Lana Oconnell
Liberty University's former president, Jerry Falwell Jr., was involved in a series of scandals, including the posting of inappropriate photos, that led to his resignation in 2020. Falwell Jr. was already a controversial figure among students and alumni due to his vocal support for Donald Trump's presidential campaign and his endorsement of Trump's statements that were deemed offensive by some. The photos in question included images of Falwell Jr. with his pants unzipped, as well as pictures of him and his wife, Becki Falwell, in situations that could be described as racy and kinky. The scandal also involved allegations of sexual misconduct and a lawsuit filed by a former university student. Liberty University ultimately paid Falwell Jr. a settlement of $5.5 million, in addition to nearly $10 million in severance and retirement, to end their disputes and lawsuits. The reaction from Liberty University students and alumni to Falwell's photos ranged from disdain to relief, with some expressing disappointment in his behavior and relief that he was no longer associated with the university.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Liberty University's public image | Leading evangelical school |
| Jerry Falwell Jr.'s actions | Posting inappropriate photos, endorsing Donald Trump, censoring journalists, etc. |
| Student opinion | Relief at Falwell's departure, disdain, disappointment |
| University response | Investigation, lawsuits, settlement |
| Settlement amount | $5.5 million, $10 million in severance and retirement, $440,000 for disputed expenses |
Explore related products
$11.43 $11.99
What You'll Learn
- Students and alumni express outrage at Falwell's hypocrisy
- The university's reputation is damaged by Falwell's behaviour
- Falwell's support for Donald Trump divides the university
- The university's honour code forbids premarital sex and drinking
- Liberty University is fined for its handling of sexual violence
Students and alumni express outrage at Falwell's hypocrisy
Liberty University students and alumni have expressed outrage and disappointment at the hypocrisy of former university president Jerry Falwell Jr. and his lewd photos scandal. Falwell, who took over the university in 2007, was placed on indefinite leave in August 2020 and later resigned following the revelation of inappropriate photos and a series of scandals.
Falwell posted and later deleted a provocative photo on Instagram, in which he had his pants unzipped and his arm around a pregnant Liberty University employee, with their bare midriffs showing. This incident shocked the evangelical community and led to widespread criticism from students and alumni, who felt that Falwell's behaviour was hypocritical and reflected poorly on the university.
One student, Sauskojus, shared their discomfort with the increasingly political nature of the mandatory thrice-weekly chapel gatherings, stating that they now struggle to attend church due to the negative associations. Another student, Joel Schmieg, the sports editor of The Champion, Liberty’s student newspaper, questioned Falwell’s support for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2016, following the release of the infamous Access Hollywood tape.
Alumni have also voiced their disapproval of Falwell's conduct. Tim W Callaway, a Liberty University graduate, referred to Falwell as "an effing moron". Jeff Chalmers, another alumnus, criticised Falwell's "self-righteous, arrogant behaviour and comments" and the "iron-fisted, authoritarian brand of 'religion'" at Liberty University.
The scandal surrounding Falwell's lewd photos and personal conduct has caused significant backlash from the Liberty University community, with many expressing outrage at the perceived hypocrisy and disappointment in the tarnishing of the university's reputation.
Davenport University: Student Population and Campus Life
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The university's reputation is damaged by Falwell's behaviour
The reputation of Liberty University has been damaged by the behaviour of its former president, Jerry Falwell Jr. Falwell's tenure as president was marked by a series of scandals, including his endorsement of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, which divided evangelicals, and his investment in a Miami youth hostel. However, the most damaging scandal involved Falwell's appearance in several inappropriate photographs.
In one photo, Falwell was pictured with his arm around a pregnant Liberty University employee, both with their pants unzipped. This image was posted on Falwell's Instagram account and was later deleted. Another photo showed Falwell and several family members partying in a Miami nightclub. These images sparked outrage and criticism, with many people expressing disgust and disappointment in Falwell's behaviour.
