This Is Liberty?

Campus Democrats are punished for supporting Democrats.

YOU CAN be a Democrat at Liberty University as long as you don't support Barack Obama. Or Virginia Rep. Tom Perriello. Or any other candidate who so much as hints at supporting abortion rights or same-sex marriage. That, at least, seems to be the message Liberty University sent when it withdrew its recognition of the campus Democratic group as an official club. The students' offense was not that they spoke out in favor of abortion or gay marriage but that they supported candidates who do. Liberty is a vibrant, diverse school of 11,500 residential students; it's too bad its administrators appear to have so little tolerance for political diversity.

The university recognized the club in October with the understanding that members wouldn't support gay marriage or abortion. "In fact," said Mathew D. Staver, dean of the university's school of law, "they did not live up to their statements." Mr. Staver acknowledged to us that club members never vocalized support for abortion or gay rights. Rather, he said, they were "advocating positions for individual candidates that clearly promoted abortion." Mr. Staver emphasized that campus Democrats won't face sanctions and will still be able to meet on campus; they just won't be able to use the university's name or receive school funds.

Student Brian Diaz, president of the campus Democrats, counters that the club's constitution, which he says was approved by the university, gave members the latitude to endorse candidates. (The campus Republicans also make endorsements.) He added that most of the club's members oppose both abortion and gay marriage and that they were planning to organize anti-abortion events for the next school year. Mr. Diaz told us that he personally believes abortion is a "great travesty" but said that his club is willing to endorse politicians, such as Mr. Obama, who support Roe v. Wade but are working to reduce the number of abortions.

Mr. Diaz's explanation is as reasonable as the university's handling of the situation is not. Why recognize a club for campus Democrats but not allow it to actually support Democrats, including the president of the United States? Universities should facilitate healthy exchanges of ideas, not fear them.