Students For Liberty

Tags: Conferences, liberty, Regional Conferences, SFL, Students For Liberty

Our Canadian friends at the Institute for Liberal Studies will be hosting their famous Liberty Summer Seminar on July 25th and 26th.  The Liberty Summer Seminar is commonly referred to as Libertystock, a gathering of liberty-minded friends from all over the world in bucolic Orono, Ontario.  I had the privilege of attending this event last year and highly recommend it.

The cornerstone of the Liberty Summer Seminar experience is the lectures delivered by leading experts from academia and public policy. Grounded in philosophy, economics, history and public policy these talks have one thing in common, they are grounded in the classical liberal values of freedom, justice, individuality and democracy. In between lectures participants will have ample opportunity to chat with fellow participants and engage in challenging conversations on the topics being discussed.

More information can be found on their website:  http://www.liberalstudies.ca/events/.

Tags: canada, liberty, seminar

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

You’ve Learned Their Rules, Now Learn Your Rights!

Anyone who has been through freshman orientation knows what a brainwashing experience it can be. Administrators and counselors spend days lecturing incoming students on what they cannot say on campus, what the campus police are allowed to do at their whim, and the many ways that students are supposed to conform to the university’s will.

We students who believe in liberty, though, think freshmen need to hear the other side of the story.  Students need to know that the US Constitution gives them rights that do not end at the entryway to the ivory tower, that freedom of speech is paramount in higher education and there are limits to police power.  That is why SFL will be sponsoring the first ever Students Rights Week.  We invite all pro-liberty student groups across the country to join us in this important venture to make known what rights students have on campus.

We will provide the materials. You put them in the hands of students at your university by flyering the campus, setting up a table in the public square, bringing in a speaker, and hosting a movie night. Available resources include:

• Pocket Constitutions
• Fliers, sign-up sheets, and other marketing materials
• A DVD of Indoctrinate U for movie night
• Free Indoctrinate U t-shirts
• Free books and information from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
• A Students Rights Week “How To” guide
• A list of available speakers who specialize in free speech and student rights

Students Rights Week will be the first week of school on every campus, ideally after new student orientation has occurred. The motto is “You’ve learned their rules, now learn your rights!” Not only is this a chance to educate your campus about students rights, but it is an opportunity to spread word about your organization and recruit new members.

Click here to learn more.

If you are interested in joining students across the U.S. by hosting a Students Rights Week on your campus, email Clark Ruper at cruper@studentsforliberty.org.

Tags: FIRE, Free Speech, Indoctrinate U, libertarian, liberty, Students For Liberty, Students Rights Week

Last week, John Stossel held a live chat on The Agitator, a blog run by Reason writer Radley Balko (who spoke at the 2009 International Students For Liberty Conference this past February).  You can read the full chat here.  During the chat, someone asked Stossel whether he thinks college students are becoming more libertarian, to which Stossel cited Students For Liberty as evidence of the strength of the pro-liberty student movement.  Here’s the exchange:

The specific event that Stossel refers to was called the Liberty Forum held at Drexel University by the Drexel Student Liberty Front, one of Students For Liberty’s affiliate groups.  I showed up there to sign up new members and promote Students For Liberty.  My favorite part of the night was in the opening of Stossel’s speech where he said something to the effect of: “Students For Liberty… who are you?  No one believes in liberty today.”

I think Stossel is right.  We are at a tipping point.  The student movement for liberty is taking off and Students For Liberty is at the head of that movement.

Northwood University recently held its 31st annual Freedom Seminar, which is just what it sounds like: a 3 day seminar that covers all issues related to liberty including history, economics, politics, and everything in between.  The Freedom Seminar was begun by Lawrence W. Reed, the current President of the Foundation for Economic Education, when he was a professor of economics at Northwood.  31 years later, Mr. Reed was invited to deliver the Keynote Address at the start of the seminar.  His speech, Lessons From History We Dare Not Ignore, presents an insightful analysis of past social dilemas, their similarity with contemporary problems, and solutions we should have learned.  (In addition to his many prestigious roles with Northwood, FEE, and the Mackinac Center, Mr. Reed is on Students For Liberty’s Board of Advisors.)

Many interesting social events around the country this week.  If you are in Minnesota, the ACLU is hosting an interesting roundtable on Tuesday.  Also Tuesday, Citizens in Charge Foundation is hosting a book release party for Grand Illusion. On Saturday a coalition of limited-government groups are hosting a BBQ in Centreville, VA.  Then of course there are the TEA Parties occurring around the country on the 4th.

