses and be someone they can look up to. You're right that it's not a church service. You're wrong in that it isn't an opportunity to send out our students with a practical message from a prominent Christian leader.

I still don't see why it has to be exclusively christian speakers. Liberty doesn't even hold that standard to convocation speakers.

Liberty gets prominent Christian leaders just about every week in convocation. I think would rather have a chance to hear a potential POTUS, even if he is not a christian (as long as he doesn't have the moral standards of a Bill Clinton). Just my two cents.

[HenryGale]

Henry - I'm willing to bet that very few people who will attend the graduation ceremony have not heard the gospel, and if they haven't then they will merely just by showing up. But if that's your argument then why are you on here wasting time complaining about this instead of going out and preaching the gospel?

It's a commencement speech... The fact that he's coming here gives credence and legitimacy to everything we are at Liberty University. Think about it. A man that will be in the middle of ramping up his campaign for the highest office in the land chose to come here to our little part of the country. Were you Jerry Jr. would you really turned that down? Give me a break...

WOW...I have been put in my place....

[From the class of 09]

I think we all can understand why Romney was chosen and it is a big deal for Lib. But when you look at the history of commencement speakers Lib has chosen it does kind of make you ask why? It's not like all those guys were current presidential nominees.

I guess the question I have is why is being a conservative a prerequisite for a commitment speaker at Lib if being a Christian isn’t?

Again, I don’t have a problem inviting those that aren’t Christian to speak at commencement if they really are a big deal, but I’d much prefer it to be the exception not the rule.

[From the class of 09]

This is a celebration of 4, sometimes more, years of work for a graduation class whom 90%+ will use their degrees in a non-christian based vocation. Bringing in a guy who isn't a christian, but has lived an exemplary life in comparison to christian morals, and has had a GREAT deal of success in business and political realms is a IMPRESSIVE thing for Liberty.

See, that's where we disagree. I'd rather have a Christian who has worked in a non-Christian based vocation challenging our students to be the light in their businesses and be someone they can look up to. You're right that it's not a church service. You're wrong in that it isn't an opportunity to send out our students with a practical message from a prominent Christian leader.

I still don't see why it has to be exclusively christian speakers. Liberty doesn't even hold that standard to convocation speakers.

Liberty gets prominent Christian leaders just about every week in convocation. I think would rather have a chance to hear a potential POTUS, even if he is not a christian (as long as he doesn't have the moral standards of a Bill Clinton). Just my two cents.

Have you met my favorite Lib spokesmen...

[belcherboy]

I think we all can understand why Romney was chosen and it is a big deal for Lib. But when you look at the history of commencement speakers Lib has chosen it does kind of make you ask why? It's not like all those guys were current presidential nominees.

I guess the question I have is why is being a conservative a prerequisite for a commitment speaker at Lib if being a Christian isn’t?

Again, I don’t have a problem inviting those that aren’t Christian to speak at commencement if they really are a big deal, but I’d much prefer it to be the exception not the rule.

I can understand that. I just don't understand why people are complaining this year. When I saw Romney was coming to Liberty today, I was elated. Liberty has always claimed it wants to be distinctively Christian, but be considered among the best liberal arts universities in the world. Well, when a candidate for the POTUS is available for your commencement, 6 months from the election, you give him some serious consideration...even if he is not a Christian IMO. Having him as a commencement speaker was a no brainer in light of Romney's squeaky clean image and high family standard. Something that isn't so common these days for politicians.

[LUconn]

I'd like to hear the opinions of one of our resident Paul4lifers

[Kricket]

Can't complain. I'm walking in May and it's great to have such a prestigious speaker. No speaker will ever be perfect, but Romney is great.

[jbock13]

I'd like to hear the opinions of one of our resident Paul4lifers

They won't care much. Romney and Paul are buddies anyways. Now of it were Santorum....

[SuperJon]

Liberty gets prominent Christian leaders just about every week in convocation. I think would rather have a chance to hear a potential POTUS, even if he is not a christian (as long as he doesn't have the moral standards of a Bill Clinton). Just my two cents.

Liberty gets prominent Christian leaders every week in convocation. That is completely true.

There are 14,000 graduates. Let's say half of those walk at graduation (that's a conservative number I think). That's 7000 graduates.

Of those 7000 graduates, I'd saying about 3000 are resident undergrad students. (That may even be on the high side.)

Of those 3000 resident undergrad students, maybe half of them go to convocation regularly.

You're down to 1500 people out of an expected 34,000 people that attend convocation and hear the prominent Christian leaders regularly.

So, because 20% of the graduating students and 4% of the attenders of commencement regularly hear prominent Christian leaders, it's not worth it to have a Christian leader be the speaker at the world largest Christian university that trains champions for Christ?

I just want to make sure I follow your logic.

