You guys are going to LOVE these Liberty students screenshots

[CatWoman]

Here’s How Liberty Students REALLY Felt About Ted Cruz Speech: ‘This Is Embarrassing’ (SCREENSHOTS)
Author: Valerie Beaumont March 24, 2015 1:30 pm

On Monday, Ted Cruz announced his candidacy for President at Liberty University. While it may appear that he had a gigantic audience of thousands of eager young conservatives, the truth is that those present didn’t like Cruz as much as it seemed.

Liberty University students were forced to attend the Cruz announcement, which happened during the school’s Monday Convocation — a meeting at which attendance is compulsory. Students who do not attend face punishments and fines — and failing to “participate” as expected can lead to harsh punishments and lighter wallets, as well.

This forced attendance and cheerleading becomes quite evident when one views students’ remarks on YikYak, a popular cell phone app among college students that allows users to post anonymously.

















http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/03/24/heres-how-liberty-students-really-felt-about-ted-cruz-speech-this-is-embarrassing-screenshots/

[jaysunb]

2. This pic tells a story all by itself. n/t

[DisgustipatedinCA]

26. Does anyone have the jury results for this one?

I fail to see why it was locked on a 4-3 vote.

(jaysunb--I'm not responding directly to you, but since I can't respond to a locked post, I wanted to put it close to that post--thanks)

[jaysunb]

32. I have no idea what would have caused this

It was just a very interesting picture of Cruz and his wife...or as the poster referred t to her as "a beard"
I'm really confused.

[brett_jv]

40. "Beard" = slang for wife or girlfriend of closeted gay man

[2banon]

100. really? I've never heard of it before. supposing there was a completely different definition?

supposing there was a completely different definition intended? would you still have alerted ? Bizarre.

[ncjustice80]

57. Its slang for a wife/ g/f of a gay man in the closet.

While I enjoy slandering teabaggers as much as the next guy, the remark IS homophobic. call him a nazi piece shit and you wont get a hide

[Romeo.lima333]

98. deleted

[mopinko]

37. i assume it is the insinuation that he is gay or some such.

saying she is a beard is saying that he is hiding something in his closet.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

43. Sounds like it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beard_%28companion%29

[cntrygrl]

83. Well I'll be dared. Been lesbian all my life and never heard 'that' one before. LMAO

[maddiemom]

89. I think it was originally a Hollywood term from many years back.

[2banon]

103. weird isn't it? I'm thinking it won't be long before the word "daylight" will be have some

arbitrary connotation by some group of people hijacking common usage for their own agenda, therefore subject to censorship.

[djean111]

120. Um, no, the word has been used in this context for a really long time. Just because you are not

familiar with it does not mean it has just now been appropriated. Google would be your friend here.

[2banon]

128. gee, better google every single English word we speak/print before we engage. The word "Sunshine"

will be considered offensive and worthy of censorship any day now.

[djean111]

129. I am making the assumption that you would have a clue that a word used in a way odd to you,

but not odd to others, might be worth looking up, as opposed to making hyperbolic claims about word usage that you have not been exposed to. My bad.

[2banon]

131. I had not (prior to today ever heard the term in this context. I do appreciate being informed as to

origins.. But I don't appreciate condescending lectures i.e. 'google is your friend'.

Yes, the hyperbole was intended - to underscore how rude and offensive it is to tell someone to google the word in question rather than offering the information simply as a courteous gesture. and leave it at that sans insult.

[djean111]

139. The word has been looked up and shared elsewhere in this thread.

You keep implying that it is somehow a recently used and somehow random usage and that goodness knows what other word might be seized upon next. That seemed very condescending to me. Sorry.

[cstanleytech]

62. Never heard that before but then again I dont keep up with the latest slang either *shrug*

[LittleGirl]

70. me either. I had no clue eom

[niyad]

87. it is actually very old slang. so old that even I know it.

[2banon]

111. I'm old enough to collect Social Security, hang out with enough LGBT folks and NEVER heard this one

before.


