A Blog on McConnell Center Life

Poco a poco

2012-02-03T09:18:00.003-05:00

I have officially been living in Costa Rica for 9 days now — what an interesting experience it has been! From experiencing a very interesting first evening at the airport to taking salsa lessons on top of a mountain overlooking all of San José to learning how to cross a street without being road-kill (trust me it’s much harder than you might think!), Costa Rica has had and will have many more surprises in store.

My first real culture shock was discovering that my image as a tall, pale-skinned woman with “intense eyes” and reddish hair is not so common here. In fact, I’m quite the rare sight — it definitely is taking me some time to get used to the extra attention. Oh, and by the way, excuse my simple English — my transition from thinking in Spanish back to English is anything but smooth.

During the first couple days in Costa Rica we (14 students in my program) spent time for orientation at Juan XXIII—an old monastery with incredibly beautiful grounds and a peaceful perch to gaze atop the entire city. We learned some traditional Costa Rican games, but also spent many hours on the basketball court — a fun reminder of my need to get into shape during my time here! A trip to the Irazú Volcano introduced us to one of the many microclimates of Costa Rica… ¡Hace frío!

I live near Universidad Latina, the school that I attend, with a very nice and helpful host family. My “Mama Tica” has helped me adjust to the city and practice my Spanish at the same time. I’m so grateful for her motto, “poco a poco,” or “little by little.”

My classes at the International Center for Development Studies involve Spanish, Social Justice and Sustainable Development in Latin America are both very interesting and very challenging. My professors are not professors by trade, rather practitioners — for example my Development from a Gender Perspective professor is a leader in the Women's Rights Movement in Costa Rica, and my Human Rights professor is an international lawyer and one of the top advisers on Costa Rica’s Human Rights Council — so we get such an interesting perspective into our studies.

The weather is beautiful, the Ticos are friendly, Costa Rica is the place to be! Pura Vida!

oSha Shireman

My Never Ending To-Do List

2012-01-31T14:49:00.000-05:00

I still can't believe this is my last semester in my undergraduate career. In these next 3 months I will be taking the GRE, writing many graduate school entrance essays, requesting a handful of recommendation letters, keeping my grades up in all of my classes, planning different on campus events, and doing lots of praying hoping things all come together! After undergraduate I plan on going to graduate school to earn my masters in Criminal Justice; meanwhile, this semester I am also focusing on graduating with Magna Cum Laude honors. It would be an understatement to say that I will be busy this semester, please, wish me luck!

- Alex Jenkins, Class of 2012

Looking to the Future

2012-01-31T13:16:00.002-05:00

I am coming to the end of my time as a McConnell Scholar, which has prompted some reflection on my part. The last four years have been great, and I have had some amazing opportunities come my way. I've had the opportunity to meet Chief Justice John Roberts, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Speaker of the House John Boehner, Senator Scott Brown, Senator John McCain, and, of course, Senator Mitch McConnell. My time spent in China this past summer will always be a highlight of my life.

However, there will be time later for reflection. Now I must focus on the future. Like Ben S., I am working on my undergraduate Senior Honors Thesis. I have also applied to a number of law schools, and I have been accepted to two so far. I would advise anyone looking to apply to law school in the future to apply early. It is a load off your mind when all your applications are submitted and the decision then is out of your hands. I know I speak for most of the Class of 2012 when I say that this last semester has so far been an odd transitional period between our undergraduate and graduate careers. It is a strange but necessary transition as we take what we have learned at UofL and as part of the McConnell Center out into the "real" world.

Undergraduate Thesis: How 'Prigg v. Pennsylvania' Inadvertently Pushed the Nation Closer to Civil War

2012-01-30T18:12:00.003-05:00

Associate Justice Joseph Story

As my final semester approaches as an undergraduate at the University of Louisville, I am in the midst of working on what ought to be my crowning academic achievement: completing an undergraduate thesis. A brief excerpt is below:

“Decided by the Supreme Court of the United States twenty years before the Civil War, Prigg v. Pennsylvania (1842) uniquely encompassed a clash of state and federal law on the issue of fugitive slaves. In light of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793, Associate Justice Joseph Story overturned a Pennsylvania law barring the forcible extradition of fugitive slaves to the state from whence they fled. While its contemporaries decried the decision’s apparent appeasement of Southern interests and its distortion of historical fact, Joseph Story’s majority opinion unintentionally undermined the enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793; for, though Story held the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 as constitutional, he did not require states to assist federal law enforcement in its execution. In this way, Prigg crippled the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793, precipitated the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, contributed to the controversy in Dred Scott v. Sandford (1856), and inadvertently pushed the nation closer to the Civil War. In all aspects, this case illustrated the growing tension within the United States over the larger question of slavery.”

As it draws closer to completion, I will upload a copy for the interested reader. Today, much ground remains to be covered. But much more lies behind me.

- Ben Shepard, Class of 2012

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

2012-01-30T15:34:00.003-05:00

Over Christmas break, fellow Senior McConnell Scholar John Weber and I made a great pilgrimage. We took a dream to a reality and had an opportunity to see things from our literary imagination in person. Our imaginations and realities became blurred when we traveled into a fictional world that has become a popular destination for nearly all of our literary generation...

We traveled to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The park, housed in Universal Studio’s Islands of Adventure, is a scene right out of the world of Harry Potter. Snow capped buildings greet you as you enter Hogsmeade and the Hogwarts Express billows smoke just to your right.

Many of the shops that have become a staple in Harry Potter lore are there as well. Even the iconic Three Broomsticks pub is present. While we were there, we even had the opportunity to try out “Butterbeer.”

As we were walking through the streets of Hogsmeade, we noticed a shop window adorned with “J. Pippin’s Potions.” I was caught off guard but certainly felt pretty cool as that is my name! Maybe it was coincidence, or maybe it was magic!

All in all, visiting this park was a great experience. Both John and I had a great time and would recommend any Harry Potter fan make the trip. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

A Bit of Classical Education

2012-01-26T00:11:00.002-05:00

On January 23, the McConnell Center hosted Martin Cothran from Memoria Press. With a strong interest in classical education, he persuaded several scholars to think about their own education. Much of modern day rhetoric tells us “What to think and what to do” over the classical style “How to think and how to do”. Cothran stated in order to get a classical education, that he recommended us to study logic and latin. Both of which are mathematical in nature and structured.

