I'm going to be honest, but if you look at the us news ranking, liberty is 65th south regional school. That's not saying much there.
I don't know if they're one of the worst schools in va, but they're the worst of the regional universities.
There are unranked national schools that may be lower, but it's hard to tell when they receive no ranking.

Edit: upon further examination, they are ahead of Norfolk State and Virginia State. Not dead last.

"Open inquiry at Liberty University is an open question. The famous anthropologist Hershel Shanks said, "If you want certainty, go into mathematics. Don’t go into ancient history." Archaeology benefits from an approach that begins without religious presuppositions. Biblical study benefits from a literary analysis free also of presuppositions, as does the field of biology and evolution. But Falwell founded his university on certainties about the ancient past. He was certain that the writings in the Bible were inerrant.

Notre Dame, like Liberty University, has some connection to its "Christian roots. It is Catholic, founded by Catholic missionary priests. Every residence hall contains a chapel. It ranks 18th academically according to the London Times. Liberty does not rank in the top 200. It has its anthropology department. It's history department is respected as is its department of geological sciences. But Falwell was no fan of the worldliness of the Catholic Church. Church intellectuals delve with mental toughness into the history of philosophy and they delve into the contemporary science of genetics and evolutionary biology, while Liberty University professors are obliged to hold to the view that Evolution is a false doctrine.

One might wonder how welcome at Liberty are challenges to Creationist Theory or the archeology that questions old assumptions. One might wonder whether students can give a simple descriptive overview of Charles Lyell's work in 19th century in geology or whether they grasp the basic philosophical differences that have been contended in the market place of ideas since the ancient Greeks."

(03-05-2013 02:37 PM)Dukes09 Wrote:  I'm going to be honest, but if you look at the us news ranking, liberty is 65th south regional school. That's not saying much there.
I don't know if they're one of the worst schools in va, but they're the worst of the regional universities.
There are unranked national schools that may be lower, but it's hard to tell when they receive no ranking.

Edit: upon further examination, they are ahead of Norfolk State and Virginia State. Not dead last.

A far cry from W&M/UVA, let alone VTech/W&L/Richmond/etc.

(03-05-2013 02:48 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 02:37 PM)Dukes09 Wrote:  I'm going to be honest, but if you look at the us news ranking, liberty is 65th south regional school. That's not saying much there.
I don't know if they're one of the worst schools in va, but they're the worst of the regional universities.
There are unranked national schools that may be lower, but it's hard to tell when they receive no ranking.

Edit: upon further examination, they are ahead of Norfolk State and Virginia State. Not dead last.

A far cry from W&M/UVA, let alone VTech/W&L/Richmond/etc.

Christopher Newport, Longwood, and Radford are all better schools.

(03-05-2013 02:50 PM)Dukes09 Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 02:48 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 02:37 PM)Dukes09 Wrote:  I'm going to be honest, but if you look at the us news ranking, liberty is 65th south regional school. That's not saying much there.
I don't know if they're one of the worst schools in va, but they're the worst of the regional universities.
There are unranked national schools that may be lower, but it's hard to tell when they receive no ranking.

Edit: upon further examination, they are ahead of Norfolk State and Virginia State. Not dead last.

A far cry from W&M/UVA, let alone VTech/W&L/Richmond/etc.

Christopher Newport, Longwood, and Radford are all better schools.

(03-05-2013 02:31 PM)NJRedMan Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 02:22 PM)Maryland Monarch Wrote:  I'm not a very religious person, but I respect the rights of others to be devout in their beliefs. I don't get all the hate directed toward Liberty. How is it offensive to anyone that they choose to offer an education centered on their faith? Nobody is forced to attend Liberty. It's a choice. Isn't that what all the liberal leaning universities profess to uphold so dearly?

And like the right have said, I have the right to state my opinion and bash them as much as possible because I disagree with them. Fundamentally disagree with every ounce of my being everything Jerry Falwell has ever said. He preached hate and intolerance. At a time when the country was supposed to come together after a terrible tragedy he said this.

"I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this (9/11) happen.'"

http://articles.cnn.com/2001-09-14/us/Fa...s?_s=PM:US

So in other words, you won't tolerate "intolerance"?

I never said you don't have the right to express your opinion. I just find it inconsistent that you would prefer others to not be able to express their's. BTW, do you hold Rev. Wright in the same contempt for his remarks?

(03-05-2013 02:34 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 02:06 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 01:58 PM)NJRedMan Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 01:46 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  Some of the comments in this thread are really sad. Nobody makes these kind of comments about BYU.

Look up some of the things Falwell said before he died. Then you might understand why folks don't like or trust him or his kid with the education of the youth of this country.

