Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 28, 1993 TAG: 9301280160
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ELIZABETH THIEL LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
LIBERTY TUITION AID DECISION DELAYED
Financially and ideologically beleaguered Liberty University won a temporary reprieve Wednesday from the threat of a severe blow to its cash flow.The State Council of Higher Education postponed until May a decision on whether to cut off state-financed tuition grants to the Baptist school's students. The council agreed to release nearly $1.3 million in grants the university had been expecting this school year.
The reprieve came with a warning: Council members were dissatisfied with Liberty's 11th-hour response to their December ultimatum requiring the college to stop certain religious practices or risk losing its financial aid.
And the council ordered the university to advise applicants this spring that its tuition-grants program is in jeopardy.
"I think we would encourage immediate, not later, compliance in attempting" to answer the council's concerns, said council Chairman Hugh L. Patterson of Virginia Beach.
The council said in December it would cut tuition aid to Liberty's students unless the school guaranteed its faculty freedom of academic expression, even if contrary to the college's religious doctrines. It also demanded that Liberty not force students and faculty to attend religious services or sign statements promising to adhere to the school's tenets.
The council was worried that giving state money to a school with such restrictions violated church-state separation.
Liberty's response, in the form of a letter from college President Pierre Guillermin this week, made virtually no concessions.
Guillermin denied that faculty members and students are under pressure to adhere to the school's religious teachings.
They are, however, asked to agree to "respect" the school's doctrines, and not do anything "on campus that is disruptive of the academic environment or intolerant of the religious beliefs of fellow students at Liberty," the letter stated.
As for mandatory church services, students can opt not to attend if they perform some type of school-approved community service work. All students are required to attend convocation assemblies three times a week, Guillermin wrote, but those are not always religious and attendance is not taken.
"There is continuing concern amongst members of the council about the requirements for convocations and church services," Patterson told Guillermin.
The council also asked Guillermin to revise this spring the school's student handbook and other policy manuals to eliminate statements that conflict with his claims about the level of religious freedom on campus.
"We're looking forward to responding as quickly as possible," Guillermin said.
Steven K. Green, an attorney for the Maryland-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which strongly advocates cutting off Liberty's financial aid, doubted the university would change its religious practices.
"We're hopeful that the council will hold them to their word," Green said.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.