[NotAJerry]

This is one reason why I didn't even consider walking. Liberty is still a whore for political power and will sell itself to whatever antichrist it can to gain influence.

Romney is a despicable, spineless, godless piece of trash. Jerry Jr. should be ashamed and should apologize publicly for this pathetic publicity stunt.

[LUconn]

Lol. There's one.

[Rooster Cogburn]

OH look, another FOE!

[ALUmnus]

This is one reason why I didn't even consider walking. Liberty is still a whore for political power and will sell itself to whatever antichrist it can to gain influence.

Romney is a despicable, spineless, godless piece of trash. Jerry Jr. should be ashamed and should apologize publicly for this pathetic publicity stunt.

Wow, leave it to a Ron Paul guy. I think this answers one of the questions you had in another thread. I hope you display that M.Ed diploma proudly!

I can see everyone's point on each side (other than the one above), but the trend in speakers is concerning. Sure, we have mostly Christian speakers in convo throughout the year, but this isn't convo. This is the biggest event of the year for Liberty. On the other hand, this particular speaker is in a bit of a different situation than past ones, and I do think that makes a difference. So it does make sense, if looked at by itself. But when looked at in light of the last several years, well, this is what has people upset.

[LUconn]

SAO just tweeted something about how some students are not handling this well. Are they rioting or something?

[ALUmnus]

SAO just tweeted something about how some students are not handling this well. Are they rioting or something?

Quote it for us. And it most likely has something to do with Facebook. It always does.

[BJWilliams]

Not that Ive heard, I think they are just upset because they think the school is selling out or going back on its Christian mission or something.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Go to Facebook under Liberty University under the announcement. Many (some Ron Paul Supporters) are having a cow in the comments.

[Rooster Cogburn]

LibertySAO on Twitter:

Students, we r saddened by the way many of u have handled the Romney anncmnt. Remember 2 have respectful attitudes regardless of ur opinion.

[jbock13]

This is one reason why I didn't even consider walking. Liberty is still a whore for political power and will sell itself to whatever antichrist it can to gain influence.

Romney is a despicable, spineless, godless piece of trash. Jerry Jr. should be ashamed and should apologize publicly for this pathetic publicity stunt.

To my fellow Ron Paul supporters: Please stop. You're proving my point. Not only do you make Ron Paul like an idiot, you make yourself look like a moron too. People can sometimes disagree with you.

[LUconn]

This is one reason why I didn't even consider walking. Liberty is still a whore for political power and will sell itself to whatever antichrist it can to gain influence.

Romney is a despicable, spineless, godless piece of trash. Jerry Jr. should be ashamed and should apologize publicly for this pathetic publicity stunt.

I think the funniest part of this is that you have a degree from the very university you consider to "whore for political power and will sell itself to whatever antichrist". And the preface of "still" shows you think they have been that way. Who is the sellout? You'll compromise your closely held beliefs for an education to advance yourself professionally. Oh I forgot, your retaliation was to not go to commencement. That's really standing up for what you believe in.

[SuperJon]

I can see everyone's point on each side (other than the one above), but the trend in speakers is concerning. Sure, we have mostly Christian speakers in convo throughout the year, but this isn't convo. This is the biggest event of the year for Liberty. On the other hand, this particular speaker is in a bit of a different situation than past ones, and I do think that makes a difference. So it does make sense, if looked at by itself. But when looked at in light of the last several years, well, this is what has people upset.

I think that's my biggest concern. If this were a one-year thing then I'd be all over it for having the potential future president at our school. However, when looked at under the big picture, we have used our biggest stage each year to unofficially endorse someone politically four of the last nine years and have invited political commentators three other years. Seven of the last nine years have been politically based. That doesn't sit well with me.

[LUconn]

I think you'll find that it's always been that way. Here's all I could find of some kind of historical list:

1985 Senator Bill Armstrong, R-Colorado
1986 Donald Hodel, Secretary of the Interior
1987
1988 Lt. Col. (Ret.) Oliver North
1989 W. A. Criswell
1990 President George H. W. Bush
1991 Rep. Newt Gingrich
1992 Pat Buchanan
1993 Dr. James Dobson
1994
1995 Sen. Phil Gramm
1996 Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas
1997 Billy Graham
1998 Dr. John Borek Jr. (outgoing President of the school)
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004 Karl Rove
2005 Sean Hannity
2006 Sen. John McCain
2007 Rep. Newt Gingrich
2008 Chuck Norris
2009 Ben Stein
2010 Glen Beck

It's not a new trend. So obviously, you can not like that, but that's just the way this school is. Since before you decided to earn your degree from here.

[Rooster Cogburn]

But it is nothing new. Doc always did this and ran the moral majority for this cause. He invited Newt to speak for my '91 graduating class. Ollie North spoke, Bush Sr. spoke.