Just so you know, it's not necessarily that universal or common.

[cstanleytech]

118. Well I can attest to that because until now I never heard of it.

[Adsos Letter]

140. Same here. n/t

[2banon]

101. what's the origin of that definition? Completely new to me.

[arcane1]

102. I first heard it in an episode of Seinfeld, where Elaine was the beard

She eventually fell for the guy, I think.

[2banon]

104. Seinfeld? Really? Wow! Thanks for enlightening me.

So, someone would have had to been a follower/fan/regular viewer of Seinfeld to have been schooled


this particular definition. thanks for that. learn something new everyday.

[arcane1]

106. I don't think it was invented on Seinfeld, that's just the first time I ever heard it

It was probably floating around in the lexicon long before that, and the writers of the show picked it up

[2banon]

109. hmm.

[Cal Carpenter]

119. It goes back to the 1960s

I think it was probably more common in the arts - Hollywood actors especially, who needed to front as wholesome family men or as macho or whatever.

"Beard" came long before Seinfeld.

[2banon]

130. I see. If one hung out with that milieu

One would have become fully acquainted with the vernacular and context.


In today's political context, if anyone wanted to out a closeted gay whose political agenda is about abolishing equal rights protections etc. censorship seems sort of reactionary response to an otherwise friendly attempt at satire. Reminds me of the rhetorical reactions to Charlie Hedbo's poking fun at Islam.

[grasswire]

124. I first heard it when the Internet educated me.

I learned a lot of "new" words in my first year of chat on AOL. I think that was about 1996. The ACLU had a chat room called the Free Speech Zone, with no rules, no censorship except for threats of criminal nature. It was wild and woolly. Somebody called me a "fag hag" once and that really set me back on my heels -- didn't know what it was.

I lived a pretty sheltered life up til then.

[2banon]

134. LOL!

Fag Hag?! What the hell was that supposed to mean?! sheesh!

[grasswire]

146. a fag hag, as I understand it......

...is a straight woman who prefers to hang out with gay men. I don't think it's meant to be complimentary, although the gay men I have known throughout my life have been warm, wonderful, and compassionate people.

[2banon]

151. Old and Gray but Learning something new everyday..

vernacular within certain circles - but not necessarily universal.

[mopinko]

149. no idea.

assume it is a theater reference, but have no idea.

[samsingh]

94. why was this post hidden?

[2banon]

105. That's what I wanted to know. WTF?

[grasswire]

110. DU's most revered poster is targeted by swarm. nt

[2banon]

113. New Rules:

Never poke fun at a closeted Gay Republican Politician who rails against Equal Rights for LGBT.

duly noted.

[Ms. Toad]

137. No - old rule.

Don't call someone gay to insult them.

[grasswire]

107. yes. someone needs to post the jury results

come to think of it, why aren't the results posted right on the locked post? That would make more sense.

[2banon]

114. agree completely.

[Historic NY]

65. Some sensitive a$$----here no?

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

81. No.

Someone who understands that calling someone as vile as Cruz a closeted gay is insulting to gay people, because it implies there's something wrong with being gay. The post was homophobic in nature.

[Dont call me Shirley]

97. Being gay is okay.

Being a closeted gay who makes policies and speaks out against gays who live their lives outwardly is homophobic.

[2banon]

108. Excuse me, I happen to know that poster is not homophobic. So.. there's a serious problem with

jumping to some very incorrect conclusions. this will probably be alerted on.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

147. You don't have to BE a homophobe to make a homophobic statement.

Just like you don't have to be a troll to make a trollish one.

When you use homophobic slurs, even without realizing they're homophobic, they're still homophobic, whether or not you are.

[2banon]

116. Being a Closeted Gay Republican Politician who would repeal equal protection laws gets a pass?

from sneers and jeers and should not be outed?

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

148. Unless you actually have proof that Cruz is

a closeted gay, you're still equating 'someone totally vile' with 'is gay'. You think he sucks, so he automatically must be gay?

