Category Archives: Liberal

Liberals want to explain away the views of people in places like Door County, Wisconsin. They do so at their peril.

A short time after Donald Trump was elected president, the political scientist Katherine Cramer, who had just published a wonderful book about rural and small-town Wisconsin, had this warning: The last thing many people want to do in the near future, she said, is listen more closely to Trump voters in the heartland of America. But it is clear that our failure to do so has left us blindsided.

Judging by their reactions to a recent Washington Post story about politics in rural Wisconsin Door County, when it comes to liberals and presidential elections, warning ignored.

It feels way too much like 2016 all over again.

Liberals are doing many of the same old things that misled them in the past by dismissing and diminishing the words of ordinary people and substituting their own sophisticated explanations instead because theirs is, well, right.

But this is not about being right, really.

Its really about, oh, maybe close to half of America thinking liberals are wrong or not thinking about these things at all.

Its the intelligent high-knowledge liberal flyers versus the low information little people who dont really know whats going on and are being deceived.

Another interpretation is that many liberals are deceiving themselves.

Lay your right hand down palms up. Door County, Wisconsin is the thumb. Its a small-town and rural place (population slightly over 30,000), the kind of place that the media often ignores or misunderstands.

Heres the key. Its one of only nine counties in the U.S. that have voted in favor of the winning presidential candidate in every election since 2000.

The article brings to life what many surveys show: that voters are depressed by politics right now. They dont much like either Trump or Biden (for different reasons.) They wish they could escape from politics, make it all go away, because politics feels so depressing, discouraging and intrusive.

Most important of all, the reporters let the people they interviewed speak for themselves their words, their own interpretations. So, most of it is plainspoken and specific, ordinary language.

If you dont like the message, blame the messenger. Thats what some of the articles commentator-critics do. Why does the Post continue to choose low information voters? one critic asks. Try interviewing people who know the facts and understand that we are sliding toward fascism with Trump. You are doing a great disservice to this country with articles like this.

Disservice? Really? Doing what that commentator wants would probably create a story closer to what liberals believe. But considering what we know about voter psychology and more significantly what we know about Trump support, a story cleansed of low information voters, which by the way here sounds like a stigmatizing term, would simply reinforce liberal beliefs, and deceive them about the strengths of those who believe something else.

Simple reminders: (1) Voters dont have to take a civics test to vote. (2) Calling someone stupid for having different political beliefs is not going to make that person change her mind.

Another dismissal is about race. I visited Door County, a reader commented. Its beautiful up there. The people are nice. But its as white as Wonder Bread. Im not sure whats revealed by interviewing people in places like this.

Whats revealed is how people in a rare, swing county interpret politics. The article is about how people in a swing county think.

The more complex version of this criticism doesnt ask for a rewrite but rather a reinterpretation. If you read the piece closely, this argument goes, you can see all the bad things that Republicans have done to make people think the way Door County folks do.

Useful under some circumstances but not relevant here because the outside reader is connecting the dots in ways that people in Door County dont think about.

These liberal responses to the Door County article reinforce a fantasy world.

That broader story is one that I would likely agree with, but not the point here. Its not about what Republicans do. Its about how certain voters think.

The broader analysis might add a layer to what the Door County people themselves say, but it does not replace their views or diminish their importance. Its pundit-splaining.

These liberal responses to the Door County article reinforce a fantasy world. It exaggerates the liberal critics rationality and at the same time decreases their understanding. In other words, the critics are in a bubble.

Thats perfectly understandable. We are all in our own bubbles. The people we trust, the sources of information we accept and reject, and the values we believe in they all constitute our own bubbles of trust and information.

That sustains us and at the same time limits us because there are times people, in this case liberals, have to bust out of the bubble in order to get the world they want. Like now.

Cramer in her 2016 book The Politics of Resentment, which remains the best book about rural Trump voters, says: The conclusion that people vote the way they do because they are stupid is itself pretty shallow.

It overlooks that much of political understanding is not about facts; it is about how we see those facts.

Keep that in mind when you wonder why so many voters dont seem impressed by Bidens economic policies.

In a close election like 2024 is likely to be, changing relatively few minds can make the difference. But even that is tremendously hard. Its much easier and very tempting to write the whole thing off, as in we are screwed. Who can do anything about those crazy Trump supporters?

