Liberty University, the conservative Christian school founded by anti-LGBTQ activist Jerry Falwell, is opening its campus this week to thousands of students, faculty, staff, prospective students, families, and anyone doing business with the school.
University President Jerry Falwell Jr. defended the decision by saying that Donald Trump will handle the coronavirus pandemic like “a successful CEO.”
Related: Shocking expose of Jerry Falwell, Jr. reveals ‘sexual sins’ & shady finances at Liberty University
An announcement on Liberty University’s website says that the campus was opened this past Monday, despite an order from the governor of Virginia to limit gatherings to 100 people. Around 250 cases of coronavirus have been documented in the counties surrounding the university and seven people have died so far.
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The school’s dorms, cafeterias, library, and recreational facilities will also be open, although the website says that there’s a limit on the number of people who can use those facilities at once.
Most classes have moved online, too, but professors will be required to hold office hours with students who are living in tight quarters with each other.
“I think we, in a way, are protecting the students by having them on campus together,” Falwell told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. “Ninety-nine percent of them are not at the age to be at risk and they don’t have conditions that put them at risk.”
On Twitter, Falwell was responding to criticism by saying that Trump will handle the current pandemic better than former President Barack Obama handled the 2009 swine flu, which the CDC estimated killed around 12,000 people in the U.S. For perspective, the CDC estimate that the flu kills between 20,000 and 60,000 people each year.
“My then 20 year old son almost lost his life to the Swine Flu in 2009 because of the poor response of Barack Obama,” Falwell, who was one of Trump’s first prominent evangelical supporters, wrote on Twitter.
“Thank God Donald Trump is managing this Corona Flu like you would expect from a successful CEO v a career politician!” he wrote, referring to coronavirus as “Corona Flu” even though it is not a form of influenza.
My then 20 year old son almost lost his life to the Swine Flu in 2009 because of the poor response of @BarackObama . Thank God @realDonaldTrump is managing this Corona Flu like you would expect from a successful CEO v a career politician!
— Jerry Falwell (@JerryFalwellJr) March 21, 2020
In another tweet, Falwell said that the coronavirus had not spread that far as of March 12, 2020, which was almost two weeks ago.
“Difference: Barack Obama was [president] in 2009 so media & liberal govs didn’t destroy the US economy,” he wrote.
. @Reuters archive 2/12/2010: 60 million cases of Swine Flu 300,000 hospitalized 17,000 died mostly young & kids-all in US! Corona Flu-not even 300,000 cases worldwide as of 3/12/20. Difference: @BarackObama was POTUS in 2009 so media & liberal govs didn’t destroy the US economy
— Jerry Falwell (@JerryFalwellJr) March 21, 2020
In order to protect students, Liberty University’s website says that it will put up ““No Trespassing” signs at entries to limit people on campus to “students, employees, prospective students and their families, as well as those doing business with the university.”
On the website, Falwell claims that the mayor of Lynchberg, Virginia – where the university is located – “thanked us for making that decision” to re-open.
