George Mason High School Principal Bob Snee along with a number of parents in the community, have once again petitioned the Virginia High School League (VHSL) to change its state basketball tournament from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, to another site.

As a result of remarks made by Liberty University founder and chancellor Jerry Falwell, a number of individuals have told the VHSL that Liberty University is not an appropriate venue for the championship tournament for Virginia’s public schools.

During a conversation with Pat Robertson on the "700 Club," Falwell commented that liberal civil rights groups, homosexuals and abortion-rights supporters were partly responsible for the September 11 terrorist attacks. Falwell has since apologized for his remarks.

Snee made a formal request that "any and all VHSL events scheduled for Liberty University be moved to other sites." This is not the first time Snee has requested a venue change. Last year, before Mason’s boys’ basketball team was to play in the championship tournament, Snee made a similar request. That request was based on remarks made by Falwell that Snee felt were offensive to Muslims.

VHSL director Ken Tilley wrote to Snee that "The VHSL Executive Committee has directed our staff to explore other options, which we are in process of doing, but we also have a contract in basketball and there may not be other sites available."

Right now, the state basketball semifinals and finals for boys’ teams and Group AAA girls’ teams are scheduled for March 14-16 at Liberty.