Liberty University is a tax-exempt religious school, prohibited by IRS non-profit regulations from engaging in political campaigns for or against candidates. But Jerry Falwell's institution has caused a storm by banning the student Democrats organization from campus, citing the platform of its "parent organization", the Democratic National Committee. My emphasis:
“It kind of happened out of nowhere,” said Brian Diaz, president of LU’s student Democratic Party organization, which LU formally recognized in October.
Diaz said he was notified of the school’s decision May 15 in an e-mail from Mark Hine, vice president of student affairs.
…
Hine said late Thursday that the university could not sanction an official club that supported Democratic candidates.
You can read the text of the letter revoking the group here.
This goes beyond even my own low expectations of Liberty University officials. There is nothing wrong with a college education that includes religious instruction and perspective. I attended a strong Baptist college myself. But enforcing a fundamentalist outlook that says those religious viewpoints require very particular political and public policy beliefs is pretty troubling. Doing it with a tax exemption in tow is just… well, insulting I guess.
Why is this not a violation of the IRS' prohibition on political campaigning by tax-exempt organizations? While the revocation of the Democratic Party club may not be the endorsement for or against a particular candidate in a specific election, it seems to me like it comes pretty close, essentially making an official statement against a candidate in every upcoming election.
What is the next step? Expulsion of any student who votes in a Democratic primary?
Note: 2 years ago, by the way, Americans United filed a complaint with the IRS over Liberty chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr.'s endorsement of Mike Huckabee for President on official University stationary. Not sure what became of that complaint.