Martin Cothran went on to talk about rhetoric, which he stated meant to teach, to delight, and to move. He lectured on Aristotle, the theoretician, on Quintilian, the teacher, and Cicero, the practitioner. He discussed how Aristotle brought a much better light on rhetoric, than did Plato. Plato believed that rhetoric was unethical because it manipulated emotions.

One of the fun points of the night was examining the 3 modes of persuasion including logos, ethos, and pathos which has direct correlation to the 3 elements of rhetoric which are speech, speaker, and audience. We talked about how politicians utilize these 3 elements to gain votes, especially the importance of pathos (appeal to emotion). All advertisement today is pathos, which may be the reason politicians use appeal to emotion so often.

In classical literature and thought, a strong debate occurred over the belief that there was an “ideal man”. Modern day society and philosophers tend to disagree with that type of metaphysical dilemma. Cothran claimed that if students would go back to this idea, debate would strengthen today.

Overall, the lecture served its purpose. I know, as well as several scholars, will be picking up more Plato and Aristotle when we visit the bookstore.

J.R.R. Tolkien Round Two

2012-01-15T15:59:00.002-05:00

Spoiler alert: If you have not completed The Lord of the Rings, this post may reveal plotlines yet unknown.

For years I admired J.R. R. Tolkien's ability to intrigue my imagination and entertain me. In The Hobbit, he captivated my greedy instincts with tales of treasure. In The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien charmed my conscious with the ultimate triumph of good over evil. For these efforts I was entertained, but never challenged or inspired. Until now.

Upon re-reading The Lord of the Rings I became fascinated with the weaving of the story. In popular mysteries/thrillers, plots come together with ease and understanding. Because the action occurs in the real world, everything must make sense. Though the imagination is stirred, it remains confined by the bounds of our world. Though the plot twists and turns, it does so for the purpose of entertaining us.

Tolkien took an alternative approach. Instead of entertaining the reader, Tolkien inspires him. Where contemporary authors write in one of two spheres (either wholly real or wholly fantasy), Tolkien combines the two and challenges us to make it work. The professor understood his works—fairy-stories he called them—were destined for children's hands. After all, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings made for excellent adolescent fantasies. Upon my first reading of these titles, I came to only a child-like understanding. And that was ok for then. Now, however, the second reading confronts me with challenges. I must come to terms with Gandalf's magical resurrection. I must wrestle with how Tom Bombadil wears the ring without falling under its spell. And what part does Tom Bombadil even play in the storyline? It is easy to attribute such questions to fancy and claim they were never meant to be reasoned. Yet, Middle Earth is not so much different than the lands we occupy. Agency vs. destiny. Good vs. evil. Friendship vs. selfishness. Such struggles are human and are applicable to our earth as well as Middle Earth.

Thus, if Tolkien's work combines fantasy and reality, our challenge is to decipher in which category certain characters and actions belong. Furthermore, we are to be inspired by characters like Tom Bombadil whose presence makes little sense. When we reason his existence, then we come close to the author's intent and his understanding. Happy reading.

Friendship in Tolkien's LOTRs

2012-01-13T02:42:00.000-05:00

This semester is about to be the highlight of my McConnell Scholar career. Over winter break, I had the opportunity to read all three books in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series. In the next few months, I will have the opportunity to participate in many seminars and lectures regarding my readings. If you asked me before winter break what I thought of the books, I would have told you that I was not too thrilled to read them. Luckily though, after actually reading the books, my opinion has changed.

Tolkien writes in a way that is unlike any other author. Not only does he create an entirely different world from our own and explain it in detail, he also keeps readers interested. I advise you to set aside a large portion of your time before beginning his books. If you are anything like me, you will not want to look up from reading.

In this blog post in particular, I want to focus on the meaning of friendship in the first book, The Fellowship of the Ring. I believe the idea and strength of friendship is one of the underlying topics throughout the first novel, that continues well into the others. It is also interesting to see how the ring affects strong friendships.

The first friendship we read about is that of Bilbo and Gandalf. We learn that the two have been friends for a long time and have not had any serious disputes. This changes when the ring becomes involved. Bilbo knows he must leave the ring, but has trouble doing so. When Gandalf pushes the matter, Bilbo turns against his friend causing Gandalf to become threatening. Here, the ring is already beginning to do evil work.

The next friendship I want to focus on is that of Sam and Frodo. After Gandalf assigns Sam to accompany Frodo on his journey, Sam never imagines leaving him and stays faithful until the end, with one somewhat exception. (In a later book, Frodo is hurt and paralyzed along the journey, but Sam thinks he is dead. Believing that he must carry on the quest, he removes the ring from Frodo and leaves him. Frodo is then taken by the Orcs and when Sam realizes Frodo is alive, he returns to save him. Here too, even the loyal Sam was almost led astray by the ring.) One of the most memorable parts of the first book that shows the strength of their friendship is toward the end in Chapter 10. When Frodo chooses to travel alone on the rest of his journey, Sam immediately follows him and jumps in the water after Frodo. It is so important to Sam to be loyal to Frodo that he risks his chance of drowning to be with him.

One of my favorite friendships in the book is Strider’s friendship to the hobbits. At first, the hobbits do not trust him, but after finding out who he is, they soon change their opinions. Throughout the book, Strider keeps close watch over the hobbits and shows great concern for their safety. When I first started reading about Strider, I was a little hesitant to accept him as a good character. Part of me believed that he may have wanted the ring for himself, but as I continued reading, I saw that I was wrong. I think this friendship between him and the hobbits grows and is at its greatest point at the end of the last book.

Another friendship that finds harm because of the ring is that of Frodo and Boromir. My initial thought of Boromir was that he would be loyal to Frodo and do anything to help. I was surprised when he turned against him in the Forest and tried to take the ring from Frodo. This is one friendship that was completely destroyed because of the ring.

Overall, the first book was a great read. I enjoyed it and I look forward to discussing it in the future seminars at the McConnell Center. Keep in mind that friendship is only one topic among many in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings books. I encourage you to read them on your own and see what you find.

Greetings from Cebu, Philippines!