Yeah..... so what? Brigham Young was FOR a lot of things that 99% of Americans find repulsive as well. Yet nobody says a damn thing about BYU.

I couldn't care less what he said. I'm not a fan but he's entitled to his opinion just like everybody else in the US. If you don't like it, don't listen. It's pretty simple. Bottom line is the people that go to these schools WANT to be there.

Likewise Liberty is entitled to pursue FBS football if they wish.

A lot of people would be SHOCKED at some of the left wing rhetoric that is spewed at a lot of American PUBLIC universities but that goes without mention here. Notice that word.... PUBLIC? My tax money and your tax money at work but people ***** about a PRIVATE school like they can't say and operate how they want? Funny how that works.

So....you don't live in Canada?

Yeah, so what? I'm from the United States so I still pay US taxes. Ironically they're less PC than we (USA) are regarding a lot of matters, including religious. It's pretty obvious during Christmas time.

My theory is if you don't like something that a PRIVATE entity is doing, it's none of your damn business. I have MUCH more of a problem with left or right wing agenda within PUBLIC education.

Those of you bashing Liberty are missing the point. This university possesses: leadership, vision, purpose, commitment, and money. In academia when assessing those criteria, they rank among the top handful if institutions in the country. I put this name out there months ago as a possible Big East future add and people laughed. If you're laughing at Liberty, you know nothing about the future stars in academia.

(03-05-2013 03:03 PM)Maryland Monarch Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 02:31 PM)NJRedMan Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 02:22 PM)Maryland Monarch Wrote:  I'm not a very religious person, but I respect the rights of others to be devout in their beliefs. I don't get all the hate directed toward Liberty. How is it offensive to anyone that they choose to offer an education centered on their faith? Nobody is forced to attend Liberty. It's a choice. Isn't that what all the liberal leaning universities profess to uphold so dearly?

And like the right have said, I have the right to state my opinion and bash them as much as possible because I disagree with them. Fundamentally disagree with every ounce of my being everything Jerry Falwell has ever said. He preached hate and intolerance. At a time when the country was supposed to come together after a terrible tragedy he said this.

"I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this (9/11) happen.'"

http://articles.cnn.com/2001-09-14/us/Fa...s?_s=PM:US

So in other words, you won't tolerate "intolerance"?

I never said you don't have the right to express your opinion. I just find it inconsistent that you would prefer others to not be able to express their's. BTW, do you hold Rev. Wright in the same contempt for his remarks?

I could give 2 about rev wright.

(03-05-2013 01:46 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  Some of the comments in this thread are really sad. Nobody makes these kind of comments about BYU.

1) Yes they do.
2) BYU at least tries to be a quality university, not a money making machine

(03-05-2013 03:11 PM)UHCougar Wrote:  Those of you bashing Liberty are missing the point. This university possesses: leadership, vision, purpose, commitment, and money. In academia when assessing those criteria, they rank among the top handful if institutions in the country. I put this name out there months ago as a possible Big East future add and people laughed. If you're laughing at Liberty, you know nothing about the future stars in academia.

Sure as one of the worst schools in VA. Im sre all those egg head presidents are lining up to hob knob with the Flying Falwell's.

(03-05-2013 02:37 PM)Dukes09 Wrote:  I'm going to be honest, but if you look at the us news ranking, liberty is 65th south regional school. That's not saying much there.
I don't know if they're one of the worst schools in va, but they're the worst of the regional universities.
There are unranked national schools that may be lower, but it's hard to tell when they receive no ranking.

Edit: upon further examination, they are ahead of Norfolk State and Virginia State. Not dead last.

You do realize that a school like Liberty would be downgraded in the academic peer assessment survey because a lot of their "peers" would look down on them just as many of you do. Their overall objective rankings are likely higher. Or not. I have no idea. But lets no pretend that liberal administrators would fairly assess Liberty.

(03-05-2013 03:11 PM)UHCougar Wrote:  Those of you bashing Liberty are missing the point. This university possesses: leadership, vision, purpose, commitment, and money. In academia when assessing those criteria, they rank among the top handful if institutions in the country. I put this name out there months ago as a possible Big East future add and people laughed. If you're laughing at Liberty, you know nothing about the future stars in academia.

Academia and Liberty are mutally exculsive.

(03-05-2013 03:13 PM)NJRedMan Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 03:03 PM)Maryland Monarch Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 02:31 PM)NJRedMan Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 02:22 PM)Maryland Monarch Wrote:  I'm not a very religious person, but I respect the rights of others to be devout in their beliefs. I don't get all the hate directed toward Liberty. How is it offensive to anyone that they choose to offer an education centered on their faith? Nobody is forced to attend Liberty. It's a choice. Isn't that what all the liberal leaning universities profess to uphold so dearly?

