Kevin Roose's Blog, page 2

Reflections on a fake graduation (Plus: More thoughts on the LU Dems situation)

Last weekend, I took part in the 241st commencement at Brown University.  It was a lovely, joy-filled ceremony, and I was glad to be allowed to walk with my friends in the class of ‘09, despite the fact that I won’t be officially graduating until December.  Still, after donning my cap and gown and passing through the Van Wickle Gates, I can now say that I’m a fake-graduate of Brown (or what my friend called an “alumnot”).

As I sat in the pews of the First Baptist Church in America – a nod to Brow

Liberty's Democrat Problem — And What It Means

(Cross-posted from the Huffington Post.  Regular blog readers, sorry for all the basic background stuff in here.  I'll be posting some other thoughts on the controversy later today, including actionable tips for the College Dems and more of my own views on the kerfuffle.)

Last week, Liberty University made the national news when, while implementing a new funding scheme for student organizations, it revoked approval for the campus Democratic organization.

Liberty's College Democrats club - the firs

Liberty’s Democrat Problem — And What It Means

(Cross-posted from the Huffington Post.  Regular blog readers, sorry for all the basic background stuff in here.  I’ll be posting some other thoughts on the controversy later today, including actionable tips for the College Dems and more of my own views on the kerfuffle.)

Last week, Liberty University made the national news when, while implementing a new funding scheme for student organizations, it revoked approval for the campus Democratic organization.

Liberty’s College Democrats club - the firs

Book Tour News: Harvard Coop (PLUS: Media Update)

I’m happy to announce that my book tour – my relatively-short-but-just-a-little-soul-deadening book tour – is coming to an end this week, after a final stop at Harvard.  I’ll be speaking at The Coop at 7 PM tomorrow (Wednesday), and would love to see some Boston-area readers there.  Directions are here.

Some highlights from the tour:

In Lynchburg, Virginia, getting to catch up with a bunch of my Liberty friends and professors, some of whom I hadn’t seen in many months.  And all of whom, luckily, w

Stop me if you've heard this before…

Surprises from Liberty University: What I Learned as an Undercover Evangelical

[Cross-posted from The Huffington Post]

When I stepped on to the campus of Liberty University for my first day as a new transfer student, I thought I knew what I was getting myself into.

I knew that Liberty was a Christian college in Lynchburg, Virginia, founded in 1971 by the late Reverend Jerry Falwell to train "Champions for Christ." I knew it had required courses in Creationist Biology and Evangelism 101, a student b

Stop me if you’ve heard this before…

Surprises from Liberty University: What I Learned as an Undercover Evangelical

[Cross-posted from The Huffington Post]

When I stepped on to the campus of Liberty University for my first day as a new transfer student, I thought I knew what I was getting myself into.

I knew that Liberty was a Christian college in Lynchburg, Virginia, founded in 1971 by the late Reverend Jerry Falwell to train “Champions for Christ.” I knew it had required courses in Creationist Biology and Evangelism 101, a student b

Jerry's Kids: Lara Patterson

Meet Lara Patterson, this week's "Jerry's Kid."  She's from Ohio, likes Death Cab and John Mayer, and works as a writing tutor on campus.  She also lists her Religious Views on Facebook as "YHWH – Shalom," which is confusing, because she's not Jewish.  Regardless, Lara's views on life and doubt at Liberty are well worth hearing. To meet the the two previous "Jerry's Kids," click here and here.

Name: Lara Patterson

Class year: Senior

Major: Biblical Studies with a Youth Ministry minor

What's your

Jerry’s Kids: Lara Patterson

Meet Lara Patterson, this week’s “Jerry’s Kid.”  She’s from Ohio, likes Death Cab and John Mayer, and works as a writing tutor on campus.  She also lists her Religious Views on Facebook as “YHWH – Shalom,” which is confusing, because she’s not Jewish.  Regardless, Lara’s views on life and doubt at Liberty are well worth hearing. To meet the the two previous “Jerry’s Kids,” click here and here.

Name: Lara Patterson

Class year: Senior

Major: Biblical Studies with a Youth Ministry minor

What’s your

The State of Liberty U.

On a tip from a few Twitter followers, I just watched Liberty chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr.’s “State of the University” address from Wednesday’s convocation.  A few things stuck out:

The lead-in to Chancellor Falwell’s address was a ten-minute sit-down chat with Carrie Prejean, aka Miss California, the beauty queen and Perez nemesis who has become an anti-gay-marriage icon of late.  It’s a funny, slightly bizarre conversation, especially the part where Miss California gets cat-called by an arena f

Jerry's Kids: Meet Dane Pascoe

Back in February, I announced a new blog series, called "Jerry's Kids," in which I'd be interviewing students, faculty, and alumni of Liberty University "every Monday or so."  Ha.   Anyway, I'm continuing the series this week with a Liberty student who is a little less iconoclastic than the last one I interviewed.  He signs his notes, "For the KING," and has Philippians 3:10 ( "I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead") as his e-mail signature.  He comes