2011-12-22T14:05:00.000-05:00

My view from the hotel - Cebu, Phillipines

The temperature is currently 75 degrees and slowly rising to a high of 88 and it's only 8:30 am, on Sunday the 11th (there's a 13 hour time difference). I am across the country in the Philippines for my second time with the University's International Service Learning Program. It is the 4th day of our 10 day trip and we will head down to Cebu City later on today to get our materials together and prepare for our week in the classrooms. I unfortunately cannot fully explain how the experience of going on an ISLP trip can impact you; yet, I think by this being my second trip it shows that I obviously enjoyed myself. Tomorrow we will be greeted with a grand performance the students have been practicing for weeks to welcome us, we will then head off to our schools and begin teaching each of our lessons. I am excited to see all of the students and hopefully those of us on the trip will be able to impact their lives as much as they will ours! Not to make anyone upset but, enjoy wearing your winter clothes while I enjoy this view!!!

Submitted Dec. 10, 2011

Alex Jenkins, Class of 2012

Finding Someone to Emulate

2011-12-21T15:20:00.001-05:00

During our orientation in August, Dr. Gregg explained to the freshman the importance of emulation. Part of growing as a scholar and a leader, he told us, is finding those people one admires and trying to model oneself on their accomplishments and most venerable qualities. He encouraged us to not only keep an eye out for those people in our everyday lives whom we hope to emulate, whether it be a professor, a classmate, or a new friend. We must strive to discover those imitable qualities among history’s most interesting and esteemed figures.

At the Mount Vernon Estate in Virginia, the home of one of his greatest heroes, Dr. Gregg animatedly told us of George Washington’s life and captivating character. It was clear through his speeches and writings as well as through first-hand accounts of his demeanor that Washington was a figure well worthy of emulation. After the trip, Dr. Gregg gave each freshman a collection of Washington’s writings. There is much to learn from studying his accomplishments, but taking the time to understand his style, motivations, and eccentricities can be even more fulfilling.

I believe that by learning more about historical figures, one can gain a better understanding of himself. The achievements and characteristics that stand out to him the most provide insight into what he believes to be significant in leading a good life. This became more evident to me during the recent lecture by Dr. Cashin about the First Lady of the Confederacy, Varina Davis, on December 8. I was captivated by the details of her life that Cashin related to us. One of the qualities I love most about Varina is that although much of her life was shaped by her time and uncontrollable circumstances, she maintained her intelligence and individual opinions and did not hesitate to express them. She was unafraid of admitting that she had little faith in the Confederate cause and did not enjoy life as the Davis’s First Lady much at all. I loved that she had a spirit that was unabashed and quietly rebellious against her own time. This has helped me recognize and appreciate the qualities I value most and hope to demonstrate in my life.

Author Mary Cable said that “The best biographies leave their readers with a sense of having all but entered into a second life and of having come to know another human being in some ways better than he knew himself.” Attending Cashin’s lecture has provided me with a greater understanding of one of the Civil War’s most interesting personalities. By understanding her life, I have come to know myself better and found a figure whose fearless unconventionality I strive to emulate.

What a Conversation Can Mean

2011-12-21T15:17:00.001-05:00

A year ago at this time, my mom was ragging on me about filling out the application for the McConnell Scholar Program by the January 15^th deadline. If you were to tell me then that by the end of my first semester of college I would have introduced myself to Speaker of the House John Boehner, discussed Tocqueville with a New York professor in Williamsburg, or listened to Senator McConnell praise the progress of South Korea over dinner, I never would have believed you.

In my first few months within the McConnell Scholars Program, I have learned much more than I ever expected to about politics, history, and literature. Just as much as the readings and lectures, though, the simple conversations I have had this semester opened me up to so many new ideas. The people within the program are some of brightest and most idiosyncratic people I have encountered, and I am constantly amazed by the things I learn from them.

I’ve heard that one of the greatest parts of the college experience is the conversations you have with the people you meet. Though it has only been a few months, the profound, eye-opening discussions with those within the program prove the truth of this statement.

Whether I’m chatting with a fellow scholar, discussing my academic goals with Dr. Gregg over lunch, or listening to Rick Pitino’s words of wisdom about staying focused, I am inspired anew by each conversation that I have.

And the best part is that I know there are so many more to come.

Thankful in India

2011-12-20T21:01:00.004-05:00

Over the past two weeks I have been given the opportunity to travel with a group from the University of Louisville to India in order to gain a deeper understanding of the country, the culture, and it's people as well as serve at health camps in rural villages. It has been an extremely eye opening experience. Coming here and seeing the extreme poverty has made me extremely grateful this holiday season for all the gifts I have been granted as a citizen of the United States, a student at the university, and a McConnell Scholar. This trip has been life changing but also cost a fairly large sum of money to go on. It would likely not have been possible for me to go without the help of the center. As I have always said on recruiting trips, the center is much more than a program for people interested in political science. The McConnell center is a leadership program and as such they are willing to help you succeed in all of your ventures and ambitions. I wanted to help people and the center aided me in reaching this goal through their contribution to my fares. As the many McConnell Scholars, alumni, and staff return home for the holidays I am sure that all of them would list the program and the center among the ranks of things they are most grateful for.

Happy Holidays

-Hunter

The National Popular Vote Method is NOT the Way to Elect Presidents

2011-12-20T19:06:00.002-05:00

The American Conservative

Dinner with the Senator

2011-12-20T17:34:00.001-05:00

As the Chair of the McConnell Scholars I have had the privilege to do lots of things that I never imagined coming into college. I have presented Vice President Biden, Speaker of the House John Boehner and former Congresswoman Jane Harman with Louisville Sluggers, among other things. However, one of my favorite experiences from my college career occurred during this semester. The McConnell Council, an elected group of McConnell Scholars, had the opportunity to talk with the Senator in a small group setting over dinner. It was a really special time to talk to him about what we were doing, his vision for the program and other things that came up in conversation.

Senator McConnell proved, again, that he is very interested in the program and the Scholars. He knew about some of our backgrounds without us telling him, and asked lots of questions so that he could get a better understanding of the day to day activities of Scholars. We talked with him after the Boehner event, and got to debrief a little about that. We are very thankful for the speakers that he brings in, for the in-depth analysis of today's political climate, and a candid, behind the scenes look at the current events that we all read about. The dinner simply highlighted his generosity towards the program.