I feel your pain, and I feel your polarization. But maybe looking at Door and the rest of those few swing counties offers some encouragement to us sophisticated big city liberals about how minds and election results change.

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Neal Milner: Watch That Swinging Door, Liberals, Lest It Hit You On The Way Out - Honolulu Civil Beat

Cultural socialism and its accompanying religion of woke are geared toward engineering equal outcomes and emotional harm protection for historically disadvantaged race, gender, and sexual identity groups. This ideology has been tearing through Western culture at a breakneck pace.

Are we in the midst of an insignificant culture war between pointy-headed obsessives? No. As the classical liberal authors of two new books painfully explain, woke ideology threatens the freedoms we hold dear. More than this, it represents an attack on equal rights, truth-based institutions, and social cohesion that hampers our response to material issues such as health, social mobility, and crime.

Since Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidts 2015articleand 2018 bookThe Coddling of the American Mind, important new literature has sought to understand where this cultural tornado came from, where its going, and what to do about it. I recentlyreviewedtwo books for this publication by conservative Millennials Chris Rufo and Richard Hanania. Rufo fingered post-1960s cultural Marxism and its long march through the institutions as pivotal while Hanania pointed to the unintended evolution of civil rights law as the powerhouse behind the rise of woke. Though their diagnoses are different, both advocated using elected government to curtail the power of activist bureaucracies.

Continue reading the entire piece here at Law & Liberty

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Eric Kaufmannis professor of politics at Birkbeck College, University of London and an adjunct fellow of the Manhattan Institute.

Photo by Douglas Rissing/iStock

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The Liberal Answer to Cancel Culture - Manhattan Institute

The share of new U.S. Catholic priests identifying as theologically progressive has fallen so low that the phenomenon has all but vanished, according to a report published Tuesday.

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The 18-page report, issued Nov. 7 by The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., said that when priests were asked to describe their theological outlook on a spectrum from very conservative/orthodox to very progressive, none of those ordained after 2020 described themselves as very progressive.

The report included a graph showing that the proportion of priests who identified as somewhat progressive or very progressive fell from almost 70% among those ordained in 1965-1969 to less than 5% among those ordained in 2020 or later.

Researchers said there was a similar drift away from political liberalism and toward moderate and conservative positions.

Simply put, the portion of new priests who see themselves as politically liberal or theologically progressive has been steadily declining since the Second Vatican Council and has now all but vanished, the report said.

The report, entitled Polarization, Generational Dynamics, & the Ongoing Impact of the Abuse Crisis, presented further insights from the National Study of Catholic Priests, conducted by The Catholic Project.

The study, billed as the largest of its kind in more than 50 years, consisted of a census of bishops with 131 responses, a survey of 10,000 priests with more than 3,500 responses, and in-depth interviews with more than 100 priests.

The studys initial results were released in October 2022 in a 24-page report that highlighted a widespread lack of confidence and trust among priests in their bishops.

The authors of the new report cautioned against a simplistic interpretation of priests responses to questions seeking to gauge their theological and political outlooks.

While self-identification of this sort can give us an accurate view of how a respondent sees himself, it does not necessarily suggest an equivalence between like responses, they wrote.

For every response liberal or conservative there is always an unstated comparative element: Progressive compared to whom? Very conservative in what context?

Our data tells us much about how priests perceive themselves relative to others, but tells us nothing about what makes one consider oneself progressive, moderate, orthodox, etc.

The report also highlighted a contrast between the responses regarding political and theological outlooks. While 52% of priests surveyed described themselves as politically conservative or very conservative, 44% said they were moderate.

But the authors said that the moderate middle had collapsed when it came to theological views.

A full 85% of the youngest cohort describes itself as conservative/orthodox or very conservative/orthodox theologically, with only 14% (the smallest percentage of any cohort) describing themselves as middle-of-the-road, they said.

Theologically progressive and very progressive priests once made up 68% of new ordinands. Today, that number has dwindled almost to zero.

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The report quoted a priest as saying that what looked like a generational divide among U.S. clergy was really a theological, philosophical divide.

It said that two events had helped to shape contrasting worldviews among priests: Vatican II, the ecumenical council held in 1962-1965, and the 2002 clerical abuse crisis.