[2banon]

152. No. I think Cruz is pathetic but not cuz I think he might be closeted.

I DO have a problem when a POLITICIAN condemns whole segments of our society with their brainwashed fundamentalist point of view - proposing measures to further disenfranchise at the minimum with laws and policies which does significant harm - when it turns out (all too frequently) these very people are actually closeted.

I think THAT's fair game deserving of ridicule.

I have no idea if Cruz is closeted. But if he is, then all's fair.

Because I have two granddaughters being raised by legally married open lesbians, their mommies and their future mean everything to me. I'm tired of these fundamentalist freaks threatening war fare on my daughter and her wife and children's lives and their well-being and happiness because of politicians like Cruz et al.

Homophobe? I don't think so.

[arikara]

122. How is it homophobic to point out

a closeted gay WHO wants to legislate bias against gay people. He's not implying there is something wrong with being gay he's pointing out the hypocrisy.

[2banon]

135. Bingo!

So damn obvious to me and apparently very obvious to others.

[niyad]

85. ugh, it does indeed. did you notice that he is not looking at his wife, but sideways

at the camera? and look at how her eyes are squinched.

[jaysunb]

126. Exactly, and the air kiss was hard to miss. n/t

[Dont call me Shirley]

95. Octafish...

[2banon]

112. Hear! Here!

Here's to ya, friend.

[Romeo.lima333]

99. i heard that he was practicing kissing his wife - perhaps it was after this photo came out

[anotojefiremnesuka]

5. OMG it Ms Geroge!

[Contrary1]

13. And legally nuts too.

[liberal_at_heart]

7. Damn that picture is creepy. Is he making sure the photo is being taken for publicity sake or is he

kinky and like people to watch his intimacies?

[FiveGoodMen]

12. Don't know that intimacy describes that picture at all.

[liberal_at_heart]

16. I know. That's my point. He is looking at the camera. Maybe he's into that kind of thing.

[FiveGoodMen]

17. Yes, but if THAT is in any way an example of the wild side he wants to get on camera

then he has a disappointing love-life.

[appalachiablue]

25. No picture w/ that link for me, only msgs. What's the PIC like or maybe it's too gross-

[AikenYankee]

27. Picture of Cruz kissing his wife

on her cheek. He's giving a sideward glance at the camera. Don't understand why it was hidden by the jury.

[AikenYankee]

29. Oh, the beard comment .....

c'mon ... really?

[appalachiablue]

34. That post said smthg. about what a 'beard' has to like these days, from what little I saw.

The term/expression must have been offensive, and the jury voted to take it down. So the *PIC was with the removed post, or part of the main link above with the students e-mgs.? No biggie. Welcome to DU, very interesting site. Lots to learn from reading about politics and much more, also the members, the views, and administrative matters like the jury.

[AikenYankee]

39. It is an interesting site ....

just didn't understand why the jury would take it down. Thanks for the explanation. Also, thanks for the welcome!

[appalachiablue]

46. Yep, a very cool major information- news site. See you around Yank. Btw, if you're from S.C.

there's much news and warranted commentary about issues these days esp. in the south as expected. I'm a mid-Atlantic person and a Libra, prefer balance and harmony which is in low supply these days.

[Beartracks]

59. Advertising meme: Sideways glance at camera while kissing.

I haven't seen the photo, but if people are finding it eerily familiar... perhaps that's because it's a fairly common thing in sales imagery.

I'm remembering this as a common meme in advertising, from classes I took long ago...

In a lot of ads, you'll have a situation where a woman and man are embracing/kissing/whatever, but the woman's attention is on YOU the viewer, as if to say, "I might be here with him, but I really want YOU." This is not surprising in a male-dominated society that advertisers would try to draw men in by subtly raising their subconscious expectations that using the advertised product will help them "get the girl."

In reverse, where the man is engaged with the woman while looking at the camera -- or, more often it seems, cooly receiving attention from the woman while not himself participating (i.e. strong, silent type) -- the message would be the same, only directed at female viewers: "She means nothing to me. If you were here, you could feel my pecs."

