Cruz 1 -- Liberty 0
Students At Liberty University Forced To Attend Cruz Speech, Faced Fine For Skipping
MARCH 24, 2015 8:44 AM
When Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) spoke in front of students at Liberty University to announce his presidential campaign he had a full house. However, as it turns out, it was a full house because all students were required to attend or they faced a consequence.
The University is a Christian school and Convocation is required for all students to attend every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. According to the school’s “Campus Living Guide“:
“Convocation is an assembly of the University community and its purpose is to develop campus unity, disseminate information, and challenge students spiritually, socially, morally and intellectually. Convocation provides forums for the social and political issues of the day, as well as educational topics of diverse interest for the benefit of students, faculty, and staff. Guest speakers from the world of business, politics, education, religion, and the sciences also help to make Convocation a refreshing and challenging time.
All students are required to attend Convocation on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This includes all resident students, commuters, undergraduates, graduate and seminary students. Failure to attend Convocation without proper approval will result in the issuance of four points. Resident must check in with their Resident Assistants upon arrival and sit in their assigned section in order to be counted as present. Failure to attend will result in the issuance of four points.”
So basically, the kids were going to be there no matter what, which definitely explains why there were so many Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) supporters in attendance trolling Cruz wearing “I Stand With Rand” shirts.
They even appeared in the camera shot while Cruz was making his announcement.
Well that certainly doesn’t look too promising for the Canadian Texas junior senator and his hopes for the young vote.
Some took to Facebook to voice their discontent about Cruz using the Convocation as a means to have bodies in seats to look like he is actually well-liked. Jessica Kramer, who is actually a Rand Paul supporter shared this:
Good point made by a fellow Liberty student:
“I strongly object to Senator Cruz’s choice of venue for the announcement of his 2016 presidential bid: as is well-known by Liberty University students but considerably less well-known by the general public, all students are required to attend convocation every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Sen. Cruz is a friend of the Liberty University administration and has spoken at convocation in the past. As such, he knows that all students are required to be in attendance. I bear no ill will toward Sen. Cruz, but his choice to announce his 2016 presidential bid at convocation at Liberty University is a starkly deceptive one. Should the general public be unaware that all students are required to attend convocation, it would seem to the average viewer (as this will be televised and is already being widely publicized) that 10,000 supporters came to Liberty University to hear Sen. Cruz’s announcement. However, every student in attendance has no say in the matter. Students will either attend convocation and lend to the illusion of widespread support for Sen. Cruz, or they will be subject to administrative punishment–specifically, four reprimands and a $10 fine–if they are absent. While Sen. Cruz has every right to run for president and to announce his candidacy, it is a highly deceptive, albeit politically savvy, move on Sen. Cruz’s part to make his big announcement here. I do not support this action, and I am not alone in my belief that such deception is wrong.”
Ted Cruz highly deceptive and politically savvy? Noooo, say it isn’t so. (sarcasm) That’s pretty much the only thing he’s good at in Washington DC. Well that, and reading Dr. Seuss on the Senate floor.
So basically, Cruz and his campaign knew this would be a packed audience no matter what and took full advantage of the students’ disadvantage and inability to escape or avoid his nonsense.
Well played? Or just kinda sad?
ED: This is going to be just too good...
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