2004-2005 Honors Fellows and Mentors at Oriel College Hall: Session II

Fifty-four elite undergraduates and thirty faculty, staff, and guests were invited to Oxford University's Oriel College to study "Order and Liberty in the American Tradition" between July 28 and August 10. A Stanford student's favorite part of the conference was "spending time in discussion, both formal and informal, with passionate, intelligent students and faculty who shared a common interest in American conservatism, yet had remarkably diverse views." Another fellow from Davidson College remarked that "learning extended well beyond the classroom in discussions, walking tours, and late night talks. Overall, this is an incredible program."

Dr. E. Christian Kopff of the University of Colorado - Boulder lectures on "A Humane Economy"

Students heard three lectures in Oriel College's Senior Library, home to the College's vast collection of priceless classic texts. Other lectures were held at Oriel College's Harris Building, built on the site of Henry VIII's tennis court. English, Lebanese, Indian, Thai, and Italian cuisines were sampled at exciting venues all over Oxford - the most historic of which was the café of The Ashmolean, the oldest museum in England. After these experiences, a student from Thomas More College said, "Oxford has a history in which every university student should participate," and another fellow explained that "there is something special about studying in Oxford where so many 'greats' have studied." A student from Texas A & M believes that "the novel cultural experience added to the learning atmosphere."

Patrick Allitt, professor of history at Emory University, set the stage for the conference with two very informative PowerPoint slide presentations on the history and architecture of Oxford University. Dr. Allitt also gave several tours of different colleges and university buildings and sponsored Oxford scavenger hunts.

Fellows from Davidson College and Harvard University

ISI's Mark Henrie, author of The Student's Guide to the Core Curriculum, began each of the two conference weeks with an overview of the three types of conservatism that emerged during the Cold War. The four conference texts also illustrated those three types of conservatism: Witness (anti-communist), The Road to Serfdom (libertarian), and Ideas Have Consequences and The Conservative Mind (traditionalist). Students participated in seminar-style discussion on each of these important books. During the seminar sessions, honors fellows had the opportunity to exchange ideas with their peers while receiving guidance from faculty.

Scavenger hunt winners from Louisiana State University and Baylor University

Each week featured four main thematic lectures given by ISI faculty associates: "The Good Society," "The Humane Economy," "Literature and Liberal Learning," and "Morals and Manners." Under the theme of "The Good Society," John Owen of the University of Virginia gave a lecture entitled "St. Benedict after September 11th." He suggested that Christians and cultural conservatives should look to St. Benedict for inspiration on how to once again preserve Western civilization, adding the caveat that St. Benedict should not be followed all the way into the cloisters. For the same theme, during the second week, James Muller of the University of Alaska-Anchorage, walked the students through Federalist 10, explaining that a representative republic will avoid the destructive factions that can plague a direct democracy.

The second main theme, "The Humane Economy," was taken up by Christian Kopff of the University of Colorado-Boulder and by Peter Lawler of Berry College in Georgia. Dr. Kopff suggested that economic policies that protect industry and agriculture are more humane and conservative than a purely libertarian capitalism. Dr. Lawler's approach to the theme explored the "The Problem of Technology."

Punting on the River Cherwell behind Magdalen College

For "Literature and Liberal Learning," Roger Lundin of Wheaton College compared "Love and Memory" in the poetry of William Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson, and T. S. Eliot; Andrew Tadie of Seattle University asked conference delegates, "Which stories will you want your children to hear?" and conversely, "Which stories will you not want your children to hear?"

Finally, Patrick Deneen of Princeton University spoke on "Morals and Manners" by proposing the fork as a key invention for humanity's move from base appetite toward both restraint and the formation of community. During the second week, Daniel Mahoney of Assumption College illustrated civility in English politics with references to Edmund Burke and Winston Churchill.

Guest lecturer Bart Jan Spruyt from the Burke Society of the Netherlands gave insight into the relationship between T. S. Eliot and C. S. Lewis; during the second week, Patrick Allitt compared English and American society, and also highlighted the differences between the Labour and Conservative parties in England.

Upon departure, a Yale University student said, "I leave this conference with a strengthened and refined set of convictions, but also with a set of questions I want to engage with through my own reading, and of course, discussions with my faculty mentor."

For more information on ISI's Honors Program, click here.

2004-2005 Honors Fellows and Mentors at Oriel College Hall: Session I