Liberty University faces record fines due to misconduct and failure to prioritize its students’ safety.
Liberty University faces record fines due to misconduct and failure to prioritize its students’ safety.
On Wednesday, the federal Department of Education issued the Christian evangelical college a $14 million fine. Universities are required by law to support victims of violence and abuse of any kind. However, students who have attempted to report these crimes have been “punished for violating the student code of conduct, while their assailants were left unpunished.”
Former Liberty University student Elizabeth Axley says that “the government’s findings against Liberty feel so validating and surreal.” When she previously reported an incident of rape, the university threatened her with harsh punishment. Additionally, a resident adviser suggested that Axley “pray instead.”
Axley and other survivors have been accused of breaking Liberty University’s strict “moral code,” prohibiting premarital sex and known widely as “The Liberty Way.” Many students who have experienced traumatic abuse feel as though the college supports silence and suppression over truth.
The $14 million fine is equivalent to more than double the amount paid by Michigan State University for its negligence in protecting hundreds of women from Larry Nassar’s abuse. In addition to these financial consequences, Liberty faces two years of federal oversight.
In response to the Department of Education’s decision, Liberty University admitted to “mistakes” and agreed to spend $2 million in order to improve safety measures on its campus. Still, the university maintains that it “faced unfair treatment.”
Over 22 women have come forward over the course of the recent investigation against Liberty University. The Department of Education is currently in the final stages of redefining Title IX laws in order to implement stronger protection against sexual abuse on college campuses.
“After I first fought to stand up for myself at Liberty, I was silenced. I didn’t feel hopeful. It took everything for me to stand up to tell my story again and hope it turned out right. This reminds me it was completely worth it,” Elizabeth Axley said in a statement.
Authors: Andy Goldwasser and Alexis Kabat