The authors wrote: We are witnessing a major shift in the way priests in the United States view themselves and their priesthood. Younger priests are much more likely than their older peers to describe themselves as politically conservative or moderate.

Younger priests are also much more likely to see themselves as theologically orthodox or conservative than do older priests. These shifts can be a source of friction and tension, especially between younger and older priests.

Self-described liberal or progressive priests, considered both politically and theologically, have been declining with every successive cohort for more than 50 years. Self-described liberal or progressive priests have all but disappeared from the youngest cohorts of priests.

The report also looked for statistical evidence of tensions between younger, more conservative priests and Pope Francis, who it described as being seen as more liberal or progressive than his immediate predecessors.

It found that older priests were more likely to say they valued being accountable to Pope Francis than younger ones. More than 80% of priests ordained before 1980 agreed with the statement, compared to 67% of those ordained since 2000.

But the reports authors said the most telling finding was that, despite younger age and ordination cohorts trending more conservative/orthodox both politically and theologically, the overwhelming majority of these youngest priests do value accountability to Pope Francis.

The authors also returned to the topic of trust between priests and bishops highlighted in the earlier publication.

They observed that trust levels varied widely across U.S. dioceses, with some dioceses doing well (100% trust) and others demonstrating trust levels as low as 9%.

They did not identify individual dioceses, but suggested that a dioceses size could affect trust levels. They noted that 55% of those surveyed expressed a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in their bishop in dioceses with fewer than 100 priests, but that proportion dropped to 38% for dioceses with more than 500 priests.

Other factors affecting trust included age, if the priest was ordained in the U.S., and whether the priests theological and political views aligned with those of his bishop.

If a priest describes himself as theologically conservative, for example, and he believes that his bishop is also theologically conservative, it is likely that he would report a high degree of trust in his bishop, the report said.

In contrast, if a priest reported that he did not align with his bishop on theological matters, he would predictably report low trust in his bishops leadership.

The report also examined priests experience of abuse, with 9% saying that they had personally experienced sexual harassment or abuse or suffered sexual misconduct during their formation or in seminary.

More than 70% said they knew at least one clerical abuse survivor and more than two-thirds said they felt reasonably well prepared to support victims.

Researchers also found that 4% of those surveyed were thinking of leaving the priesthood, for reasons including a lack of confidence in episcopal leadership and perceived or actual lack of support.

Many of these trends have been decades in the making and show little sign of reversal any time soon, the report concluded.

Building trust and restoring confidence begins with mutual understanding. It is our hope that the data presented here can strengthen that understanding among all Catholics, but particularly for our bishops and priests upon whom so much depends.

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Study: Liberal US priests facing 'progressive' extinction - The Pillar

But again, what does that actually mean? You could stop the bombing and keep the blockade, and 50,000 people in Gaza would die in the coming weeks, he said. Cease-fire is functioning as a slogan, he said, and so instead APN has called for cessation of hostilities, a release of hostages, and humanitarian aid. On Thursday, APN sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken asking that fuel in particular be allowed to be supplied via the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, since humanitarian assistance is essentially worthless without it.

In comparison to these liberal organizations, Americas leftist Jewish groups have a different message: They are calling for a cease-fire specifically. So too are Palestinian-led groups, like the Adalah Justice Project. To them, a cease-firenot a pause to bring aid in, but the cessation of hostilitiesis the only just thing to be done at this point.

If Palestinians are going to be killed by Israeli bombs, it doesnt matter how much food they have in their bellies, said Yousef Munayyer, a Palestinian American writer and analyst. More than that, the people who are arguing for a so-called humanitarian pause, whatever in the world that means, are doing so because they believe theres some kind of military solution to this.

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Liberal Jewish U.S. Groups Are Walking an Oh-So-Thin Tightrope - The New Republic

For long-term career success, research suggests students should take a cue from ancient Athenians: study the liberal arts.

A study from Georgetown Universitys Center on Education and the Workforce found that degrees from the most selective liberal arts colleges yield a long-term return on investment thats comparable to degrees from comprehensive, top-tier research universities.

The findings arent surprising to Goldman Sachs Managing Director Matt Weir, who graduated in 2003 from the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences a liberal arts college within a top-tier research universitywith an economics degree.

