1. NEW UPDATE TIME: Liberty U prez Jerry Falwell Jr. contacted RNS to insist his school is still the “largest Christian university” by citing a metric other than what they typically reference…
…and by suggesting the rival school isn’t Christian. religionnews.com/2018/04/30/fal…
…and by suggesting the rival school isn’t Christian. religionnews.com/2018/04/30/fal…
2. This takes a bit of explaining.
For context, here is the original story: religionnews.com/2018/04/27/lib…
For context, here is the original story: religionnews.com/2018/04/27/lib…
3. So, Falwell sent this quote hours after the story went up (we reached out 24 hours before publication).
This was AFTER his own staff confirmed that GCU was, in fact, now the largest Christian university AND admitted they were already scrubbing the claim from their website.
This was AFTER his own staff confirmed that GCU was, in fact, now the largest Christian university AND admitted they were already scrubbing the claim from their website.
4. Regardless, Falwell put forward his definition of a “Christian university.”
Note: this definition would exclude schools like Notre Dame, which Liberty is said to aspire to emulate.
When pressed, Falwell offered this clarification.
Note: this definition would exclude schools like Notre Dame, which Liberty is said to aspire to emulate.
When pressed, Falwell offered this clarification.
5. GCU, for their part, appeared significantly less interested in the claim either way, but defended its Christian bona fides all the same.
6. And then we got into data.
This is a bit technical, but when boasting about its size, Liberty typically touts very large numbers that correlate with a very specific metric: “12-month unduplicated headcount.” GCU now outpaces them there. (graph from original story)
BUT…
This is a bit technical, but when boasting about its size, Liberty typically touts very large numbers that correlate with a very specific metric: “12-month unduplicated headcount.” GCU now outpaces them there. (graph from original story)
BUT…
7. …Liberty DOES still outpace GCU in full-time enrollment, specifically “12-month equivalent full-time enrollment.”
Falwell argues this means Liberty can continue to claim to be the “largest Christian university” AND that GCU (if considered Christian by Liberty) ALSO can.
Falwell argues this means Liberty can continue to claim to be the “largest Christian university” AND that GCU (if considered Christian by Liberty) ALSO can.
8. I’ll leave it up to readers whether this counts as a dodge, a redefinition, etc.
BUT, it’s worth noting @JohnFea1’s point: the bigger question may be…why does Liberty/Falwell/any school CARE about these metrics?
Perhaps that’s for another story…
BUT, it’s worth noting @JohnFea1’s point: the bigger question may be…why does Liberty/Falwell/any school CARE about these metrics?
Perhaps that’s for another story…
9. Anyway, read more here! religionnews.com/2018/04/30/fal…
10. Oh, and for the record, if anyone wants to know anything about how/when Liberty started claiming this, what statements they used on their website, etc., just ask.
I now have an absurd number of receipts.
I now have an absurd number of receipts.
