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|website=http://www.liberty.edu/

|website=http://www.liberty.edu/

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'''Liberty University''' is a [[Christ]]-centered [[University]] located in [[Lynchburg, Virginia]].  Liberty was founded in 1971 by then-Chancellor [[Jerry Falwell|Dr. Jerry Falwell]]; originally an [[Independent Baptist]] institution, the university is now non-denominational<ref>Although Dr. Falwell led his church into the [[Southern Baptist Convention]], the university is not affiliated -- formally or informally -- with the SBC</ref>. Reverend Falwell created the school to provide an opportunity for students to gain the benefits of a rich and [[diverse]] academic environment while simultaneously offering the opportunity to become closer to God.

'''Liberty University''' is a [[Christ]]-centered [[University]] located in [[Lynchburg, Virginia]].  Liberty was founded in 1971 by then-Chancellor [[Jerry Falwell|Dr. Jerry Falwell]]; originally an [[Independent Baptist]] institution, the university is now non-denominational.<ref>Although Dr. Falwell led his church into the [[Southern Baptist Convention]], the university is not affiliated -- formally or informally -- with the SBC</ref> Reverend Falwell created the school to provide an opportunity for students to gain the benefits of a rich and [[diverse]] academic environment while simultaneously offering the opportunity to become closer to God.

Liberty has many opportunities for both [[undergraduate]] and [[graduate]] students. The school also shines in extra-curricular pursuits. The school's [[debate]] team has been recently ranked #1 in the country, and the Quiz Bowl team recently finished fifth in a national competition. Athletically, the [[Title IX|women]]'s [[basketball]] team made it to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament in 2005.<ref>http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/womens/brackets/viewable/2005/DI</ref>, and the 2017 football team upset FBS Power 5 Conference member [[Baylor University]] in its home stadium.

Liberty has many opportunities for both [[undergraduate]] and [[graduate]] students. The school also shines in extra-curricular pursuits. The school's [[debate]] team has been recently ranked #1 in the country, and the Quiz Bowl team recently finished fifth in a national competition. Athletically, the [[Title IX|women]]'s [[basketball]] team made it to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament in 2005.,<ref>http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/womens/brackets/viewable/2005/DI</ref> and the 2017 football team upset FBS Power 5 Conference member [[Baylor University]] in its home stadium.

==Criticisms==

==Criticisms==

===Political Support for [[Donald Trump]]===

===Political Support for [[Donald Trump]]===

Liberty has been criticized because of university president Jerry Falwell Jr's endorsement of [[Donald Trump]] for President of the United States.  Not only has the criticism come from expected sources (liberals and the Republican Establishment [[Never Trump movement]]) but has also come from Christian groups<ref>http://christiannews.net/2016/01/26/liberty-university-alumni-express-concerns-about-falwell-after-soul-selling-trump-endorsement/</ref>, including several alumni who have taken the meaningless step of "mailing back their diplomas" to the university<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/21/us/jerry-falwell-liberty-university-trump.html</ref> (though none, of course, have gone so far as to request official decertification of their actual earned degrees).

Liberty has been criticized because of university president Jerry Falwell Jr's endorsement of [[Donald Trump]] for President of the United States.  Not only has the criticism come from expected sources (liberals and the Republican Establishment [[Never Trump movement]]) but has also come from Christian groups,<ref>http://christiannews.net/2016/01/26/liberty-university-alumni-express-concerns-about-falwell-after-soul-selling-trump-endorsement/</ref> including several alumni who have taken the meaningless step of "mailing back their diplomas" to the university<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/21/us/jerry-falwell-liberty-university-trump.html</ref> (though none, of course, have gone so far as to request official decertification of their actual earned degrees).

Liberty University was honored to host President Trump as a speaker at its 2017 commencement ceremony, his first commencement speech as President.<ref>Trump has spoken two other times at Liberty: in 2012 while a businessman, and again in 2016 as a Presidential candidate.</ref>  President Trump has twice been awarded honorary degrees from Liberty: an honorary doctorate of business in 2012 and an honorary doctorate of laws in 2017.

Liberty University was honored to host President Trump as a speaker at its 2017 commencement ceremony, his first commencement speech as President.<ref>Trump has spoken two other times at Liberty: in 2012 while a businessman, and again in 2016 as a Presidential candidate.</ref>  President Trump has twice been awarded honorary degrees from Liberty: an honorary doctorate of business in 2012 and an honorary doctorate of laws in 2017.