If I look back historically at the CEOs of Goldman, I cant think of any who majored in business or finance as undergrads. They majored in political science, English, history or economics. Our current CEO is a Hamilton College political science alum, says Weir.

The term liberal in liberal arts which has no association with a political persuasion stretches back to the democracy of ancient Athens, where seven arts were considered essential learning for a free citizen, or liberalis.These arts included disciplines as diverse as geometry, rhetoric and music.

Today, the liberal arts umbrella is vast, including disciplines in the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences such as writing, chemistry, spatial sciences, sociology and much more. This diversity of degrees and their varying career prospects means that generalizations about liberal arts majors are unreliable.

According to Research.com, the undergraduate degree that ranks fifth highest in earnings is a liberal arts degree physics. Psychology makes the eighth spot and economics the 12th. Its perhaps unsurprising then that economics and psychology are the two most popular majors at USC Dornsife. Economics has another appeal: Its also the mostcommon undergraduate degree held by the worlds billionaires.

Undergraduate degrees in liberal arts are often stepping stones to lucrative careers that require advanced degrees. For instance, a majority of physicians majored first in a liberal arts degree, such as biological sciences, before heading to medical school. And biochemists, who make a median salary topping $100,000 annually, usually start with an undergraduate biochemistry degree.

Plenty of other liberal arts degrees pack a punch. The degree held by more United States presidents than any other? History. And while one might assume that tech companies are primarily interested in engineers, theyre increasingly eager to add graduates with degrees in subjects like English or philosophy to their payroll.

The uniquely human skills polished by a well-rounded liberal arts education will make job candidates more competitive for all roles in the digital economy, says Intuits Chief Product Officer Alex Chriss in a U.S. News & World Report article.

In the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence, graduates with humanities and social sciences degrees are proving indispensable. Their deep understanding of human culture, ethics and communication is critical for developing AI that is effective, ethically sound and culturally aware.

The same depth of understanding that makes humanities graduates invaluable in AI is in demand by interactive entertainment companies such as Sucker Punch Productions.

Known for character-driven action games like the hugely popular Ghost of Tsushima, set in feudal Japan, co-founder Brian Fleming, a physics major, says Sucker Punch needs employees who can help craft complex, historically accurate worlds with rich storylines. So, his team is always looking for people with backgrounds in history, creative writing and art. In fact, about three-quarters of his employees have a background in the liberal arts.

Sam Palmer, senior manager of human capital at K1 Investment Management, says that a liberal arts background can also be key to career advancement. He speaks from personal experience.

Palmer graduated from USC Dornsife in 2015 with a degree in international relations and global business and credits the program with helping him hone essential business skills for a global market, including problem-solving and working with people from diverse backgrounds.

If you want to succeed in an executive position, that takes the kind of training you learn in the liberal arts, he explains.

Thats because liberal arts colleges help students whatever their major develop a unique set of skills highly valued by employers. The Job Outlook 2023 Survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that critical thinking and communication skills are the two most important competencies employers look for when recruiting. Problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a team are also ranked very highly.

A key value of a liberal arts education is the opportunity to develop a breadth of knowledge and depth of understanding from courses outside a students major. USC Dornsife, for instance, offers more than 90 majors and 90 minors. Many courses blend wide-ranging fields of study, like POSC 449: Political Psychology, which examines how individual and social psychology impacts politics.

This interdisciplinary learning is a hallmark of a liberal arts education, fostering a well-rounded intellectual foundation valued by many industries.

In addition to his economics degree, Goldman Sachs executive Weir says he studied philosophy and art history, all of which equipped him with skills hes still using two decades after graduation.

Through philosophy, I learned the power of outlining a paper or book to truly understand it. Thats something I do constantly in my day job when I assess the rationale behind potential investment opportunities, he explains. Philosophy also taught Weir how to think logically, which he says helped him become a much clearer thinker than he otherwise would have been.

Art history, on the other hand, allowed him to communicate ideas and make arguments using historically situated knowledge. History is so much about placing yourself in the moment of that specific point in time, says Weir. Financial markets are cyclical, he adds, which makes an understanding and appreciation of history critical to his line of work.

This capacity to contextualize history speaks to a broader value that can be found in the humanities: empathy. The ability to put yourself in someone elses shoes is one of the skills particularly common to those who study the humanities, he says. Its a skill thats vital in both the workplace and nearly every other facet of life.