Just another manifestation of the old adage, "sex sells."

So... Maybe Cruz was hoping for a "Hey, girl" kind of moment?



=================

[stopwastingmymoney]

64. Ew, that is so gross...funny, but gross nt

[proverbialwisdom]

69. Paraody twitter... "Hey girl"

https://twitter.com/paulryangosling
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/post/hey-girl-paul-ryan-gosling-is-back/2012/08/13/a01b5710-e573-11e1-8741-940e3f6dbf48_blog.html

[calimary]

41. Well, he's checking out what cameras are at work, instead of checking out his smooch with

his wife. Look at that sneaky glance off to the side! Yeah, focused on your wife aren't ya, pal? All he cares about is - "am I on?" "Can you see me?" "Like this angle?" "Are you shooting now? NOW! MAKE SURE you get THIS shot!"

[Scootaloo]

42. Worst case of lazy eye ever

[AllyCat]

141. That's what I thought. He's not kissing his wife, he's

Kissing the camera.

[KamaAina]

8. A beard?

That one I had not heard. Lindsey Graham? Oh hell yeah. But Carnival Cruz?

[mopinko]

61. i learned it from a friend who was the beard for a pedophile.

but i think these days it is used more in the context of covering up teh gay.

as far as teddy, i cant stretch my usually creative and imaginative brain far enough to see anyone wanting to do anything with him, so.....

[Rex]

15. Half of this country is so fucked, I dunno if it is salvageable.

Look at the grinning idiot at the top right. I think we might be doomed Octa. So few people care in 2015. Cruz is one of the creepiest men I've ever seen.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

19. Half the people are below average

think about it

[appalachiablue]

53. Right, it's unfortunate. Figure you mean below average IQ, as opposed to height, or income eh.

I think Cruz should take over goul Pat Robertson's empire. He'd be perfect for it; could preach and moralize on TV all he wants. The modern day Doctor Torquemada.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

54. Not just IQ

On every measure

ability to dance
compassion
kindness
how far you can jump

everything

[RKP5637]

56. As the US continues to descend into Idiocracy! n/t

[Manifestor_of_Light]

3. I'm so glad we have the word "beard".

Which encapsulates a particular kind of marital dysfunction.

[Blue_Adept]

121. Jury Results - Not All Beards Are The Same

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

YOUR COMMENTS

If we're going to hide one instance of beard in this thread, might as well hide them all.

JURY RESULTS

A randomly-selected Jury of DU members completed their review of this alert at Wed Mar 25, 2015, 01:15 PM, and voted 3-4 to LEAVE IT ALONE.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Yes, hide them all. I know perfectly well what beard means, and, no matter WHO it is, one's sexuality is one's own business unless one wants to make it public.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I don't get what this is about. If the alerter had explained to me what exactly the issue with "beard" is...
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you.

[mnhtnbb]

123. I was on this jury. Had to read through all the comments to figure out meaning of beard.

Never heard of it--and I'm collecting social security-- and have two gay sons.

I don't agree with the first instance of hiding Octafish's comment. Thought it was pretty funny.
So, sometimes juries do get it right?!?

[Manifestor_of_Light]

127. So Octafish got hidden and my post was not hidden?

I'm not sure why. Maybe because Octafish had a picture of the subject couple and I didn't?

I would argue that calling someone a "beard" could be a reasonable inference (yes I am a lawyer) and therefore permitted in courtroom arguments.

[avebury]

4. Pretty funny!

[donco]

9. I expected to see

some Marshawn Lynch images with the statement that “I’m just here so I won’t get fined. "

[DinahMoeHum]

6. Someone on Twitter picked up the screenshot and passed it on. . .

https://twitter.com/tylerkingkade/status/580016817739042816/photo/1

[Warpy]

10. Looks like Liberty U students aren't as dumb as Falwell wished them to be

All these kids would be worth knowing, especially the one who posted the above.

