Student president says most at Liberty University will vote for Trump despite petition

Jardine Malado Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Liberty University students and supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wear letters spelling his name before his speech at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, January 18, 2016. | REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

Student body president Jack Heaphy issued a statement saying that many students are supportive of Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr.'s decision to continue endorsing Donald Trump despite the allegations of sexual misconduct against the candidate.

A group of students from Liberty Universtiy launched a petition last week to protest Falwell's support for Trump. They voiced out their concern that through his endorsement, Falwell is linking the name of the university to the Republican candidate.

Around 2,500 people have signed the petition, according to the Huffington Post. As many as 1,100 petitioners have verified Liberty University email addresses.

In response, Falwell stated that he always makes an effort to clarify to the media that he does not speak for the students or the faculty when he declared his support for Trump. He also noted that the group that started the petition was "led by a never Trump activist" and many of the signatories are not students of the school.

Heaphy said that majority of the students agree with Falwell's endorsement but they are not following him blindly. He explained that most of those who support Trump are more concerned about the dangers of electing Hillary Clinton as president.

"A Clinton presidency holds the prospect of a further decline in the social and moral fabric of our nation. This is evident by her views on abortion, traditional family values, and the other critical issues most important to evangelical Christians," Heaphy wrote in a statement.

It has been noted in the petition against Falwell that the Republican candidate only received 90 votes from the students during the primary elections. Heaphy himself supported Florida Sen. Marco Rubio before Trump became the nominee.

"While I vehemently disagree with many of the things Trump has said and done, I also realize that Hillary Clinton is no better," he told TheBlaze. "In reality, she is the most morally corrupt candidate in U.S. history and would stand against many of the principles evangelicals hold dearly," he added.