In bridging the gap between historical wisdom and modern innovation, liberal arts majors are not only finding their place but are shaping the future. It turns out that the ancient Athenians may have been onto something studying the liberal arts isnt just about understanding the past; its about building a versatile and robust foundation for the future.

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Why a liberal arts degree is often a ticket to career success - USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

DONALD SEARS

In the 18th century, the founding fathers were blooming liberals, but by todays standards, theyd be considered misogynistic white nationalists.

The Constitution, as originally written, decreed that only white men, preferably land-owning Christians, would rule the country. That being said, one would hope that Washington, Jefferson and Madison would be as pleased with todays amended Constitution as they would be with a walk down Pennsylvania Avenue.

The Constitution, a compromise among disparate states, advanced liberalism to the full extent possible for the times. Understanding it was not perfect, the more progressive founding fathers included within their groundbreaking document the ability to amend it. Thus, the Constitution served as the nursery of democracy, providing the medium in which inclusiveness could take root. A nation not chained to immutable dogma was the founding fathers greatest gift to America.

Few should be surprised that 21st century conservatives are more attracted to autocracy (Trump) than to democracy. Americas 18th century conservatives were the Tories who sided with the British, and when they lost that battle, encouraged Washington to be Americas first king. Retaining slavery and excluding women were their main contributions to the Constitution, and no amendment extending rights beyond straight white males has ever had conservative support.

Since democracys will of the people has been instrumental in liberalizing America, and liberalism is the bane of conservatism, conservatives have come to the conclusion that fiat by a reactionary autocrat better serves their interests.

Donald Trump became the rights savior when he declared it was time for conservatives to take their country back. He further inflamed their passions when he promised to be conservatives retribution. He (only I can fix it) would reverse 200 years of conservative losses to minorities, women, non-Christians and the LGBTQ community. Trumps message was clear: White males, like him, had made America great, and if given unencumbered power, would Make America Great Again.

And, since democracy had allowed for the liberalization of America, democracy was the enemy. Americas free press, Americas justice system, Americas courts, Americas electoral system, Americas public schools and even the books Americans read had to be discredited so that 200 years of liberal progress would be erased, creating a vacuum, into which would flow conservative 18th century white male supremacy.

The only unanswered question is how far back Trump would take America. Despite their shortcomings, Washington peacefully transferred power, Jefferson wrote, All men are created equal, and Madisons Constitution was prefaced with We the People. Within those words and works were the seeds of Americas democracy. But Trump, aided by Steve Bannon, has promised to deconstruct the democracy America has become.

One can be sure Trumps narcissism will cause him to take us back to a time more amenable to his fractured psyche. Trumps glance to the heavens and his declaration that hes the chosen one suggests that only the recognition of the divine right of Trump would satiate his ego. And judging from conservatives adoration of him, they would rejoice at such an anointment.

Donald Sears is a resident of Frederick County. He is not related to Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.

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Open Forum: In their time, founding fathers were liberal - The Winchester Star

November 8, 2023

Ottawa, ON Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party of Canada announced today that the Hon. Soraya Martinez Ferrada, MP for Hochelaga, and Terry Duguid, MP for Winnipeg South, will serve as Co-Chairs of the partys National Campaign Committee for the next federal election campaign, whenever it arrives.

While Pierre Poilievre pushes for deep cuts to the middle class and is focused on importing far-right American-style politics here to Canada, our Liberal team is delivering real results to make life more affordable and build an economy that works for all Canadians, said Justin Trudeau, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Whenever the next election arrives, Canadians will face a choice between moving forward with a plan to build a better future for everyone or going backward with Pierre Poilievres reckless priorities. Under Soraya Martinez Ferrada and Terry Duguids leadership, our party will build an innovative campaign focused on making life more affordable, fighting climate change, keeping our communities safe, and growing our economy and the middle class.

Through 10 Days of Action, Forward to Lib2023 events, an Open Policy Process, and our 2023 Liberal National Convention, which saw 4,000 Canadians come together for important discussions and campaign trainings, Liberal supporters have been hard at work growing our movement and sharing our positive plan in every corner of the country this year. Liberal volunteers also helped elect two new Liberal MPs, Anna Gainey and Ben Carr, in important by-elections this year, and propelled us to our strongest results in nearly two decades in Oxford.

