Liberty University announced Monday that it has named its president, Rev. Jerry Prevo, has been named acting president of the university after former president Jerry Falwell Jr. was placed on indefinite leave.
The Lynchburg, USA-based school stated in its statement that Prevo has served on its board of trustees since 1996 and as chairman in 2003.
“I want to thank my fellow board members for the confidence that I could be given the responsibility of serving as acting president during this time of Jerry Falwell, Jr.’s indefinite leave of absence,” Prevo said in a statement. “Please pray for us as the Falwell family as we begin our academic year and so may we remain united in our common goal and our faith in Christ.”
Prevo is expected to take over the role immediately, as classes will begin in two weeks.
Falwell, a prominent supporter of President Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump suggests some states ‘can pay nothing’ as part of Trump’s unemployment plan denies White House asked about adding him to Mount Rushmore Trump, US face pivotal UN vote on Iran MAY, recently made headlines and drew hard backs from conservatives after he posted a photo on Instagram showing him and a woman on a yacht wearing both pants that were unzipped.
The image was deleted shortly thereafter, and Falwell apologized, claiming that the image was “just for fun.”
However, Falwell faced calls for resignation following his apology, and his farewell was announced on Friday.
It marked just the latest controversy for Falwell, which declined at the start of the coronavirus pandemic for 11 waits after a state of emergency in Virginia was declared to move classes of freedom online. Students were still allowed to remain on campus at the time and use the dining halls, raising concerns for the safety of students and faculty.
Falwell also led backlash by tweeting that he would refuse to wear a mask during the pandemic until there were masks with the infamous image from Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) yearbook depicting one man in blackface and another in Ku Klux Klan regalia. Falwell also had apologies for that incident, but two of the university’s Black footballers said they intended to make it over.
In September, Politico published a damning exposition on Falwell’s leadership of the Evangelical University, founded by his father, detailing a “culture of fear and self-treatment.” Falwell denied the allegations in the report, telling The Hill that the FBI intended to investigate the “criminal conspiracy” behind it.
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