Falwell's actions directly contradicted the values and reputation of Liberty University as a leading evangelical school. The university has a strict dress code for students, emphasising modesty and appropriateness. Falwell's behaviour was seen as hypocritical and damaging to the university's image. The scandal surrounding the photos led to Falwell's resignation and a wave of litigation between him and the university.
The university's reputation was further tarnished by the revelation of Falwell's involvement in a sex scandal with his wife, Becki Falwell, and a pool attendant named Giancarlo Granda. This incident broke the university's strict rules against sexual touch between unmarried individuals. Additionally, the Department of Education fined Liberty University $14 million for creating a culture where students feared reporting sexual violence.
Falwell's behaviour caused a loss of trust and confidence in the university's leadership. The scandal attracted negative media attention and criticism, impacting the university's public image and standing in the academic community. The fallout from the scandal resulted in a period of uncertainty and instability for the university, affecting its students, alumni, staff, and faculty. Ultimately, Liberty University's association with Falwell's controversial behaviour damaged its reputation and led to significant consequences for the institution.
Exploring Grambling State University's Student Population
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Falwell's support for Donald Trump divides the university
Jerry Falwell Jr.'s endorsement of Donald Trump in 2016 for the Republican nomination for president shocked the evangelical world. Falwell, then president of Liberty University, the world's largest Christian university, was an early supporter of Trump's presidential campaign. This caused a divide among Liberty University students, staff, and alumni, with some protesting his support for Trump and others defending it.
Falwell's endorsement came after Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, helped him recover compromising photos of himself and his wife, Becki. The photos, described as "racy" and "kinky," allegedly showed Falwell and his wife in provocative poses. Additionally, Falwell had invested millions of dollars in a Miami youth hostel, and photos surfaced of him and his family partying in a nearby South Beach nightclub. These photos and Falwell's support for Trump were seen as counter to the university's reputation as a leading evangelical school.
Some Liberty University students rebelled against Falwell's endorsement of Trump, forming a group called Liberty United Against Trump. They published a letter expressing their disappointment with Falwell's endorsement and their opposition to Trump, stating that Trump "is actively promoting the very things that we as Christians ought to oppose." The letter also highlighted the discrepancy between Falwell's endorsement and the university's values, asserting that if any Liberty University faculty or staff member had made similar comments to Trump's, they would have been terminated.
In contrast, some Liberty University alumni defended Falwell's support for Trump, arguing that the university supports its students' right to express their own political opinions. They viewed the call to return diplomas over Trump support as "grandstanding." Falwell himself dismissed the criticism, stating that Trump is a "changed man" who is "for the average American." He also claimed that Trump's comments, which some found raunchy, were a result of his background as a New York businessman.
Falwell's support for Trump extended beyond the 2016 election. In 2017, Trump delivered the commencement address at Liberty University, and Falwell was reportedly tapped to lead a White House task force on higher education reform. Additionally, Liberty University sold merchandise promoting Trump's campaign and Falwell personally blocked students from writing student columns critical of Trump. Falwell's close relationship with Trump and his endorsement of Trump's presidential campaign caused a divide among the Liberty University community, with some protesting his support and others defending it as a matter of free expression.
University Students: What to Sell and Why
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The university's honour code forbids premarital sex and drinking
Falwell Jr.'s behaviour caused outrage among students, alumni, and staff, who were already witnessing his public disintegration and controversial decisions. The university's honour code and strict rules for students seemed to not apply to Falwell Jr., further angering the community. The situation was exacerbated by Falwell Jr.'s endorsement of Donald Trump, which divided evangelicals, and his authoritarian brand of religion. The close relationship between Falwell Jr. and Trump was also noted, with Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, allegedly involved in recovering racy photos of Falwell Jr. and his wife.