The McConnell Center has helped make my college experience unique, educational and meaningful. I can't believe that it is almost over, but now I'm hopeful for the next class of McConnell Scholars that get to begin their journey.

Power, Persuasion and the Origins of the Imperial Republic

2011-12-20T17:22:00.003-05:00

Earlier this semester we had the opportunity to host Dr. Andrew Cayton at the McConnell Center. He led the Scholars in a very interesting seminar entitled "Power, Persuasion and the Origins of the Imperial Republic." It caught my eye at first because of the readings that he sent us to prepare. Federalist #10, Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural Address and Washington's Farewell Address. I've always been interested in the period of our nation's founding, so I joined the seminar.

I was pleasantly surprised with how the discussion related to the modern day, and essentially of how our nation continues to evolve. Dr. Cayton said "Part of the vitality of the American experiment is that it's still an experiment." Not only did that help to put into perspective just how immense the task of creating an enduring constitution was, but it also highlighted the fact that it is still ultimately just a "parchment barrier," as Madison noted so many years ago. The government is able to operate because we, as citizens, give meaning and power to the constitution, which binds our leaders.

I thought that another key element of the seminar was his comment about the words "All men are created equal." We know that this was not necessarily put into practice when the words were written, as slavery was still in full force. Some propose that many of the Founding Fathers were hypocritical, to say the least. However, Dr. Cayton interpreted it in a different way. He argued that those words set the American ideal, which would evolve over time. It was truly radical at the time, and it would take centuries before all men could experience equal rights, but it set the foundation upon which to build. Again, the Founders had to start from scratch on nearly everything that they did. They set the precedent that we still refer to today.

There were many other engaging conversations within our seminar, and I was fortunate enough to have been able to further my knowledge about one of my favorite periods in American history.

Local Leaders

2011-12-15T22:11:00.002-05:00

This past semester, I was able to serve on the Local Leader team for the McConnell Scholars. Along with Eric Kiser and Trey Pippin, we were able to bring in Mayor Greg Fischer, our very own archivist Deborah Skaggs and visit with Coach Rick Pitino.

Of all the leadership positions that I have held within the McConnell Center, this has been the most interesting and the most challenging. This puts perspective on the Center's ability to coordinate the amount of events that it does. The idea behind the local leader part of our program is that the scholars would be able to meet leaders in the community that we are currently in. The events are private with just about 20 scholars. The featured leader gives some background on their journey to leadership and then the scholars are given an opportunity to participate in a Question and Answer session.This general education opportunity gives each scholar the ability to become more personally invested into the amazing network that is Louisville. All of us come from different parts of the states, but it is important that we take the time to get to know the place we are living for four years.

Another opportunity that I have been given is the chance to attend several of Leadership Louisville's 100 Wise Women Events. Female leaders from the Louisville community take time to speak about their successes and failures in leadership both in Louisville and outside of the city. They also lead table discussions that give the attendees a chance to network and make personal connections within the city. These events have opened my eyes to the true value of networking and the amazing network of women that are available and willing to help in Louisville. This coming semester I will be working hard to bring a female local business leader to the McConnell center as a "local leader." This should prove to be a valuable event for the male and female scholars who want to be leaders in the business world and leaders in general.

The Imperial Republic

2011-12-15T11:06:00.003-05:00

When students are asked what the Constitution is, most responses talk about personal freedoms, protection from government, and a great living document. However, earlier this semester, my fellow scholars and I received a different lesson on the Constitution from Dr. Cayton. In Dr. Cayton's view, the Constitution is a counterrevolution. Through his seminar and readings, Dr. Cayton compared the Constitution to the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration, he asserted, was a revolutionary measure. It was a call for war, America rising up against Great Britain. On the other hand, the Constitution did the opposite. It set governmental boundaries in order to prevent such a revolution from occurring again. This view of the Constitution was unlike the views taught in school and was a thought producer for all of the students involved.

Jackson's America

2011-12-15T10:57:00.003-05:00

Recently, we had the great pleasure of meeting with Dr. Feller to discuss "Jackson's America." This seminar was one in a long line through our American History Project. Unfortunately, I became ill the morning of the seminar, and was unable attend. However, the readings Dr. Feller chose for us to dive into is worth a blog post. Dr. Feller had us read a selection of writings, from the beginning of Andrew Jackson's presidency through his farewell address. These readings included an excerpt of de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America," which spoke of the great equality found in America. We then were led to writings by Jackson, who detailed his idea of people, leaving out blacks, Indians, and women. Dr. Feller was illustrating that Jackson's idea of America was different than those who had an outside view. The readings concluded Jackson's ideas on the banking system, compared with the ideas of Henry Clay. Overall, Andrew Jackson had a radical view of what America should be, a view that was not shared by all of the greats of his time.

Costa Rican Bribri Community

2011-12-13T14:33:00.001-05:00

As I prepare for my January trip to Costa Rica, I have spent much energy researching the country’s history and keeping up with their current events. One article that is of particular interest to me found in the Tico Times newspaper is entitled: Technological World Reaching Costa Rica’s Indigenous Bribri Community. Within this article, the author, Adam Williams, discusses the first high school that will be built for the indigenous Bribri adolescents. Williams writes, “’The Liceo Académico de Sepecue is a model high school for indigenous communities,” an Education Ministry press release stated. “To build it, the elders of the community were consulted on several occasions to determine what type of school would fit the needs of area students and residents.’” It is hard to picture an area in the jungle of Costa Rica that is without opportunity for education past the 6^th grade, fortunately the members of the Bribri community will not have to experience this much longer. During my semester in Costa Rica, I hope to have the opportunity to visit the Bribri community and experience this time of excitement about their first high school.

Pink on Pink?

2011-12-13T13:26:00.003-05:00

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I would have the opportunity to meet a Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that the current Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives would comment on my attire during our Q&A session.

It was an absolute honor and privilege to meet with Speaker John Boehner this past semester for a few moments to discuss current events affecting our country, and I was even more honored that he Speaker noticed my pink shirt and tie that I wore for the evening. The Speaker himself claims to be a man with a keen eye for a sharp-looking tie. Known for his ties with the most elaborate patterns, stripes, and paisleys, he didn't fail to miss one amongst a group of 40 scholars that afternoon.

