[LUminary]

University statement: Clarification for media reports on Convocation

http://www.liberty.edu/news/index.cfm?P ... mid=152118

[JakeP50]

I can give the current student perspective on this one. SJ is 100% right most students are sick of political convos, but today was different. A normal political convo involves a politician just talking and hoping that the (R) next to their names would get them cheers and cheap applause on it's own *cough* Santorum *cough*. Ted Cruz didn't do that, he kept it simple, made his reason for being there very clear (most people knew by the time they got to Vines this morning), and opened with his testimony, not his platform. Opening with his testimony helped a lot, I hate to keep picking on Santorum but he was really awful, his convo involved him immediately jumping headfirst into a bombastic attack on the President and all Democrats in a thinly veiled attempt at practicing his campaign speeches. Another thing that helped Cruz was pride that he chose LU for a major moment like that, we appreciated that he respected college age conservatives enough to be the audience for his first official campaign speech. I know I may be totally off base on this, but that's the vibe I got from the crowd at the Vines today.
And if you're looking for real opinions from a majority of students use Twitter, not Yik Yak. "The Yak" represents about 10-15% of the student population on a "good day" and that that drops down to single digits during convo.

[jack_sparrow81]

Great post from the school. When I was at LU, i used to dread going to convo. It was more aimed toward the ministry majors, besides on Wednesdays when Jerry spoke (which I enjoyed). From looking at the list the past couple of school years, the current students don't realize how well they have it now with the difference of speakers that are brought in.

[rhezick]

Agreed. And to top it off, has anyone seen the front page of Drudge all day today? We've made an entire news cycle with our logo burned in for the past 12 hours. Whoever took that photo/made the call for the logo placement should get a raise.

[Humble_Opinion]

Good insight JakeP50... When's the last time we heard someone use the name of Jesus Christ in a real unabashed manner during an announcement to run for the office of the President?

All of us have the benefit of knowing LU, and most of us had the privilege to attend. There are still a lot of people who have no idea it exists in the manner it does today, and so moments like this are very important for the school and it's continued growth in size and prominence. There will be plenty of eyeballs out there attached to minds and hearts that represent the core of the types of people we want on campus, whom just learned about us yesterday. I think it's exciting and we should embrace moments like that and continue to pray for more.

[JakeP50]

I have never seen anything like that at convo before, the amount of press there was mind blowing, where the stage would be if it wasn't in the round was all TV cameras, three rows deep along with several other cameras set up around the concourse and a full blown field report set up in the crows nest. It was absolutely mind blowing.

[Sly Fox]

The whole concept of him doing the speech in the round created quite a buzz of its own online. And as someone who works as a communications consultant, I have to give my props to him for delivering a 40+ minute speech without prompter while walking and talking. The dude is a masterful communicator whether you agree with his politics or not.

[bluedevilflame]

I really don't mind Ted Cruz at Liberty, in fact, I think it's pretty cool that a politician announced his presidential run at LU regardless of whether I like the politician (which in this case I don't). What I do mind is the lack of political diversity on campus in regards to convo. If the door is open for Cruz, Palin, Santorum, and Huckabee it should also be open for Reid, Booker, Biden, and (dare I say it) Clinton.

[ATrain]

I really don't mind Ted Cruz at Liberty, in fact, I think it's pretty cool that a politician announced his presidential run at LU regardless of whether I like the politician (which in this case I don't). What I do mind is the lack of political diversity on campus in regards to convo. If the door is open for Cruz, Palin, Santorum, and Huckabee it should also be open for Reid, Booker, Biden, and (dare I say it) Clinton.

Who's to say we haven't invited them? From what I understand, Cruz asked LU to make his announcement, and the governor (McAulliffe) was originally scheduled to speak.

[bluedevilflame]

I really don't mind Ted Cruz at Liberty, in fact, I think it's pretty cool that a politician announced his presidential run at LU regardless of whether I like the politician (which in this case I don't). What I do mind is the lack of political diversity on campus in regards to convo. If the door is open for Cruz, Palin, Santorum, and Huckabee it should also be open for Reid, Booker, Biden, and (dare I say it) Clinton.

Who's to say we haven't invited them? From what I understand, Cruz asked LU to make his announcement, and the governor (McAulliffe) was originally scheduled to speak.

Fair enough, I actually didn't know that. I'd like to think they are giving invitations to all political individuals regardless of party. A political debate between parties would be magnificent down the line as well.

[ATrain]

https://www.yahoo.com/politics/jerry-fa ... 66596.html

Take that for what you will...

[bluedevilflame]

https://www.yahoo.com/politics/jerry-fa ... 66596.html

Take that for what you will...

Well now that changes everything!

[Humble_Opinion]

I really don't mind Ted Cruz at Liberty, in fact, I think it's pretty cool that a politician announced his presidential run at LU regardless of whether I like the politician (which in this case I don't). What I do mind is the lack of political diversity on campus in regards to convo. If the door is open for Cruz, Palin, Santorum, and Huckabee it should also be open for Reid, Booker, Biden, and (dare I say it) Clinton.

The university has always maintained it has an open podium for ANY politician on either side of the aisle. McAuliffe was due to speak, and LU approached him to explain the situation and asked if he'd like to share the stage or reschedule and he chose to reschedule. Can't say I blame him... kind of hard to follow an act like Ted Cruz. The thing I can't get over is that he spoke for the first 10 - 15 minutes about his mother's testimony, his father's testimony and then his own. The story about his father leaving the family and then getting saved and returning home to his family because of it was something I've never heard communicated before in presidential announcement.

[jbock13]

Leave it to the Paul bots...

[alabama24]

Article on "I Stand With Rand" students: http://www.newsadvance.com/lifestyles/l ... k-comments

[R i]

Just Reading this, Good for Jerry Jr. I really like the last part of that article.