A Note from the Chancellor

It’s 2011, and Liberty University is celebrating 40 years of Training Champions for Christ, and embarking upon a New Era of Christian Commitment. We are opening a Liberty Museum, and want alumni and anyone else from the Liberty community to have a chance to be involved.

If you have any Liberty memorabilia that you would be willing to donate or loan to the museum for the 40th anniversary celebration, please email Paula Johnson at poldham71@gmail.com or call her at (434) 944-0426. Items can be dropped off with Paula Johnson’s name attached at the Jerry Falwell Museum (located in the DeMoss Hall Grand Atrium) or at the Carter Glass mansion. Email or call Paula if you wish to ship an item.

When submitting items, please include your name and contact information so that we can properly inventory the item or items, and so we can credit your donations or loans to your name.

Liberty is starting a scholarship fund for students who have lost a parent during their time at the university. Losing a parent or another family member who serves as a main provider makes continuing education very difficult for such a student. Watch your mailbox for information that will be arriving in the coming weeks. Please join us as we give to provide for students in need.

Do you have any memorabilia that reminds you of your time at Liberty? Tell us what it is on the Alumni Relations Facebook page.

Connect with local alumni on Facebook! This year we have added three new Liberty University Alumni chapters. Check out their Facebook pages to fellowship, network and reminisce with Liberty alumni in your area.

• Columbia, S.C. — Chapter Leader: Michael Shanlian
• Toronto, Canada — Chapter Leader: Jeff Smyth
• Grand Junction, Colo. — Chapter Leader: Lawrence Howell

Truth is not always welcomed or popular. Instead, truth is often met with controversy. For alumna Merisa Davis (’86, ’08), it was the truth that her cousin Bill Cosby shared during the 50th celebration of Brown vs. the Board of Education, that was clouded by controversy and by what Davis deems as denial.

“[Cosby] had a lot to say about the state of education and Black America,” said Davis. “His speech was in defense of the traditional black family, and I just couldn’t understand what all the fury was about, and I had a problem with it.”

Her book, Bill Cosby IS Right: But What Should the Church Be Doing about It?, has recently been receiving attention in multiple forums; she has been invited to conduct book discussions and signings at various colleges, asked to speak at women’s conferences and interviewed on television and radio shows. In honor of Black History Month, the 700 Club aired footage of her book release party on Feb. 14.

Davis, who studied journalism and television broadcasting at Liberty University, knew that she couldn’t stand by silently amid the soaring school dropout and incarceration rates among the black community.

During one of her seminary classes she took through Liberty’s satellite campus in Georgia, nearly two decades after earning her B.S. in Communication Studies from Liberty, Davis began to share her response to Cosby’s speech. One of her professors challenged her to put her words on the page.

Three years later, Davis released Bill Cosby IS Right: But What Should the Church Be Doing about It?, which challenges the local church to join Cosby’s stand in support of the traditional black family.

“I am calling for a new civil rights movement,” she said. “We have overcome a lot [of challenges], but what is the use of overcoming something if you are broke, busted, and disgusted? We have got to get ourselves together.”

Davis is one of five children in her family, all of whom attended Liberty, and as such, she is a proponent for alumni investing in the future of the university.

“I give back to Liberty, because I love what it did in my life,” she said. “And I care about what goes on there on Liberty Mountain. My heart is there.”

Davis actively serves on the on the Multicultural Advisory Board (MAB) for the Center for Multicultural Enrichment (Center4Me) at Liberty, which serves as an advocate for minority students and seeks to celebrate cultural diversity by offering experiential and educational opportunities to all students.

“Merisa’s involvement on the Multicultural Advisory Board (MAB) has been invaluable,” said Dr. Melany Pearl, Director of the Center4Me. “Everything, from her frequent campus visits to facilitating discussions with other alumni, has benefitted current Liberty students.”

As part of the MAB, Davis is a member of the Campus Involvement Committee, which encourages mentoring and networking relationships among alumni and students, and secures campus speakers who support the mission of the Center4Me.

“Merisa should inspire all alumni that remaining involved with your alma mater produces good fruit,” said Pearl. “She is an example of an involved alumnus whose input has been instrumental to ministering to current students.”

On Feb. 8, Davis conducted a book signing at the Liberty University Bookstore and led a follow-up discussion in DeMoss Hall. She will be on Liberty’s campus for other Black History Month events hosted by the Center4ME.

Alumnus Josh Cox (’98) has great reason to celebrate. On Sunday, Jan. 16, Cox became the first American male ever to win the P.F. Chang's Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon. He then proceeded through the finish line, and continued to run for a little more than four miles more to break his own American 50k record — within seven seconds of the 50k world record. For more on Cox and his record, visit www.libertyflames.com.

Liberty University’s Center for Multicultural Enrichment (Center4ME), which seeks to unify the various cultural and ethnic populations of the Liberty student body, is introducing the Dr. Allen R. McFarland Award of Excellence. This award, in honor of the alumnus and Board of Trustees member Dr. Allen R. McFarland, will go to an alumnus who is an ethnic minority; graduated with a bachelor’s degree or higher from Liberty University; demonstrates excellence in leadership, integrity and service; and leads a life of biblical integrity, professionalism, spiritual leadership and service to family, church and community. Please prayerfully consider nominating someone for this distinguished honor. To nominate someone, visit this website by April 9th. For more information, contact center4me@liberty.edu.

Advice from Liberty Mutual

From roofing to flooring, “eco-friendly” materials and devices can help you save money when you’re maintaining, repairing or improving your home. Even better, they help save the environment. Join the Green Revolution and consider these simple ways to conserve energy and other natural resources:

• Use impact-resistant roof shingles made from asphalt, metal or simulated tile. They deflect hail, wind and fire better than asphalt and keep roofing material out of landfills.
• Replace appliances more than ten years old with energy-efficient models, which could save you hundreds of dollars a year according to the EPA.
• Install low-flow showerheads and toilets to conserve water.
• Exchange your most-used lighting fixtures for Energy Star models to help reduce greenhouse gases.
• Switch to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, each of which can save more than $30 per year in electricity costs compared to a conventional incandescent bulb.
• Substitute recycled plastic lumber for concrete, wood and metal in decks, fences, swing sets and landscaping.
• When you build or renovate, choose renewable flooring materials, such as bamboo, cork, reclaimed glass and salvaged wood.
• Lay carpeting made from natural, organic or fair-trade fibers that are friendly to the environment and hypo-allergenic.