Upon myself being called on to ask a question, the Speaker abruptly asked me, "Son, are you wearing a pink tie on top of a pink shirt?" My reply was short, "Why, yes sir I am." His reply was even more profound, "Oh no, you can't wear that, it's too much pink. Pink on pink is never wise." The small crowd laughed and I along with them, as in my mind, I couldn't help but think "This actually just happened."

All in all, it was a great experience. And it's my hope that the Speaker will remember the tie if not the moment, as much as I did.

Moot Court Nationals

2011-12-12T15:13:00.000-05:00

Over the past few months, six scholars, including myself, prepared to travel to Orlando to participate in the American Collegiate Moot Court Association. Little under a week ago, we returned, having won second, third, and twelfth out of a field of over 50 teams.

The fictional problem case this year is one of great importance for our generation, as it deals with Internet privacy and political speech, which is always relevant. Below, there is a link to the fictional problem case, if the reader wishes to familiarize himself or herself with the case.

http://falcon.fsc.edu/mootcourt/2011%20ACMA%20Problem-amended%20Sept%209.pdf

In less than a month, we will send our three teams to nationals in California. There, we will compete against over 80 other teams to determine who is the best in the nation.

The Civil War

2011-12-12T15:11:00.000-05:00

First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln, by Francis Bicknell Carpenter (1864); oil on canvas

This past week, Dr. Thomas Mackey of the Department of History at the University of Louisville conducted a seminar entitled “The Civil War.” Dr. Mackey assembled a collection of documents dating from the period to better place our discussion in the proper historical context. Scholars read primary sources from both the North and the South, including Lincoln’s July 4th Address to Congress and Jefferson Davis’ Message to the Confederate Congress, 1861.

Much of our focus centered on the Emancipation Proclamation and the role it played during the Civil War. As Dr. Mackey explained, and as the text plainly reads, Lincoln’s proclamation applied only to those areas not presently under Union control. Neither did it apply to the border states. In short, on the day Lincoln signed the proclamation, it freed no slaves. Rather, proclamation added a second war-goal for the Union: that, should the Union prevail in its present struggle, the nation ought to be one without slavery.

To understand our past, we must never forget through whose eyes we ought to be looking.

Ben Shepard

Class of 2012

Top 10 Things to Avoid Around our Major Speakers

2011-12-12T11:08:00.005-05:00

Seeing as how I have three semesters left at the McConnell Center (four if you include this one), my weak math skills tell me I have eight blog posts left. That being said, this blog post and my next one will be the first two of eight installments of the McCenter Top 10 Lists.

In the spirit of preparation for our Major Speaker for the Spring, I find it appropriate for the first topic to be:

Top 10 Things to Avoid Around our Major Speakers:

10. Inappropriate Dress - This should go without saying, but if the Senator is nice enough to bring in the Secretary of State or the Speaker of the House, then please put on a suit. If you're not in business attire, then it's almost insulting.

9. Exhaustion - Oftentimes, our events are early in the morning. Make sure you aren't up all night studying or partying the night before. We are adults. If we show up to an event exhausted from lack of sleep, it looks bad on us all.

8. Profanity - This one is simple. I know we're all college students and we might use profanity every now and then in real life, but in the presence of a major speaker, the profanity should turn off.

7. Pointed Questions - Sure, we don't always agree with everything our major speakers say. I would bet money that Eric Kiser was boiling over with liberal rage at most of what John Boehner was saying. However we feel about a major speaker or his/her political views, we cannot allow our questions to seem too...pointed. If you have a genuine interest in the topic, ask the question, but don't be accusatory. Remember, those guys in the suits with the wires are allowed to hurt you.

6. Misinformed Questions - Just as bad as the pointed question is the misinformed question. Oftentimes when asking a question, we give an introduction to give the question a little background. That being said, PLEASE do not assert anything that is incorrect. Do a little research before showing up to the event. Read the Wikipedia article on them. Something. Jeez.

5. Dumb Questions - Remember in high school when your teachers told you "There's no such thing as a dumb question?" That's bull. A dumb question is even worse than a pointed, misinformed question. We have one of the top leaders of our country here to speak to our small group in a very candid session. Ask about their views on a current event, ask about their heroes, ask about how they balance work with family, but PLEASE do not ask a goofy interview-style question. I don't need to know what kind of pie Joe Biden would be (Pecan, btw).

4. Apathy - If you can sit in the same room as the Secretary of State, the Vice President, or any of our other major speakers and not be thrilled and engaged, you're a spoiled brat. Okay, that's a little harsh, but if you can come to one of these amazing opportunities and complain about how it's too early or you have better things to do, then please, please grow up and recognize what you're being handed.

3. Bad Handshakes - If you get the opportunity to shake our esteemed speaker's hand, please do so in the proper manner. If you don't know how to properly shake hands, it's fine. Be firm; make eye contact. DO NOT be a dead fish, but DO NOT give the death grip. If you need a handshake workshop, I'll make Dr. Gregg schedule one.

2. Unprofessional Behavior - Not only are we representing the McConnell Center in our small-group setting, we also represent the Center at the public event. That being said, we are usually seated closer to the speaker (as we were at the Boehner event) and, because of this, are in the public eye. Please behave like adults...at least in front of everyone.

1. Your Phone - I understand that as members of the Dumbest Generation, we all have crippling addictions to our respective cell phones. However, don't you think that maybe "omg party 2nite at mii hous" can wait until the VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA leaves? I think if you're caught texting at a major speaker event, you should be forced to read your text out loud in front of the group, like in high school. That might be dangerous, though...I feel like Joe Biden might actually have been interested in the party...

And so ends our first edition of The McCenter Top 10. There will be two of these a semester, put out...really whenever I feel like it.

Have a wonderful break, everyone!

With McLove,

Max Morley

Richard III

2011-12-12T09:18:00.004-05:00

I have always been a fan of William Shakespeare and this semester, we were asked to both read Richard III and then went, as a group, to the university's production of the same play. It is interesting to take the same play, read it yourself and interpret it however you may, and then see it performed, which is the interpretation of another person. Without discussing the quality of the production, it was great to be able to experience the play in two different forms and being able to compare the same work in two different arenas. I think it is something that we should consider for future learning opportunities in the center.