And like the right have said, I have the right to state my opinion and bash them as much as possible because I disagree with them. Fundamentally disagree with every ounce of my being everything Jerry Falwell has ever said. He preached hate and intolerance. At a time when the country was supposed to come together after a terrible tragedy he said this.

"I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this (9/11) happen.'"

http://articles.cnn.com/2001-09-14/us/Fa...s?_s=PM:US

So in other words, you won't tolerate "intolerance"?

I never said you don't have the right to express your opinion. I just find it inconsistent that you would prefer others to not be able to express their's. BTW, do you hold Rev. Wright in the same contempt for his remarks?

I could give 2 about rev wright.

Yet you bash Jerry Falwell for making the same type of remarks. I'm wondering if you have any critiques of public university professors' similar remarks.

(03-05-2013 02:55 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 02:50 PM)Dukes09 Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 02:48 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 02:37 PM)Dukes09 Wrote:  I'm going to be honest, but if you look at the us news ranking, liberty is 65th south regional school. That's not saying much there.
I don't know if they're one of the worst schools in va, but they're the worst of the regional universities.
There are unranked national schools that may be lower, but it's hard to tell when they receive no ranking.

Edit: upon further examination, they are ahead of Norfolk State and Virginia State. Not dead last.

A far cry from W&M/UVA, let alone VTech/W&L/Richmond/etc.

Christopher Newport, Longwood, and Radford are all better schools.

Saying one school is better than another school is a very difficult thing to say, especially today. I am not a Liberty graduate nor am I a fan of the institution. I find it hard though to make a case that the school is not successful and seen to be on the rise by many in the academic community. A large number of the schools mentioned as "being better" would give their left arm to have even a small percentage of Liberty's endowment. As for their online education and its success, you need to read a number of journals that cover higher education. They as well as many others who know where higher education is moving will tell you that the number of colleges, especially private liberal arts institutions, will soon begin to dwindle due to the cost to attend. Online education has grown dramatically over the past five years, and with continued advances in digital technology, it will in the not to distant future be the predominant way in which people obtain a college degree. Just take a look at what Coursera is doing with some of the major colleges across the country right now.

As for Liberty, the fact that they are in good standing with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools tells you more than anything that they meet the grade for a good college education. Ironically, if people need to worry they need to be concerned with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. You may want to take a look at this article (http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/02/12/2...clear.html ) and see how much trouble they are in with the SACS over the academic fraud there and how concerned they are about being on probation with SACS. As for UVA, well they were almost put on probation last year over how they fired the President before rehiring her. They received a warning which is very embarrassing for the institution. You will see that covered in the same article. It is also ironic that the same President at UVA was chastized by the board before being fired for wanting to greatly increase online education at UVA. You may also want to see how scared UNC is of being put on probation in this article. ( http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/02/27/2...n-its.html ) They are actually" spying" on professors to insure they are in fact holding the class the kids signed up to take. I think most would agree that outright academic fraud at a major flagship university outpaces anything that Liberty has done or probably ever would allow itself to do.

As for what Jerry Falwell taught and said, you do not have to like it or agree with it, but it does not mean that you can't get a good education at the school. You probably did not know that Wake Forest was founded by the Baptists and was run very strictly under Baptist doctrine for many years such that you could get thrown out of school for dancing on campus up until 1959. I do not think anyone can say that Wake is not an extremely good school and that UNC, UVA or any other state supported institution should not compete against them in athletics or allow them to have been admitted to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The only point I am trying to make is if you take the emotion out of it and look at the facts you might see a totally different picture.

To me they are in big trouble because they are trying to grow and grow and get bigger but evangelical Christianity itself sure isnt growing and growing at a healthy rate. If anything its going the opposite direction.

(03-05-2013 03:20 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 03:13 PM)NJRedMan Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 03:03 PM)Maryland Monarch Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 02:31 PM)NJRedMan Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 02:22 PM)Maryland Monarch Wrote:  I'm not a very religious person, but I respect the rights of others to be devout in their beliefs. I don't get all the hate directed toward Liberty. How is it offensive to anyone that they choose to offer an education centered on their faith? Nobody is forced to attend Liberty. It's a choice. Isn't that what all the liberal leaning universities profess to uphold so dearly?

And like the right have said, I have the right to state my opinion and bash them as much as possible because I disagree with them. Fundamentally disagree with every ounce of my being everything Jerry Falwell has ever said. He preached hate and intolerance. At a time when the country was supposed to come together after a terrible tragedy he said this.

"I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this (9/11) happen.'"

http://articles.cnn.com/2001-09-14/us/Fa...s?_s=PM:US

So in other words, you won't tolerate "intolerance"?

I never said you don't have the right to express your opinion. I just find it inconsistent that you would prefer others to not be able to express their's. BTW, do you hold Rev. Wright in the same contempt for his remarks?

