Janice Lozano
Liberty University, a private evangelical Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia, has been plagued by scandals involving its former president, Jerry Falwell Jr., and his close relationship with former President Donald Trump. Falwell Jr.'s enthusiastic endorsement of Trump's presidential campaign in 2016 divided evangelicals, including Liberty staff and alumni. The turmoil escalated with revelations of Falwell Jr.'s extramarital affairs, including allegations of a sexual relationship with another man, and the emergence of `racy` and `kinky` photos involving him and his wife, Becki Falwell. In the wake of these scandals, Liberty University students have had mixed reactions, ranging from indifference to protests demanding reform and addressing the university's racist past. The university eventually paid Falwell Jr. a settlement of $15 million, bringing an end to the disputes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Liberty University students' awareness of the Falwell scandal | Some students are loosely aware of the articles, but many haven't read them and are only aware of the information through their peers |
| Student opinion on Jerry Falwell Jr.'s comments about his sex life | Sutton Roberts, a junior at Liberty University, believes that Falwell's comments about his sex life are inappropriate, but not sexual harassment as he is only talking about his wife |
| Student opinion on Jerry Falwell Jr.'s endorsement of Donald Trump | Sutton Roberts and Elizabeth Brooks, both juniors at Liberty University, support Falwell's endorsement of Trump, believing it is within his right as a private citizen and aligns with the university's conservative values |
| Student opinion on Jerry Falwell Jr.'s leadership | Elizabeth Brooks, a junior at Liberty University, describes a "culture of fear" at the university, where Falwell has a lot of unchecked power and aides are afraid to speak out |
| Student-led reform efforts | A group of Liberty University alumni called Save71 was organized to reform the school, and three Liberty University athletes organized a Black Lives Matter protest on campus |
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What You'll Learn
'>Liberty University students describe a 'culture of fear'
Liberty University, a private evangelical Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia, has been plagued by scandals involving its former president, Jerry Falwell Jr., and his close relationship with Donald Trump. Falwell Jr.'s enthusiastic endorsement of Trump's presidential campaign in 2016 divided evangelicals, including Liberty staff and alumni. This, along with reports of inappropriate behaviour and photos, led to his resignation and a $15 million lawsuit settlement.
In the wake of these scandals, Liberty University students have described a culture of fear that permeated the institution. Will E. Young, a former editor-in-chief of Liberty's student newspaper, The Champion, characterised the university as having "zero tolerance for new questions and ideas". Young's sentiments were echoed by students who organised protests and spoke out about their experiences. Elizabeth Brooks, a junior at Liberty University, described the terror she felt before participating in a protest, fearing legal repercussions and worrying about losing her scholarship.
Dustin Wahl, a graduate of Liberty University and founder of the reform group Save71, initially idolised Falwell Jr. as a "macho conservative archetype". However, his perspective changed after hearing one of Falwell's infamous speeches. At a student assembly, Falwell Jr. encouraged students to obtain concealed-carry permits, making a discriminatory statement about Muslims. This incident, along with the administration's efforts to silence anti-Trump groups, highlighted a culture of fear and suppression of dissent at Liberty University.
The university's high enrolment numbers, due in part to its low tuition fees, have contributed to its influence and impact on students. With over 80,000 online students and 15,000 in its residential program, Liberty University has a large reach. The university's founding principles, based on fundamental Christianity, have been called into question, and there are growing calls for reform. Students and alumni are seeking a thorough re-evaluation of Liberty's values, including addressing its racist past and promoting inclusion for people of colour and LGBTQ+ individuals.
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Students say they are aware of the articles
Liberty University is a private evangelical Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia, with about 15,000 students enrolled in its residential program and 80,000 enrolled online. The university has been at the centre of several controversies, most notably regarding its association with former US President Donald Trump and a series of scandals involving its former president, Jerry Falwell Jr.
Falwell Jr.'s presidency ended in 2020 after a series of scandals, including allegations of sexual misconduct and the release of "racy" and "kinky" photos of himself and his wife, Becki Falwell. Falwell Jr. also faced criticism for his early and enthusiastic endorsement of Donald Trump's presidential campaign in 2016, which divided evangelicals, including Liberty staff and alumni.
In the wake of these scandals, Liberty University students have expressed mixed reactions. Some students, like Sutton Roberts and Elizabeth Brooks, were at least loosely aware of the articles and the allegations. Roberts stated that most students had not deeply engaged with the articles but had heard about them from their peers. Brooks, who organized a protest, described a culture of fear at the university, where students felt intimidated and worried about potential repercussions for speaking out.
The scrutiny and criticism surrounding Falwell Jr. and Liberty University have prompted calls for reform and a more thorough examination of the university's values by students and alumni. Dustin Wahl, a graduate of Liberty University and founder of the reform group Save71, described his initial admiration for Falwell Jr. but later became disillusioned, particularly after hearing one of Falwell's infamous speeches targeting Muslims.
While some students were engaged or concerned about the controversies, Roberts noted that many students were indifferent to the situation, indicating a varied level of interest and involvement among the student body.
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Some students support Falwell Jr.'s right to endorse Trump
While Jerry Falwell Jr.'s endorsement of Donald Trump during his presidential campaign in 2016 divided evangelicals, including Liberty University staff and alumni, some students supported his right to do so. Sutton Roberts, a junior at Liberty University, stated that she believed it was within Falwell Jr.'s right as a private citizen to endorse any candidate he wanted for president. She also mentioned that having a conservative college president who believes in conservative values could positively reflect on the university. Elizabeth Brooks, another junior at Liberty University, echoed similar sentiments, clarifying that their protest was not about Trump or Falwell Jr.'s support for him.