After the play was completed, a little later in the semester, the people who attended the play were asked to attend a seminar and discuss what they had read and seen at the production. While I was unable to make it to the seminar itself, I feel that it was a great way to put a cherry on top of the reading and viewing of one of Shakespeare's best and longest works.

William Shakespeare, who is widely considered the greatest playwrite of all, often times gets a bad reputation among the younger generation because of the language gap between our generation and Shakespeare's time. Individuals who write off Shakespeare and his work simply because they cannot make it through the language are missing out on some of the most timeless stories of all time. The viewing of the production allows some help for this. It was much easier to understand the words of the work when it is being acted out and there is actions involved with the words. That is, of course, if the actors do well, which I believe they did in the production we saw this semester.

2011-12-12T09:14:00.002-05:00

The World of J.R.R. Tolkien (with some C.S. Lewis)

2011-12-12T09:14:00.001-05:00

The end of this semester gave us the opportunity to read works by both C.S. Lewis as well as J.R.R. Tolkien and to learn of the vibrant history that the two authors have. We learned not only of the numerous works that they have written, but also of their personal histories and where the works that made them famous had their roots. Beyond this, we took a look at their relationship with each other and the group that they started at Oxford University known as The Inklings. This lead us to an interesting series of discussions in which we were able to compare the two while appreciating the works of both of the famous authors.

I, myself, am a huge fan of Tolkien but never really cared for Lewis or any of his works. The seminars that we had helped me to get a more in depth look at the life and works of Lewis and lead me to the truth that I wrote him off before taking a real look at his work. While it is true that I will never be a fan of his Chronicles of Narnia series, I allowed this bias to keep me from even exploring his other works. These other works are things that are much closer to my personal taste and interests. It may be time to look at some new Lewis. New to me, at least.

At the end of the day, I am still a major fan of Tolkien and these seminars allowed me to see the man behind the magical works that I have loved for years. Beyond that, I look forward to the lecture and seminar series that is coming to the center in the ring that is centered around The Lord of the Rings. This is, as is true with many people, my favorite series of his. I look forward to getting lost in the books again and really look forward to getting lost in the with other scholars.

Insight into the life of Varina Davis, First Lady of the Confederacy

2011-12-10T14:26:00.001-05:00

I just left for my second trip to the Philippines with the University of Louisville's International Service Learning Program and missed the McConnell Center's public lecture by Dr. Joan Cashin. Cashin is the author of First Lady of the Confederacy: Varina Davis's Civil War. Though I missed the lecture, I was still able to learn from the life and times of Davis through Cashin's biography.

The books discusses Varina's outgoing personality; Varina considered conversation an art and had the ability to defuse an uncomfortable situation with humor. Davis stood out for her bracing wit, cutting humor, and seemed to be extremely personable. Her love for Jefferson Davis was evident as she yearned for his companionship when he was away (as did their children). Varina had an "easy friendship" with Lizzie Blair Lee for several years.

There was no solid evidence whether Varina supported secession. To many she gave the impression that she wanted to be the First Lady of the United States, not the Confederacy. It appeared she was both pro-Union and pro-slavery, declaring emancipation unconstitutional but wanting the states to remain in the Union and try to affect another compromise. Varina Davis seemed like someone who had the ability to stand out in a crowd, tried to be supportive of her husband yet always remained true to her own convictions.

A. Jenkins
McConnell Scholar, Class of 2012

Advice to students headed for study abroad in China

2011-12-10T13:49:00.001-05:00

I was unable to attend a recent McConnell Center event where my classmates shared some travel advice to McConnell Scholars who will soon be on their way to the People's Republic of China.

In my absence, I offer the following advice: Be open-minded and take advantage of every opportunity you can while there. This past summer I was able to really immerse myself in the Chinese culture by being open-minded. Open-minded for me was about trying new things. I didn't necessarily have to enjoy the different foods or all of the places we visited, but I went to all of the sites we visited and at least tried some foods I wasn't familiar with before - such as deep-fried bees! The majority of my memories come from me taking advantage of our non-class days and traveling the city. That bit of spontaneity - wanting to be adventurous, visiting sites on my own and taking advantage of every opportunity offered - made my trip. What you put in to the trip will be what you get out of it!

Junior McConnell Scholars - plan early and start practicing your Chinese!

A. Jenkins
McConnell Scholar, Class of 2012

Getting Older

2011-12-09T17:00:00.004-05:00

On one bright summer day, I was walking to campus when some kids who lived on my street talked to me and addressed me as "sir" and "Mr." I felt weird being addressed in this manner, seeing as I did not feel much older than them. But seeing as they were silly little children, I quickly forgot the experience. However, I have noticed that over the past few months, both adults and children have been addressing me as "sir" and "Mr." much more often. I honestly do not feel like I am worthy of adulthood yet.

But it turns out adulthood is not something the world necessarily warns you about. Sometimes, it just thrust upon you and, before you know it, you supposed to act mature and responsible. While I feel unprepared for getting older and finding my place in the real world, I take solace in the fact that I still have at least a few years before I have to sacrifice my youth completely.

For the next few weeks, I plan on many late nights with my friends back home, which will include Nerf gun wars, video games, lightsaber battles, and various other activities for which I am way too old.

Happy Holidays!

Connecting through the McConnell Center

2011-12-09T14:56:00.003-05:00

Robert Frost once wrote that “a poem begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a homesickness, a lovesickness. . .” I had given up on my poetry writing for a number of months after entering college just over a year ago, and did so under multiple excuses (I didn’t think it was good enough, I didn’t have the time for it, I was afraid to share it, etc.). But the loss of my creative outlet created that sense of wrong and homesickness of which Frost wrote.

However, the “lump in my throat” was soon remedied after the McConnell Center brought in creative writing professor Jeffrey Skinner to lead a seminar on the poetry of Wendell Berry last semester. It was one of my favorite seminars as I was in awe of Professor Skinner’s knowledge and enthusiasm, so I decided to register for his poetry class this fall. As I reflect on the semester, I realize how very blessed I am to have met him through the McConnell Center. Professor Skinner’s class has challenged my understanding of the art form and provided me with meaningful opportunities for growth as a poet. Most importantly, his class has given me the confidence not only to continue writing, but also to share it with others. I’ve shared my portfolio with a number of close friends and family, and I intend to submit my work to a number of writing contests in the near future.

