Liberty University
Conservative, Christian, Committed

Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia is Falwell country. In fact, some of the residents of the Burg say the whole town is Falwell country. Given the impact that Rev. Jerry Falwell and his family have made on Lynchburg, "Falwell country" is probably an accurate description.

It's hard to believe that Liberty University is fast approaching its 40th birthday. Founded in 1971 by Dr. Jerry Falwell as Lynchburg Baptist College, it evolved to Liberty Baptist College in 1976 and finally Liberty University in 1984.

Over the years, enrollment swelled to over 57,000 students of which some 45,000 are online or distance learning students pursuing any one of 71 majors.

It's campus now covers over 6500 acres not including the 5000 acres of it's Liberty Mountain property. The mountain is now a Lynchburg landmark showing off the university's Snowflex Center and huge "LU" monogram. On the campus, there are 212 buildings which account for 155 classrooms and whose facilities cover 4.3 million square feet.

The LU journey has not been smooth. Along the way numerous financial challenges and lawsuits have arisen to slow its meteoric growth. Nevertheless under the leadership and tenacity of Dr. Falwell, the university was able to beat back its detractors and continue its mission.

The mission is very straightforward and the LU website gives the purpose and mission as being "To develop Christ-centered men and women with the values, knowledge, and skills essential to impact tomorrow’s world."

As new students quickly discover, the mission is enforced through a code of student conduct.

At least on paper, the code carries reprimands and possible fines for such activities as attending dances, drinking, smoking, viewing sexually explicit movies and material, entering the bedroom of a student of the opposite sex, having an abortion and similar activities not in accordance with The Liberty Way.

Estimated costs to attend the 2010-2011 school year are $24,360 for tuition, room, board and fees. Full time tuition is a little over $8400 per semester for 12 - 18 credit hours.Part time tuition is $560 per credit hour where part time is defined as less than 12 hours.

The Liberty University website gives a full breakdown of both resident undergraduate and resident graduate costs in great detail.

Liberty is unique in several ways. First off, it is historically a non-tenured facility although in 2004, tradition was broken by granting tenure to Bruce Green, founding dean of the Liberty University School of Law. Several others have been honored with tenure in the succeeding years.

The School of Law deserves special mention in that it has its own Supreme Court. OK, so it's a replica of the Supreme Court but extremely accurate in detail. The law school uses it for practice trials, reenactments, a forum for visiting dignitaries, and student competitions. It's 4,395 square feet and 330 seats make it an imposing room.

LU is also unique in that it teaches a young earth creationism which views the earth as no more than 10,000 years old.

This is in accordance with the most strict biblical interpretation of the creation timeline. Never mind that a lot of physical evidence points to an earth at least 4.5 billion years old.

Evolution is also taught in conjunction with the young earth creation but presented such that creationism explains biodiversity better than evolution. Needless to say, a great deal of controversy and, at times, even ridicule has been directed at LU due to this position.

Another LU distinction worthy of mention is its doctrinal statement based on an inerrant bible. Again from the Liberty University website, we read that its doctrinal statement is:

"a Christian worldview beginning with belief in biblical Creationism, an eschatological belief in the pre-millennial, pre-tribulation coming of Christ for all of His Church, dedication to world evangelization, an absolute repudiation of “political correctness,” a strong commitment to political conservatism, total rejection of socialism, and firm support for America’s economic system of free enterprise.

The complete statement has 12 uncompromising affirmations, also available on the university website.

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Athletic programs are prominently featured at Liberty University and no cost has been spared in creating the best facilities to be found anywhere.

The indoor track and conference center is a must see when visiting Liberty. It features a flat 200-meter surface with a wide four-lane oval with an eight-lane 60-meter straightway. Also inside the complex is a pole vault runway, a high jump area and two long triple jump runways; and all this under one roof.

Their baseball stadium, built in 1979, has a recent addition of lights for night games. The Williams Football Stadium is home to the Liberty Flames football team.

It seats 12,000 people and has a 60,000 square foot facility at the north end of the stadium known as the Football Operations Center. It is a state-of-the-art facility for weight training, coaching and administrative offices and a special game viewing room for "Flames Club" members.

Then we have the Schilling Center and Vines Center. Schilling is dedicated to physical education classes, basketball, volleyball, tennis as well as special concerts. In was constucted in 1979 and completely renovated in 2004.

The Vines Center seats 9,000 people and is home to the Flames basketball, wrestling and volleyball teams. In addition to sports, Vines is the locale for convocation three days a week and and the site of large annual conferences and concerts.

Not to be left out, the LaHaye Ice Center, opened in 2006, fill the need for men and women's ice hockey and is available to both students and the public for ice skating and lessons.

One could spend a whole day, maybe two days, just walking the campus and stopping in at all the "must see" spots.

Among the buildings not to miss are the DeMoss Learning Center with its grand lobby; the Jerry Falwell Museum, the courtyard behind DeMoss hall; and of course, Thomas Road Baptist Church with its concourse and huge sanctuary plus the attached R.C. Worley Prayer Chapel.

For prospective students, a good idea would be to contact the Visitors Center at (434)582-2064 or by e-mail at visitorscenter@liberty.edu and schedule a visit to Liberty University.

The visit will include an information session and video in the theater, a campus tour led by a student guide that takes in the academic and athletic facilities as well as the student center and residence halls.

During the visit, an admissions Q and A can be set up and appointments made with representatives of specific departments. Participation in convocation in the Vines Center is also available during the school year if desired.