A Genuine Education

 

Too often, the college experience fails to prepare students to fill America’s leadership void. Students frequently tell us that their studies leave them without a strong foundation of knowledge, let alone wisdom, to make sense of an increasingly unraveling world.

In this issue of the Intercollegiate Review, you will find four articles addressing some of the liberal studies that are essential to a genuine, well-rounded education: economics, the arts, political philosophy, and American culture.

On page 8 Rod Dreher reveals the benefits that a close reading of Dante’s Divine Comedy can still deliver seven hundred years later, while on page 12 Harry Veryser outlines the requirements for restoring a healthy economy. You will also see, on page 16, Wilfred McClay’s exploration of the importance of place in the American experience and, on page 20, Doug Bandow’s piece on the return of violent nationalism.

The men who crafted America’s Declaration of Independence and Constitution were remarkable not only for the depth of their knowledge in particular ­subjects but also for the breadth of their knowledge. They were, in the truest sense, Renaissance men.

To become the type of leader our country desperately needs today requires cultivating a broad and refined understanding of the many subjects that come together to shape public life, just as our Founding Fathers did more than two hundred years ago. At ISI we strive to deliver precisely this sort of interdisciplinary educational experience that may be lacking on your college campus.

As you read the Intercollegiate Review, I hope that you will consider taking your education to a new level in order to come to a better understanding of how true liberal learning can enrich your life both professionally and personally. By doing so, you will equip yourself to lead in whatever profession and avocations you choose.

I also hope that as you read this issue you will be inspired to become more involved with ISI. There are many conferences, lectures, and other ways to become engaged throughout the year, and my teammates and I would be thrilled to plug you into our educational and leadership development programs.

 

                                                         Cheers,

 

                                                         Christopher Long

                                                         President, ISI