Falwell Jr.'s endorsement of Trump caused a stir in the evangelical community, as Trump's values seemed to contradict the decency that religious conservatives had advocated for in the past four decades. However, Falwell Jr.'s support for Trump made sense given the university's roots. Trump's appeal to the religious right and his stance on issues such as reproductive rights, climate change, and big tech aligned with the values of Liberty University and its founder, Jerry Falwell Sr. Falwell Sr. had even championed segregationists and strongly opposed desegregation, working to start a white Christian school.
Falwell Jr.'s endorsement of Trump was not the only scandal that brought him under scrutiny. There were also reports of him sending explicit photos of his wife to Liberty University employees, which he denied, and allegations that he bragged about his sex life with his wife in graphic detail to employees. Additionally, there were photos of Falwell Jr. and his wife partying in a nightclub, as well as photos of him posing with a pregnant Liberty University employee, both with their pants unzipped. These incidents, along with other controversies, ultimately led to his resignation as university president and a $5.5 million settlement with the school.
Despite the controversies surrounding Falwell Jr., some students and alumni have sought a thorough excavation of Liberty University's values and called for reform. Dustin Wahl, a graduate of Liberty University and the founder of Save71, is one of those advocating for change. While some students supported Falwell Jr.'s right to endorse Trump, others recognized the need to address the university's problematic past and work towards creating a more inclusive and tolerant environment.
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Students describe Falwell Jr.'s comments as 'inappropriate'
Liberty University, a private evangelical Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia, has been plagued by scandals involving its former president, Jerry Falwell Jr., and his close relationship with Donald Trump. Falwell Jr.'s enthusiastic endorsement of Trump's presidential campaign in 2016 divided evangelicals, including Liberty staff and alumni. This, along with reports of inappropriate behaviour and comments, led to his resignation in 2020.
Falwell Jr. found himself in hot water due to a series of scandals, including allegations of sending explicit photos of his wife to Liberty employees and bragging about his sex life. While some students described these comments as ""somewhat inappropriate", they didn't consider them sexual harassment as they pertained to his wife. However, the university community was divided, with some students protesting and others supporting Falwell Jr. and Trump's conservative values.
The controversy surrounding Falwell Jr. also extended to his involvement in a Miami youth hostel business. Photos surfaced of Falwell Jr. partying in a South Beach nightclub, and allegations arose of a sexual relationship between him, his wife, and another man. Additionally, Falwell Jr. was accused of making racist comments. In response to a mass shooting by a Pakistani-American couple in San Bernardino, California, he urged students to obtain concealed-carry permits, stating, "I've always thought that, if more good people had concealed-carry permits, then we could end those Muslims before they walked in."
Falwell Jr.'s behaviour and comments created a culture of fear at Liberty University, with employees describing a sense of unchecked power surrounding him. The university eventually launched an investigation into his conduct, resulting in his resignation and a $15 million lawsuit settlement. Despite the scandals, Falwell Jr. is credited with putting the university on firmer financial footing and growing its endowment to nearly $2 billion.
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Liberty University pays Falwell Jr. $15 million in a lawsuit settlement
Liberty University, a private evangelical Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia, has agreed to pay its former president, Jerry Falwell Jr., $15 million as part of settlements tied to lawsuits following his resignation in 2020. The settlement was reached in July 2024, concluding the legal disputes between Falwell and the university.
Falwell's presidency ended in scandal after a series of controversies. In 2016, Falwell endorsed Donald Trump for the Republican nomination for president, dividing evangelicals, including Liberty staff and alumni. He also invested millions of dollars in a Miami youth hostel, and photos surfaced of him and his family partying in a nearby nightclub. Additionally, Falwell posted pictures from a party on a yacht, including one of him with his arm around a woman with their pants unzipped.
In 2019, it was reported that Falwell had sought the help of Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, to obtain racy photos of Falwell and his wife, Becki. Around the same time, a former business partner claimed to have had a sexual relationship with Becki Falwell, with Jerry Falwell allegedly watching. Falwell admitted to his wife's affair but denied any involvement.
Following his departure from Liberty University, Falwell sued the university for defamation, but the complaint was dropped. Liberty then countersued, alleging breach of contract. Falwell also filed a lawsuit over his retirement package and another against the use of his father's image. These claims were dropped by July 2024 when the settlement was reached.
The settlement includes a payment of $5.5 million to Falwell to settle the lawsuits, in addition to nearly $10 million as part of his retirement package. Falwell has also agreed to pay Liberty $440,000 to settle "disputed expenses." The university and Falwell acknowledged ["errors and mistakes"] and expressed regret for the disputes, committing to move forward in a spirit of forgiveness.
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Frequently asked questions
The photos in question include images of Falwell partying in a nightclub, posing with his pants unzipped alongside a pregnant Liberty University employee, and explicit photos of his wife.
Sutton Roberts, a junior at Liberty University, said that while most students were aware of the articles, many had not read them and were not interested in the details. Roberts also stated that they believed Falwell's comments about his sex life were inappropriate but did not constitute sexual harassment. Elizabeth Brooks, another junior at Liberty, acknowledged the "'culture of fear' at the university" and shared her fears of legal ramifications and losing her scholarship for participating in a protest.
Jerry Falwell Jr. left Liberty University in 2020 amid a series of scandals, including the controversial photos and allegations of a sexual relationship with another man involving him and his wife. The university paid Falwell a settlement of $5.5 million, in addition to nearly $10 million in severance and retirement, to resolve all disputes.
