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Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. set off controversy last week (and has since attracted widespread praise at his institution and among conservatives) for urging his students to carry concealed weapons, in part so they could defend themselves against Muslims. He clarified that he was referring to Muslims who are like those who have engaged in terrorist acts, and not all Muslims. Falwell is not only defending his comments, but building on them. He announced Wednesday that Liberty is loosening its remaining rules on guns, and will now allow them in residence halls.
On Wednesday, however, another president of a Christian college weighed in on these issues. Loren Swartzendruber of Eastern Mennonite University published an essay in which he said, "The attacks in Paris, recent violent attacks in South Carolina and California in the United States, expressed hatred towards immigrants, and now the sight of another Christian university president urging, in fact condoning, acts of violence to his student body -- I feel an obligation to publicly enter this conversation." He announced a series of plans, such as promoting "peace-building efforts," and promoting Christian-Muslim dialogue.
Eastern Mennonite, in Virginia, bans weapons from campus.