I could give 2 about rev wright.

Yet you bash Jerry Falwell for making the same type of remarks. I'm wondering if you have any critiques of public university professors' similar remarks.

Why do you keep bringing up public universities?

Rev Wright can't even compete with the bat crazy remarks Falwell has made over the years.

Also is that all you have? Some dude who no one would have heard of if the president didn't attend his service? Falwell has been out there for decades making intolerant and homophobic remarks for decades.

http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/stupi...quotes.htm

My favorite...

"The ACLU is to Christians what the American Nazi party is to Jews."

Lets not forget his "war" with this guy.

My whole point is WHO CARES WHAT FALWELL SAYS????? It's a private university and he can run it any damn way he pleases! That is his PERSONAL opinion and Liberty doesn't apologize for it at all, nor should they. The school exists because people choose of their own free will to attend b/c it is in line with their value system whether or not you might agree with it.

The reason I bring up public schools is because you have the exact same type of remarks from the far left wing aspect and nobody complains about it, yet our Tax money funds those schools.

You can't see the slightest bit of hypocrisy in that?

(03-05-2013 03:32 PM)Turnberry79 Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 02:55 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 02:50 PM)Dukes09 Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 02:48 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  

(03-05-2013 02:37 PM)Dukes09 Wrote:  I'm going to be honest, but if you look at the us news ranking, liberty is 65th south regional school. That's not saying much there.
I don't know if they're one of the worst schools in va, but they're the worst of the regional universities.
There are unranked national schools that may be lower, but it's hard to tell when they receive no ranking.

Edit: upon further examination, they are ahead of Norfolk State and Virginia State. Not dead last.

A far cry from W&M/UVA, let alone VTech/W&L/Richmond/etc.

Christopher Newport, Longwood, and Radford are all better schools.

Saying one school is better than another school is a very difficult thing to say, especially today. I am not a Liberty graduate nor am I a fan of the institution. I find it hard though to make a case that the school is not successful and seen to be on the rise by many in the academic community. A large number of the schools mentioned as "being better" would give their left arm to have even a small percentage of Liberty's endowment. As for their online education and its success, you need to read a number of journals that cover higher education. They as well as many others who know where higher education is moving will tell you that the number of colleges, especially private liberal arts institutions, will soon begin to dwindle due to the cost to attend. Online education has grown dramatically over the past five years, and with continued advances in digital technology, it will in the not to distant future be the predominant way in which people obtain a college degree. Just take a look at what Coursera is doing with some of the major colleges across the country right now.

As for Liberty, the fact that they are in good standing with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools tells you more than anything that they meet the grade for a good college education. Ironically, if people need to worry they need to be concerned with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. You may want to take a look at this article (http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/02/12/2...clear.html ) and see how much trouble they are in with the SACS over the academic fraud there and how concerned they are about being on probation with SACS. As for UVA, well they were almost put on probation last year over how they fired the President before rehiring her. They received a warning which is very embarrassing for the institution. You will see that covered in the same article. It is also ironic that the same President at UVA was chastized by the board before being fired for wanting to greatly increase online education at UVA. You may also want to see how scared UNC is of being put on probation in this article. ( http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/02/27/2...n-its.html ) They are actually" spying" on professors to insure they are in fact holding the class the kids signed up to take. I think most would agree that outright academic fraud at a major flagship university outpaces anything that Liberty has done or probably ever would allow itself to do.

As for what Jerry Falwell taught and said, you do not have to like it or agree with it, but it does not mean that you can't get a good education at the school. You probably did not know that Wake Forest was founded by the Baptists and was run very strictly under Baptist doctrine for many years such that you could get thrown out of school for dancing on campus up until 1959. I do not think anyone can say that Wake is not an extremely good school and that UNC, UVA or any other state supported institution should not compete against them in athletics or allow them to have been admitted to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The only point I am trying to make is if you take the emotion out of it and look at the facts you might see a totally different picture.

I had multiple cousins who attended Liberty. I know more about it than you would think. My grandmother almost dropped dead listening to the Falwell was spouting.

Closed mindedness has no place in todays academic world. People like him and schools like his are one of the reasons our educational ranking in the world is as pathetic as it is. Stuff like this is why Kansas wont teach evolution and why we get mocked around the first world.

(03-05-2013 03:42 PM)NJRedMan Wrote:  Closed mindedness has no place in todays academic world. People like him and schools like his are one of the reasons our educational ranking in the world is as pathetic as it is. Stuff like this is why Kansas wont teach evolution and why we get mocked around the first world.

Close mindedness has EVERY place in the world of real freedom and gov't that places more importance on the rights of individuals and private entities over others' feelings.