[Ed Suspicious]

22. That one was my favorite.

[Pacifist Patriot]

72. Mine too.

[rpannier]

47. One of the more interesting things about Liberty U is

they have one of the better debate teams
Certainly one of the most active
Which is saying something, since debate requires a strong ability to think on your feet, identify weaknesses in your opponents arguments and point out fallacies.
But, according to an interview Falwell did years ago, he said these people will be the future lawyers and judges. Dominionist stuff

One other interesting fact about their debate team, When Jerry was still alive one of the prepared topics was about legalized abortion. There was a 50:50 shot Liberty's debate team would have to defend the rights to abortion. When the alumni and team coach asked Jerry about it, he told them to stay in the competition and let the chips fall where they may. If they had to defend legalized abortion then fine.
His son, and present chancellor, said he would have pulled them from the competition

Tells you what the son is like when Jerry sounds the reasonable one

[delete_bush]

93. My jaw dropped when I read this, wouldn't have thought they even HAD a team.

Liberty has earned the top spot in national rankings from debate’s three governing organizations: the Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA), National Debate Tournament (NDT) and the American Debate Association (ADA). This marks the third consecutive and fifth time overall that Liberty University has swept the sweepstakes rankings. Liberty remains the only school to win all three championships in a single season in the history of collegiate debate. Liberty Debate has earned 28 national rankings championships since 1995.

[deutsey]

90. That's what pleasantly surprised me

I thought a lot of these comments were funny and delightfully biting.

[AllyCat]

142. That one was pure awesomeness

[Iliyah]

11. All this talk about freedumb by conservatives.

[bigwillq]

14. The first one is so very true (nt)

[EEO]

18. Why would anyone actually want to go to that university?

They fine you for ridiculous things.

Want a good look at the theocracy the religious right wants to impose on us? Go to Liberty University.

[nxylas]

28. Because mom and pop wouldn't pay for a real university?

Wouldn't want Chip or Tractor or whatever stupid name they've given their kid learning about EVILution and/or non-biblical climatology. He ain't happy about it, but he knows that in this economy, any degree is better than no degree. At least that's the scenario I imagine playing out in the lives of many of their students.

[jmowreader]

35. It's like military school without the marching

That school took its student handbook off its website - obviously it was driving prospective marks into the hands of De Debbil...well, into the hands of actual universities. But when it was still up I went through it and they had a section on demerits.

[dixiegrrrrl]

45. Actually, you do not have to even attend.

They have online courses.

[AngryAmish]

48. Scholarships. i went where I was told. I was poor.

Don't hate poor people.

[rpannier]

50. In some cases it's because they can't afford anywhere else

If you're ambitious, there are a lot of lawyers (private and public) that graduated from Liberty. Networking is a plus sometimes

[ThoughtCriminal]

20. "Worst TedTalk ever"

At least one Liberty U student has a way better sense of humor than I would have expected.

[DeSwiss]

66. +1000

[Martin Eden]

21. I wouldn't want Cruz to fulfill his campaign promises

If, Allah forbid, he became president.

[pangaia]

23. Peptobismal takes the cake for me..

[Rex]

24. There is some hope for the future.

[JI7]

30. i heard many in the audience were Rand Paul SUpporters

[jmowreader]

38. Jon Stewart pointed this out

A couple of Liberty students wore Rand Paul t-shirts to this particular come-to-Jesus meeting. This goes to show two things - that Liberty has loosened up its dress code dramatically since Jerry Falwell was eaten by Cthulhu, and that Ted is just as popular inside Liberty as he is with the rest of us.

[Faygo Kid]

31. Well, doggies. Great post; Ted should have offered the students vittles.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/337482/size/big/cat/749

[ieoeja]

92. That is actually spelled "victuals". n/t

[WinkyDink]

36. EVERYONE who claims "It doesn't matter who they are" votes Republican.

[Hekate]

51. If only by default

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

82. And on Republican sites

They say the exact same thing in reverse, no doubt.

That if you're not voting for them, you're voting for the Dem 'by default'.

