We hope you enjoy these top news stories about TFAS activities, alumni and events this week. Please visit us on social media for additional up-to-the-moment TFAS news and information and sign up to receive weekly updates.
Making Headlines: TFAS President Roger Ream Shares Insights in Nation’s Leading News Sources
Freedom of speech and civil discourse are essential values of the American Founding and The Fund for American Studies. In today’s world of increased media bias and political polarization, it is imperative that journalists and academic institutions maintain objectivity and balance. TFAS President Roger Ream ’76 understands the discrepancies between the biased narratives taught by higher education institutions and shared by the media, and the values reinforced by independent educational organizations like TFAS. In recent media mentions and appearances, Ream emphasizes the important role TFAS plays in instilling the core American values of liberty and civility in rising generations.
In a recently published op-ed in RealClearPolitics, Ream dives into recent trends in American journalism that signify a shift from objective reporting and balanced opinion pieces toward a progressive, narrative-driven approach. Noting the New York Times’ recent scrap of its op-ed page, an essential forum of opposing viewpoints, Ream questions the future of journalism ethics in the U.S.
“Where does that leave an organization like mine, The Fund for American Studies, that since 1970 has been educating collegiate journalists with an emphasis on the importance of journalism ethics, including objective, fair and honest reporting?” Ream asks. “We encourage young journalists to give voice to perspectives that don’t just reflect the opinions of the media itself, which is politically and sociologically unrepresentative of the country.”
On July 6, Ream joined the The Mark Reardon Show to discuss the RealClear piece, highlighting the blatant disregard for objectivity in American journalism.
“There’s no pretense in many cases anymore of being objective and presenting the facts with stories,” Ream said.
Ream also recently spoke out about civil discourse in a response to a recent op-ed in The Wall Street Journal by Duke University Professor John Rose titled “How I Liberated My College Classroom.” Professor Rose’s piece cites data from a survey of his students indicating that 68% of them self-censor when it comes to politics. Alarmed by this majority, Rose set a few “ground rules” for his classroom, including banning “cancelling” or shaming other students over opposing viewpoints.
In Ream’s response, he argues that the most effective way to encourage the free exchange of ideas is through supporting organizations that can teach important values through experiential learning and impactful programming.
“Those wishing to promote true liberal principles, including the values of Western civilization, free speech, the American founding and civility, should look to the network of outstanding independent organizations to bring these values to college students from outside the walls of academe,” Ream writes. “We have passed the point where we can expect the woke university to reform itself.”
Read more of Ream’s insights in RealClearPolitics and The Wall Street Journal, and listen to his full radio appearance on The Mark Reardon Show. (segment begins at 15:50)
TFAS Announces 2021 International Summer Program in Croatia
TFAS is excited to announce a new international program this summer – TFAS Croatia 2021!
Due to the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak, TFAS is not able to host our flagship international programs in Prague and Singapore. In light of this situation, we invited previously-admitted students from those programs to join us in Croatia for a special in-person program this July.
The program will be held at the University of Dubrovnik from July 17 until July 31. Nearly 30 students hailing from seven regions, including South Asia, the Middle East, the Americas, and Europe, will join this summer.
Through the two-week interdisciplinary course, long-time TFAS professors Dr. Ibrahim Al-Marashi and Dr. Nikolai Wenzel will lead modules on political and economic liberty. Additionally, students will learn about the history of Croatia through sessions on “The Balkans + the COVID-19 Pandemic,” and “Understanding the Yugoslav Wars,” as well as a tour of the Dubrovnik City Walls.
TFAS Director of International Programs Alexander Archuleta believes this year’s program will be an invaluable opportunity for students to explore a new culture while learning about political and economic liberty.
“After such a challenging period of health concerns, remote learning, social distancing, and other stressors related to the pandemic, we’re glad to partner with the University of Dubrovnik this year to offer our students an in-person experience in Croatia,” Archuleta said. “This summer’s unique program will be an unforgettable experience for participants, as they deepen their understanding of the ‘economic way of thinking’ and analyze the myriad policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Learn more about TFAS Croatia at TFAS.org/Croatia21.
Weeks Four and Five of TFAS – Living, Learning and Interning in Washington, D.C.
TFAS students in Washington, D.C., are at the half-way mark of the 2021 D.C. Academic Internship Programs, and the last two weeks have been full of exciting opportunities for the class.
Week four began with economics and government classes on Monday, June 28, along with time spent working at students’ various internships. On Tuesday, June 29, students had the opportunity to get to know some of the Trustees and Regents who make TFAS programming possible while they were in Washington for quarterly meetings.
The Regents and Trustees joined 125 students in person for the 2021 Neal B. Freeman Guest Lecture featuring Jason Riley from The Wall Street Journal for a discussion on “Why Thomas Sowell Matters.”
Students were encouraged to take advantage of the excitement of celebrating the Fourth of July in the nation’s capital, so the three-day holiday weekend provided a host of fun and entertainment for all. After the holiday, students began the second half of the summer program refreshed and ready to continue living, learning and interning.
Tuesday, July 6, offered several exciting activities for students. International Affairs students learned about executive leadership careers in defense and development policy from Maria Longi during a virtual small group discussion. That evening, Dr. Joseph Loconte spoke to Public Policy + Economics students about “Why Future Leaders Need to Understand the Past,” while Richard Benedetto and Clemente Lisi discussed their eyewitness accounts of 9/11 with Journalism + Communications students.
Read more about the past two weeks of the TFAS D.C. Academic Internship Programs at TFAS.org/Week4Recap.
Post of the Week
This week, TFAS Journalism + Communications students heard eyewitness accounts to 9/11 from Clemente Lisi and Richard Benedetto. The reporters-turned-professors shared their stories and insights from covering one of the biggest breaking news stories of the century.
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QUICK LINKS
Paul Glader ’99, ’00 discusses pandemic homeschooling and conflicts between religions, rights and regulations in a piece for Religion Unplugged.
TFAS Grewcock Senior Scholar Dr. Donald Devine writes for The American Spectator on how “stagflation” can provide opportunities for conservative restoration in the U.S.
TFAS alumnus Tony Mecia ’92, ’93, Novak ’01, has seen major success since the launch of his independent newsletter, The Charlotte Ledger, just two years ago. Read about Mecia’s venture in this piece for Axios Charlotte.
Lyman Stone, Novak ’20, shares insights on what falling birthrates around the world means for economics and culture on The Argument podcast.
Naomi Schaefer Riley, Novak ’01, shares how having a summer job can benefit teenagers in Deseret News.
Maria Alejandra Londoño ’20 describes the condition of liberty in Colombia ahead of the Liberty International World Conference in Medellin, Colombia.
Oriana Pawlyk ’10 reports for Military.com on plans to bring back Honor Flights for WWII and Korean War veterans to Washington, D.C.
Bradley Booth ’21 shares about his experience in the TFAS Spring Capital Semester program in a feature with the University of North Georgia.
Ashley Antoskiewicz ’10 is joining John Deere’s public relations team as the new manager of federal affairs.
TFAS Professor Dr. Bradley Thompson shares how Founding Father John Adams shaped the United States as a nation in a video for Prager University.