Liberty University students in Lynchburg, Va., were required to attend climate change denier Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's presidential announcement; otherwise, they would be fined $10, PolitiFact confirmed.
As stipulated in the Liberty University student handbook, students who skip a Convocation event will be fined $10.
Liberty University has a resident student body of about 13,500 but Cruz's speech reportedly attracted only 11,000 students. It does not mean, however, that 2,500 students got fined because the rule is enforced only for students who live on campus.
On March 23, Monday, morning, Cruz became the first Republican candidate to declare himself officially in the 2016 presidential race in the United States.
In his speech, Cruz linked his immigrant father's determination with the founding fathers' resolve and his own faith in "the promise of America." As he laid out a case for his presidential candidacy, he talked about his family and his faith in detail, the New York Times has learned.
"God's blessing has been on America from the very beginning of this nation," Cruz told thousands of cheering Liberty University students. "And I believe God isn't done with America yet. I believe in you. I believe in the power of millions of courageous conservatives rising up to re-ignite the promise of America."
Right after announcing that he is running for president of the U.S., Cruz said it is a time for truth, liberty, reclamation of the U.S. Constitution.
A first-term senator, the climate denier is regarded by Republicans and Democrats as a divisive figure in Washington.