[WinkyDink]

150. Democrats never claim "they're all the same," and Republicans know that.

[Android3.14]

44. Looks like someone decided to test the new Jury Interference System

Re: Octafish's post No. 1. This is an example of the political correctness certain fascists/sockpuppets/operatives are trying to impose here. For those with the resources, the jury system is too easy to corrupt.

“If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed.” ― Benjamin Franklin

[Ms. Toad]

49. Looks to me

like someone decided to test whether enough progressives have been driven away that one can now get away with insulting folks by calling them gay.

[arikara]

125. Gay isn't the insult here

he was pointing out the hypocrisy.

I'm going to be spending some time with my gay aunt and I plan ask her how she feels about this. I have a feeling she will get the subtlety and not get all offended.

[Ms. Toad]

132. Doesn't really matter whether she is offended -

I find it offensive, as do many other LGBT individuals on this site who are sick of being used as weapons against the right wing.

There are things that Justice Thomas, as a black man, doesn't find offensive - that many other blacks do, and those should not be used on a progressive site - even if some members of {whatever group is being used as a weapon} aren't personally offended.

Find some other way to insult people you don't like. There are plenty of ways to insult Cruz without implying he is gay.

[stevenleser]

63. I doubt many LGBT folks will agree with you on that.

It's really possible to attack Republicans and what they stand for without using homophobic language.

Really. Trust me.

[F4lconF16]

68. +1

I didn't know the tern "beard", and I have no idea how offensive it is considered, but insulting someone by implying they are gay is not acceptable on a progressive board.

[AwakeAtLast]

74. I'm not LGBT

I was shocked to see it in print on a progressive site and used to slur someone, even if the person being slurred is a repugnant a$$hat.

The jury did their job perfectly, IMO.

[malthaussen]

77. So implying someone is gay is an insult?

Sounds Progressive to me. Mind you, I think Octa made a needless and snarky comment (and in bad taste as well), but I'm surprised that a board of supposed liberals would think it is an insult to imply homosexuality.

-- Mal

[AwakeAtLast]

78. The word used was a known slur

Sounds non-progressive to me.

[Ms. Toad]

91. We don't think being gay is insulting,

That is why when an allegation that someone is gay is used to insult or make fun of someone it gets hidden, because using it that way inherently implies it is bad - which is not acceptable on a progressive board.

[DirkGently]

115. That's utter nonsense, of course.

The implication was that a hyper-conservative, outwardly homophobic Republican might be hypocritically hiding his own orientation.

I have no idea if that is true of Cruz, and it doesn't particularly interest me, but there is no honest way to interpret it as being a homophobic slur, at all.

People here, on this "progressive board," regularly speculate on the possibility of homophobic politicians hiding their own orientations, specifically in order to succeed among their gay-bashing brethren. It is a reasonable, pro-gay acceptance thing to point out, and no one anywhere sincerely believes otherwise. It also of course not unknown at all for virulently homophobic leaders, and virulent homophobes in general, to be unhappily closeted people.

Pretty obvious attempt here at manufacturing logic in order to hide the comment of a poster everyone knows quite well is not homophobic, and was not implying anything even slightly homophobic in the post.

Jesus.

[Ms. Toad]

136. And those posts are routinely hidden.

Certainly you have enough imagination to come up with an insult other than suggesting he is gay - and the fact that gay people (and others) in this thread are telling you they find it offensive ought to be enough motivation to do so.

[2banon]

138. Well Said, Dirk. Expresses my POV precisely.

Editing to Add: I'm considered a "Hard Core Leftist".. although I don't think of myself as "hard core" but a lot of people here on DU seem to think so. just to make clear, where on the political spectrum I live. Not to mention San Francisco Bay Area -- a very strong LGBT community.

[NYC Liberal]

117. Yes, opposing homophobic attacks is “fascist”.

Unbelievable.

The post was rightfully hidden. From the TOS:

No bigoted hate speech.