The McConnell Center put me in contact with a great program of which I was previously unaware, so I strongly encourage the McConnell Center community to visit the University Creative Writing Program website in hopes that you may find a similar life-changing connection.

Visit http://louisville.edu/english/creative-writing/axton-reading-series.html to learn more about classes offered, contests, scholarships, and the Axton Reading Series (which brings highly distinguished writers from across the country to the University of Louisville for two-day visits to read from their work and to share their knowledge and expertise with the University and Louisville community).

A Semester's Worth of Quotations

2011-12-09T14:46:00.003-05:00

Over the past semester, I have collected a myriad of quotes from things I've read and heard, and I'd like to share some of them.

"For children are innocent and love justice; while most of us are wicked and naturally prefer mercy." - Chesterton

"Mythology is not a disease at all, though it may, like all human things, become diseased." - J.R.R. Tolkien

"I shall not undertake to say where the line between Great Britain and the colonies should be drawn; but I am clearly of opinion, that one ought to be drawn." - George Washington

"Every man is guilty of the good he did not do." - Voltaire

"If whitewashing a fence is your job, embrace it as the one task you have the opportunity to perform perfectly today. Aspire to be the best white-washer in the business, to make that fence your Sistine Chapel." - Rick Pitino

"Some people are born leaders, some achieve leadership, and others have leadership thrust upon them." - William Shakespeare

"We do wrong to deny it, when we are told that we do not trust human reason: we do not and we may not. Human reason set up the cross on Calvary, human reason set up the cup of hemlock, human reason was canonized in Notre Dame." - Keith Feiling

I extend my thanks to the McConnell Center for exposing me to all these new ideas and new people. My excitement for the next four years is unparalleled to anything I have ever experienced before.

Sean Southard '15

Always room to study at the McConnell Center

2011-12-09T12:37:00.002-05:00

I have realized once again that I am so grateful to be a McConnell Scholar. As I see students rushing around the library trying to find a place to study, I know I always have a seat ready for me in the Center which is nice because if I tried to "study" on that couch, it would turn into a "nap." As I see students try to hustle others off computers, I know of a place where I can find one and very rarely is there none open. I come to the library and do not have to be surrounded by people when trying to study and that makes me oh so happy. The McConnell Center is a wonderful gift to my life. Without it, I do not know where I would be...I only know it would not be studying. Thank you for making finals a little easier.

This is Water.

2011-12-09T11:57:00.002-05:00

Over the past year and a half, the McConnell Center has introduced me to great minds of both past and present. I have been challenged by the works of John Lukacs, and changed by St. Augustine’s “Confessions.” I have been inspired by the works of Wendell Berry, and influenced by C.S. Lewis’ “Surprised by Joy.” Even Western fiction author Louis L’Amour has contributed to my growth. However, the ideas and values imparted to me by the words of these great minds would mean significantly less if I had not encountered the work of David Foster Wallace.

Wallace has been named “one of the most influential and innovated writers of the last twenty years” by The Los Angeles Times. His most widely known novel, Infinite Jest, was included in Time Magazine’s All-Time 100 Greatest Novels (covering the period 1923-2006). I have read a number of Wallace’s essays and short stories, and I have recently begun the 1,079-page journey that is Infinite Jest; but the most valuable lesson I have learned from DFW is found in the short anecdote he gave during his commencement address to the 2005 graduates of Kenyon College in Ohio:

“There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, ‘Morning, boys. How's the water?’ And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes ‘What the hell is water?’”

To read the full text, click here: [http://moreintelligentlife.com/story/david-foster-wallace-in-his-own-words]

The point of this fish story, according to Wallace, “is merely that the most obvious, important realities are often the ones that are the hardest to see and talk about.” This means that if we are ever to experience any type of growth, we must be able to look beyond the ‘lens of self’ to truly understand the people and experiences that we daily encounter.

So what does that mean?

For the two fish in Wallace’s anecdote, it means seeing the water and remembering that it is transient. For a sophomore McConnell Scholar, it means being “just a little less arrogant” so that I may obtain a little more “critical awareness about myself and my certainties.” It means being a little less self-centered so that I may live a more compassionate and meaningful life.

Moot Court 2011

2011-12-09T11:05:00.002-05:00

As a McConnell Scholar, I have annually participated in the moot court competition, and this year, just like previous ones, the case presented many interesting nuances and legal intricacies. The 2011 case dealt with First Amendment and Fourth Amendment issues, as the case centered around the federal investigation of a fictitious law school professor who may have been involved in a plot to assassinate President Obama. In the course of the fictitious investigation, federal officials had to use a subpoena to access a secured chat room.

With this case, we were presented with two interesting questions: for those dealing with the First Amendment, exactly how far does the First Amendment protection of free speech extend; can ambiguous speech implicate an individual in a plot to assassinate a sitting president. The people addressing Fourth Amendment questions had to discuss the matter of privacy on the internet and whether a substantial state interest can be enough to override these privacy interests. It was my responsibility to argue the Fourth Amendment side, and the task of coming up with ways to argue both for and against privacy interests on the internet was more difficult than I first thought. For the government side, I had to argue that chatrooms could not be private; on the alternative, I had to argue that it was possible to have privacy on the internet, even though the Supreme Court has never before held this.

As always, it was very interesting to go to the Southeast Regional Moot Court competition and hear the various legal arguments others came up with for the case. With Melissa Moore, my team was able to do well enough on the first day of the competition to secure a top seed for the second day. We eventually finished third place overall in the regional. We will be going to California to argue at Nationals, and hopefully we will be able to have a good run at the national competition as well.

Impressions of Turkey - Traveling Abroad

2011-12-09T10:21:00.003-05:00

This past semester, my international criminal justice systems class went to Turkey and met with Turkish police and government officials. The idea was to see the principles we studied in class enacted in the real world. We visited several of the larger cities, most notably Kahramanmaraş, Istanbul, and Ankara, the capital. In addition to attending various seminars on the measures that the Turkish police force has taken to combat all types of crime, we saw many of the most famous historical and geographic sites of the country.

