Why the Liberty Univ. Commencement Matters

Colleges typically use commencement ceremonies as a chance to showcase their academic bona fides by inviting well-known thought leaders and nationally known politicians to speak. But Liberty has never pretended to be an academic powerhouse. So they passed over the stuffy elites and invited well-known conservative celebrities instead. Beyond creating a fun PR storyline, their choice of convocation speakers matters. After a year in which presidential candidates all paid homage to Liberty’s students, this ceremony solidifies their place as a leader atop the conservative populism movement that’s sweeping the nation.