Do not post bigotry based on someone's race or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or lack thereof, disability, or other comparable personal characteristic.

[2banon]

133. That's interesting.. Didn't know about that level of interference capability.

Love the Ben Franklin quote. It's absolutely apropos here.

[Hekate]

52. Those comments are hilarious. Thanks a bunch for bringing them to us.

[Cha]

55. Priceless, Cat! I thought they would have sucked up ol Ted's Lies and asked for "more, please!"..

[Initech]

58. Worst Ted Talk Ever.

[awoke_in_2003]

60. Jackie rocked a pink dress...

and, ever since then, far too many people have tried to pull it off poorly.

[DeSwiss]

67. I'm sure many students left there......

...went dancing, smoked some cigs, and then watched several R-rated movies.

Liberty University’s handbook outlines some downright insane penalties for various “infractions.” At the school, the simple act of attending an R-rated movie can incur a fine of $50, and attending a dance or smoking a cigarette can cost students $25. Failure to attend Cruz’s political rally is slightly less costly — $10 — but, to college students who are being fleeced financially for simply being teenagers already and who have extremely limited incomes, $10 is a lot of money. As the school expected Cruz to be loved, failing to even applaud could be considered a lack of participation, as well.

- I must also say that my opinion of Liberty University students has greatly improve from all this. And I feel better knowing that not only was their attendance required, but their applause is mandatory as well.....

K&R

[blkmusclmachine]

71. Needs mor mispeled words too bee belevable.

[Pacifist Patriot]

73. The cynicism in the first one is depressing coming from a college student.

[malthaussen]

84. I remember reading in Bruce Catton...

... a remark to the effect that in the 1860s, young men had to earn their cynicism, they didn't get it handed to them. Even though I was about 12 at the time I read it, I wondered why cynicism was okay for older people but not for younger people. If you find the cynicism of the first post discouraging, aren't you arguing that young people should be good little marks for the manipulators? At what age does cynicism become acceptable?

You could argue you find all cynicism unbecoming, but I still fail to see (after all these years) why it should be okay for older people but unbecoming in the young.

-- Mal

[Pacifist Patriot]

88. LOL! I think you're reading way too much into it.

But you're right. I don't much care for cynicism at any age. Feels too defeatist to me.

[alarimer]

75. Wow, he's in trouble if he can't even win over that crowd.

You'd think they would be a natural fit. A study body full of Christian assholes listening to another one.

I guess they just resent having to be there, which is the only way Cruz would get an audience. Certainly, he won't draw a crowd with that charisma.

Cruz sets off my creepy-televangelist radar. I mean, he looks like the guys on TV exhorting their flock for money, who then turns out to be a child molester or something.

[sinkingfeeling]

76. Liberty students playing the drinking game? I thought they weren't

allowed to consume liquor.

[underpants]

80. They aren't but it wouldn't surprise me if the sneak a bit

Those could be from non-Liberty students or, since it is anonymous, they could just be more open.

I have plenty of insights to Falwell (in-laws from Lynchburg/ high school with Jerry) but I can't offer anything on student life at LU.

[underpants]

79. Worst. TedTalk. Ever.

[niyad]

86. and then there are the pics of students in the front row wearing rand paul shirts.

[Thespian2]

96. Good responses

from the students. Don't know much about Liberty, but I taught at Houston Baptist for 2 years. I expect that about 1/3 of the students were atheists. I was usually in trouble with the administration. But they were in trouble with the Sharpstown Bank scandal.

[YOHABLO]

143. Liberty University is a Christian Conservative / Republican Zombie factory.

I don't take any of these remarks to mean that these students are not being indoctrinated by the religious right. Perhaps a third will make their way out of this bubble, but for the most part, this is the spawning ground for the very people who are progressive's adversaries

[Kalidurga]

144. Imagine

a world where lying would make a person completely repulsive and unlikable. Why you would end up with someone like Ted Cruz who can only get students to attend a speech by coercion.

[Initech]

145. Who knew that Liberty University students have a sense of humor?