1.) Oh Say Can You ACLU: The ACLU of Minnesota’s Young Professionals group will be hosting Oh Say Can You ACLU: A roundtable discussion on civil liberties Issues

• Where: The Liffey, 175 West 7TH Street, St. Paul, MN
• When: July 30, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
• Why: A Happy Hour discussion on civil liberties issues for young professionals.

2.) Grand Illusion Book Party: Citizens in Charge Foundation is hosting this book release party for Grand Illusion by Theresa Amato, the 2000 and 2004 campaign manager for Ralph Nader for President.  It offers a unique perspective at the structure of America’s two party system, and the role of third party and independent candidates.  Please RSVP to trevor@citizensincharge.org.

• Where: Busboys & Poets (Langston Room), 2021 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC
• When: Tuesday, June 30. 6:00pm - 7:00pm
• Why:  Grand Illusion explores the myth of voter choice in our two party system, a topic which is too often overlooked in our political debate.  Citizens in Charge Foundation does great work and I highly recommend getting to know them.  Plus, Busboys & Poets is a cool place to hang out and discuss the pressing issues of the day.

3.) 38th Annual Conservative Fourth of July Soirée: The Leadership Institute in conjunction with a host of limited government organizations will be hosting the annual 4th of July Soiree.

• Where: Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, VA
• When: July 4, 12:00PM - 4:30PM
• Why: The National Conservative Fourth of July Soirée is a FREE event for all guests and includes free food, notable speakers, a lively patriotic band, a petting zoo, field games for young adults, and much more.

4.) 4th of July TEA Parties: The national tea party movement is gearing up for round two with over 1,300 events planned for this Saturday.  TeaPartyDay.com is on of the many groups tracking the events all over the country.

• Where:  Everywhere, click here for a full listing of times and locations.
• When:  See the list.
• Why: The first wave of tea parties took the nation by storm.  Over half a million protesters took the streets to oppose the government’s run away spending.  The 4th of July Tea Parties will show the politicians that the public anger is not a passing fancy but real call for fiscal responsibility.

Tags: 4th of July, ACLU, libertarian, liberty, roundtable, social, social liberties, tea parties

Attention Jerseyites and Philadelphians:

The Cartel, a documentary film on the NJ public education system, is showing at two independent film festivals this week and in July (www.thecartelmovie.com). The NJ Education Department reports that almost half a million dollars is spent per classroom, but their students are still doing horribly in terms of that pesky little thing called literacy.

I think it would be really awesome to just check out the film, especially because I just spent this year working with DC public school kids, and I’ve seen how badly our public schools operate. I hope some of you are available to check out the film either June 27 in Philly or July 8^th in Jersey! For a complete schedule, check out this link:http://www.bowdonmedia.com/doc/web/festivals.html.

Yours in Liberty,

Sloane

• Where: Marvin’s bar rooftop deck at 2007 14th Street NW , one block west of the U Street Cardozo Metro Stop on the Green Line
• When: Wednesday, July 24th from 6:00pm until whenever
• Why: Reason is famous for throwing some of the best parties around, and Marvin’s has a great selection of Belgian beers on tap.  Also free Reason swag if you arrive early.

• Where: Chris and Mary Siddall’s house, 1314 Wallach Place, NW
• When: Thursday, July 25 from 6:00 - 8:00pm
• Why: AFF is the networking organization for the next generation of classical liberal leaders.  Their roundtable discussions and happy hours are top notch, come with business cards in hand, ready to network.

Philadelphia has a vibrant community of students dedicated to liberty.  Not only do groups exist at Penn, Drexel and Temple, but the groups have formed a coalition called the Philadelphia Forum for Freedom to support one another and the student movement for liberty in the city.  So to me, it’s no surprise that the Motorhome Diaries Meet-Up was dominated by students.  Leaders of the Drexel Student Liberty Front and Penn Libertarian Association were interviewed:

I am very biased of course, not just because Michelle gave me a shout out in the video, but because I am from Philly and was involved in getting the PFF off the ground.  However, I am constantly blown away by how successful these groups have been and think that the PFF is the kind of inter-university collaboration that we should try to replicate around the country.

Side note: Aaron Moyer was SFL’s first Student of the Year, receiving the award in February at the Second Annual International Students For Liberty Conference.