From trying to roll back our climate action, proposing cuts to services that Canadians rely on, and promoting volatile crypto currencies to opt out of inflation, Pierre Poilievre and his Conservative Party are pushing reckless policies that would take Canada backward. Only Justin Trudeau and our Liberal team will keep investing in a better future and moving Canada forward for everyone.

For more information, please contact: media@liberal.ca 613-627-2384

Biographies: Soraya Martinez Ferrada and Terry Duguid

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Liberals announce National Campaign Committee Co-Chairs - Liberal Party of Canada

The Liberal Arts Council hosted a panel on Tuesday to help answer student questions about the future of DEI in light of concerns posed by Senate Bill 17, which is taking effect next semester and requires universities to close their diversity, equity and inclusion offices.

The panel, which consisted of Liberal Arts Dean Ann Stevens and three other COLA faculty members, asked students to submit questions prior to starting. Dadrien Whittington, Liberal Arts Council vice president, moderated the event. Approximately 55 students attended.

During the panel, Stevens said the University is currently going through a deliberate staged process in complying with the bill.

Its really important to understand what the law requires, what it rules out, Stevens said during the panel. The law says we cannot have DEI offices and programs that provide preferential treatment on the basis of race or gender. But it also is really clear that certain things are not affected.

Richard Flores, deputy to the president for academic priorities, said the University is currently working to find ways to support students, faculty and staff affected by the law.

A great number of our student support activities will remain, Flores said during the panel. They may have to be tweaked as Dean Stevens has been talking about, but student support, in particular academic support, remains intact.

Stevens also addressed concerns about DEI programs aimed at supporting specific demographics. While programs based on supporting women have more leeway, she said, there are also ways for the college to address programs designed to be implemented with respect to race or ethnicity.

The language of the legislation also allows a degree of flexibility for student organizations, Flores said. While sponsored organizations that receive funding from the University will experience more limitations, registered organizations will have more freedom to host events highlighting diversity.

Panel attendees also asked questions about the Universitys role in promoting awareness about SB 17 for students.

Theres sort of an information overload, and then when you have something really important to communicate, its difficult, Stevens said during the panel. But we remain open. I would be happy to do another event like this.

Anthropology professor Pauline Strong said the University is also focusing on the broader implications of SB 17 for future legislation.

Much of what we see in the three bills that were debated comes from national organizations rather than local conditions, Strong said during the panel. Were in a difficult political environment. We have to continue to educate the public and legislators about what we do in diversity about why its important.

Economics freshman Lina Ezernack watched the panel and said while it helped clarify the sort of changes SB 17 would make, he wished the panel talked about different impacts for specific groups from the legislation, still leaving him unsure about the future of diversity, equity and inclusion.

We had a lot of questions about the specific organizations and specific centers on campus, such as the Gender and Sexuality Center, and we havent received answers for these questions yet, Ezernack said.

Stevens said while SB 17 might change how the University conducts certain programs, she remains optimistic.

I dont think there will be anything we absolutely have to stop doing because we were always doing things in the spirit of equal opportunity and fair access, Stevens said during the panel. The key thing is that were being careful.

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UT College of Liberal Arts hosts panel about Senate Bill 17 - The Daily Texan

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. Brooklynn Jones, a third-year student double majoring in criminology and psychology and minoring in sociology, said she has gained a strong understanding of the importance of voting and being politically active through her numerous involvements and academic passions.

Jones, a Paterno Fellow, Schreyer Scholar and Bunton-Waller Fellow, has been involved in voting work since attending high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she founded her schools first voting registration club. When she came to Penn State, she joined the newly formed League of Women Voters.

Because I already did voting work, I was excited to join and help get the club started, especially with a group of women who shared the same interests and ideas that I had, she said.

Jones is now the treasurer for the Penn State chapter of the League of Women Voters and previously served as the organizations liaison for PSU Votes.

Along with being in the League of Women Voters, Jones is an active member of the sorority Delta Sigma Theta, where she serves as the organizations social action chair and uses her experience in voting work to host events aimed at informing and activating student voters.

