Obtaining a college diploma is viewed as a monumental achievement, but graduates of Liberty University (LU) are returning their diplomas and calling on other alumni to do the same.
Liberty University’s President, Jerry Falwell Jr., has been a devoted supporter of Donald Trump since early in the 2016 presidential campaign, much to the chagrin of many LU graduates.
Following Trump’s comments on the violence in Charlottesville, Falwell was quick to make his support of the president known once again. He tweeted his approval of Trump’s “bold truthful” statement, saying there was “finally a leader in WH.”
This tweet served as the last straw for LU grads who called his alignment a source of “shame and anger” in a Facebook post last week.
LU alumna have started a Facebook group entitled “Return your diplomas to LU” which currently boasts 294 members and outlines plans to send diplomas back to LU by September 5th. The returned diplomas will be accompanied by letters explaining their reasoning to Falwell’s office and the office of the president of the Board of Trustees.
Chris Gaumer, a 2006 graduate and the former Student Government Association president, told CNN that the goal is to “send a message that some alumni are unhappy.”
“Many reasons to return LU degree, like a class called Creation Studies, but no reason more important than Falwell Jr. backing Trump backing white supremacists,” Gaumer posted on Instagram.
Graduates are prepared to make their disappointment clear concerning this perceived moral failure, and want it to be known that Falwell’s stance does not represent all students.
A group letter prepared for university officials called Falwell’s alignment with Trump “incompatible with Liberty University’s stated values, and incompatible with a Christian witness,” NPR reported.
Not all graduates agree with this passionate display against President Trump and Falwell. Phil Wagner, who received his bachelor’s and master’s degree from LU, and plans on keeping his diplomas, despite the fact that he does not support Trump’s statements.
“I do not plan to return my degree,” Wagner told CNN. “I earned it. I worked hard for it.”
Falwell doesn’t appear to be concerned.
“I understand how some people could misunderstand his words,” Falwell said. “Yes, he could be more polished and politically correct but that’s the reason I supported him, because he’s not.”
Therefore, graduates preparing to seal envelopes enclosing their degrees must consider the effectiveness of their actions. Perhaps it would be more beneficial to take action to better the nation with their current achievements, rather than seeking to revoke their previous ones.