The university's response to the scandal was to place Falwell Jr. on indefinite leave in August 2020, and he later resigned. Liberty University then sued Falwell Jr. in 2021 for breach of contract, and he countersued over his retirement package and the use of his father's image. The lawsuits were eventually settled with a $5.5 million payment from the university, in addition to nearly $10 million in severance and retirement. Despite the settlement, the Department of Education under Joe Biden fined Liberty University a record $14 million for violating the Clery Act by creating a culture where students feared reporting sexual violence.
The honour code at Liberty University, which includes prohibitions on premarital sex and drinking, was not just broken by Falwell Jr.'s actions but also by his apparent approval of his wife's affairs. The university's strict rules and expectations for students were not applied to its leader, causing outrage and a sense of hypocrisy among the community. The situation was further inflamed by Falwell Jr.'s political affiliations and the subsequent attempts to cover up the scandals, leading to a significant fallout and financial consequences for both Falwell Jr. and the university.
The scandal surrounding Falwell Jr. and the subsequent lawsuits have had a significant impact on Liberty University, with the university facing financial consequences and a damaged reputation. While the university has tried to move forward in a "Christ-honoring manner," the honour code that forbids premarital sex and drinking has been brought into question, especially in light of the Department of Education's fine for creating a culture that discouraged reporting sexual violence. The university's handling of the situation has brought attention to the double standards and authoritarian nature of the institution, causing students, alumni, and staff to speak out against Falwell Jr. and the university's leadership.
Special Education Students: University Dreams?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Liberty University is fined for its handling of sexual violence
In March 2024, Liberty University was fined $14 million for its mishandling of sexual violence and campus safety issues. The fine came as a result of a long-running federal investigation by the US Department of Education, which found that the university had failed to report campus crime statistics and had mishandled its response to sexual assault survivors. The university was also found to have failed in 11 areas, including timely responses to sexual violence and reporting crimes to the wider community.
The investigation revealed that Liberty University had created a culture of silence that discouraged the reporting of crimes and punished assault victims for violating the student honor code, which prohibits premarital sex. The university was also found to have failed to alert students about safety threats, including individuals accused of sexual violence, and had misrepresented itself as a safe campus. As a result of the investigation, the university agreed to spend an additional $2 million on safety monitoring and improvements over the next two years, during which it will be under heightened federal monitoring.
The fine against Liberty University is the largest in the Department of Education's history for a campus safety violation. The university, which is the largest evangelical college in the country, has come under fire from students, alumni, and advocacy groups for its shortcomings on campus safety and its handling of sexual assault cases. Some students have even filed lawsuits against the university, and in 2022, the university settled a case with 12 women.
The controversy surrounding Liberty University and its handling of sexual violence comes amidst other scandals involving the university's leadership. In 2020, then-president Jerry Falwell Jr. was placed on indefinite leave after posting, and then deleting, a series of provocative photos on Instagram, including one in which he appeared with his pants unzipped while wrapping his arm around a pregnant Liberty University employee. Falwell Jr. later resigned amid allegations that he and his wife had engaged in a years-long sexual relationship with another man. In May 2025, it was reported that Liberty University had paid Falwell Jr. a settlement of $5.5 million, in addition to nearly $10 million in severance and retirement, following his departure from the university in 2020.
Binghamton University: Student Population and Campus Life
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The lewd photos of Falwell Jr. refer to a series of images that surfaced, including one of him with his pants unzipped and another of him and his wife in a nightclub with their midriffs exposed. There were also allegations of Falwell liking photos of younger women in not-so-Christian poses and topless photos and videos of his wife, Becki Falwell, with whom he was involved in a sexual relationship with another man.
Liberty University students expressed relief upon Falwell's departure, with one student referring to him as "an effing moron." Another student commented on Falwell's self-righteous and arrogant behaviour, while others expressed disdain for the university's authoritarian brand of religion.
The scandal resulted in Falwell Jr.'s resignation from Liberty University in August 2020. The university paid him a settlement of $5.5 million, in addition to nearly $10 million in severance and retirement, to settle all disputes and lawsuits.