My organization involvements have allowed me to indulge in social advocacy, which is an important tool needed in the field of law, especially when defending someone, she said. To add, the leadership positions I have held within my various organizations and within the College of the Liberal Arts, like being a teaching assistant, have taught me how to regulate and delegate important tasks.

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Liberal Arts student uses platform to educate others on the ... - Pennsylvania State University

Image still from a video about Structured Liberal Education student life. (Image credit: Structured Liberal Education)

On a bright, Saturday morning during Reunion Homecoming weekend, the Stanford Humanities Center was packed to the rafters as community members gathered to celebrate 50 years of the Structured Liberal Education (SLE) program.

Over 200 alumni came together, spilling out of Levinthal Hall and into the lobby, as well as dozens more over Zoom, to reflect with current Stanford students, faculty, and staff about SLEs lasting impact on their lives.

SLE is often described as a small liberal arts college experience within the larger research university. Each year, some 90 frosh learn and live together in two dorms at East Florence Moore Hall FloMo where the program is housed today. Together, they engage with classical texts in philosophy, religion, literature, art and painting, and film, thinking deeply about the ideas that shaped the world, and in turn, how those ideas might shape them.

SLE represents the kind of liberal education that I would hope all Stanford students would receive in one form or another, said Stanford President Richard Saller in his remarks to attendees. Though the world is moving toward large datasets and digital applications including to the humanities I dont think that it replaces the value of close reading, analytical thinking, and writing that is essential to complement the technical skills that now Stanford is known for.

Some of the speakers at SLEs 50th anniversary event included, from left to right: Michael Taubman 04, Greg Watkins BA 85, PhD 03, Jeff Stone 78, and Gabby Bockhaus 96. (Image credit: Sunny Scott)

The morning event included appreciation and anecdotes from faculty and former students.

Jon Reider, 67, PhD 83, who helped co-found SLE with Mark Mancall, described early iterations of the program and what it was like starting SLE in the early 70s at Grove House, one of the first coeducational residences approved by Stanford administrators.

Today, SLE remains strong, fulfilling many of the undergraduate requirements, including the first-year Civic, Liberal, and Global Education (COLLEGE), PWR 1 & 2 requirements, and three of the WAYS requirements.

How SLE has endured at a university that has seen an experimentation with and evolution of its undergraduate requirement from Introduction to the Humanities (or IHUM) to Thinking Matters and most recently, COLLEGE was a question Jeffrey Stone, 78, who is a member of the Stanford University Board of Trustees, posed to two administrative leaders: Sarah Church, vice provost for undergraduate education, and Marisa Galvez, SLEs current director.

Its not even that its flexible enough to survive all the different requirements, its already naturally fulfilling, said Church, who went on to describe how the program encapsulates the universitys goals of offering students both a strong, liberal education and a fulfilling residential experience. What we want students to learn doesnt change with the times. The route may change, but SLE is there.

Meanwhile, SLE is also expanding its reach to the broader Stanford community through the new neighborhood structure. It is also hosting salon-style events that are open to the greater public.

Galvez shared how she balances SLEs traditions, which are rooted in the classics, with contemporary texts as well, bringing in faculty who can speak to students evolving, diverse interests. But amidst SLEs reverence for such foundational texts, SLE is also rooted in the idea that you look at the classics to challenge them, to engage in Socratic dialogue, as [political science professor and SLE lecturer] Rob Reich says, Question your founding principles, your assumptions, and lets build a community where we can have that constructive dialogue, Galvez said.

Three SLE alumni also spoke at the event, including Marissa Mayer, a business executive and the former CEO of Yahoo!

Mayer credited the interdisciplinary nature of SLE with giving her a foundation for a new way of approaching problems in the world. SLE was really the first time I started seeing all the connections between disciplines, Mayer said. Trying to understand all those connections and how it is all connected is one of the things that I really was awakened to and something that I still feel on a daily basis.

The event concluded with remarks from longtime SLE lecturer and resident fellow Greg Watkins, 85, PhD 03, and Michael Taubman, 04, a high school teacher and a Stanford Digital Education fellow, who are working with Matthew Rascoff to bring SLE programming into Title I high schools across the country. The introduction and closing were delivered by SLE alum Gabby Bockhaus, 96.

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Stanford celebrates 50 years of Structured Liberal Education ... - Stanford University News