We first visited Kahramanmaraş, which is not considered to be one of the main tourist destinations of Turkey but is certainly growing rapidly and is expected to be one of the three biggest cities in the country within the next few years. While there, we met both the governor and the mayor and were able to listen to many officers from different sectors of the police force. Much of this discussion was centered on the police response to terrorist threats, which is a serious problem in Turkey. (Several major terrorist organizations, most notably the PKK, operate in the country.) We were given a unique opportunity to better understand how their government and police force operates.

We then visited Ankara, the capital and administrative center of Turkey, and met officers whose duties spanned the entire country. We were also able to see much of how the government interacts with the people. Because national elections took place just a couple weeks after we left, our visit coincided with the most important part of the campaigning season. As such, we were able to see how these campaigns are conducted in Turkey. The political advertisements were even more ubiquitous than they are in America, especially in the capital city. Almost every building had huge banners flying from it advertising their chosen candidate, and the streets were all lined with political signs. From what we could see, it is very apparent that the Turkish people take great pride in their government and are very willing to be participants in it.

The Turkish people’s pride in their government was evidenced by their views - which at times seemed to border on veneration - of Ataturk, the founder of their modern government. Every government building we saw, and most of the private buildings, had at least one painting or statue of Ataturk - and most had more. We were warned before we left that it is actually a criminal offense to ridicule the founding father. There is also a very large monument in Ankara that houses Ataturk’s body, equipped with honor guard, a museum about his life and accomplishments and a closed-circuit camera that continually views his corpse. The only comparison I can come up with for Americans would be the way George Washington is generally portrayed, but even this representation comes nowhere near to the esteem with which Ataturk is regarded to the Turks.

Our final stop in Turkey was to Istanbul, the largest city and cultural and historical center of the country.My first impression was that it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with a vast cityscape dotted by the towering minarets of mosques. In Istanbul, we visited many of the important cultural centers, including the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar. Here we were able to reinforce our opinion on Turkish culture. The first thing we noticed was the hospitality of the Turkish people. Every person we visited was quick to offer us gifts, food and drink. We were constantly surprised by how generous and courteous every person we met was; from the police officials to the vendors at the bazaars there was not a single person who treated us poorly in any way. As great as Turkey was for its sites, food and the things we learned from our hosts, the best part of the entire experience was getting to interact with the people and experiencing Turkish culture.

In fact, I enjoyed Turkey so much that I am currently planning a study abroad program in Istanbul for several weeks after the conclusion of our China trip over the summer; I am also intending to later pursue a Fulbright Scholarship for Turkey after I graduate from Louisville. I would certainly recommend a trip to Turkey for anyone considering it.

A Poem

2011-12-09T10:05:00.003-05:00

There once was a group of young Scholars
At school, with anonymous dollars
In attempts to earn their baccalaureate
But they were given much more than that

They studied old dead peoples' books
And established an elitist look
With sunglasses made just for their heads
Having nightmares of Plato's Cave in their beds

Wendell Berry is more than a name
It means "more reading" and "more of the same"
Though perhaps we may still find some worth
In writings obsessed with preserving Kentucky dirt

They live in a world where "Meditations"
Are not tranquil, but cause endless frustrations
And where business casual is debatable dress
Trying to avoid looking like a complete mess

Scholars walk with an unusual swagger
Carrying all those big books made their backs hurt
At the end of the semester they are nervous
Wondering if they had enough hours of McConnell service

But at the end of it all, they are lucky
They are the brightest in all of Kentucky
They are given what many never have
A good education on which to brag

*some of the views expressed in this poem may or may not be held by the author*

- Sarah Stovall, '14

Journal of a McConnell Scholar

2011-12-09T09:09:00.002-05:00

XI - 6 - 2011

"Jackson's America"
with Dr. D. Feller

Presidency
"It was thought that anyone who desperately wanted the presidency should not have it. A man who seeks the presidency with vigor was thought to only seek fame. This strikes me as odd. Today, all presidential hopefuls seek the presidency. It is usually a life ambition to be president.

"For this reason, Jackson said he would serve as president if he were dragged to Washington. This is why others campaigned for presidential candidates."

"I would love to know that a presidential candidate, say President Obama, would continue to do his job while others campaigned for him. - Just seems like the president has a lot on his plate without starting a full-time campaign... Just goes to show that some historic practices may be best."

-Benjamin Whitlock

Surviving My First Semester

2011-12-09T05:57:00.001-05:00

As cliché as it sounds, I honestly cannot believe that the first semester of my college career is behind me. Eighteen years of anticipation all came down to three and a half months of new experiences. Coming to college, I was full of expectations of some idealized world of intellectual curiosity, but I was also wary of the unknown life that I was about to encounter. Through my first semester as a McConnell Scholar, my expectations have been met, possibly exceeded, and my fears pacified.

In light of all the opportunities available on campus, none has been more exciting or rewarding than those provided by the McConnell Center. Through no other program on campus would I have been able to travel to Williamsburg, VA and Washington, D.C., meet Speaker of the House John Boehner, and participate in such a wide variety of seminars and lectures. Each of my experiences with the Center has provided something valuable that I would not have been able to discover in any other environment.

In addition, this semester I was given the opportunity to practice with and learn from the Moot Court Team. This branch of the McConnell Center allows scholars to learn the fundamentals of Constitutional law in an interactive and competitive manner. The team went on to represent the Center in the South Atlantic Regional Tournament in Orlando, FL where they were highly successful. This experience reaffirmed a personal interest in constitutional law as well as providing me with yet another opportunity for both personal and academic growth.

On top of all these incredible opportunities, the McConnell Center quickly became a substitute home on campus. In an environment where it is easy to get lost in the crowd, the Center offers an atmosphere that fosters the best of both scholastic and personal development and achievement. The combination of the academic and social spheres of a college experience is perfectly embodied by the McConnell Program and the scholars and staff that make it all possible. Without the McConnell Center, the University of Louisville would not feel like my home away from home.

Journal of a McConnell Scholar

2011-12-09T00:30:00.002-05:00

XII - 8 - 2011
As the first of the blogs by this name, I will provide any reader with a short explanation as to why I am writing in this format. Since the onset of my career as a McConnell Scholar, I have understood the importance of maintaining a journal. In fact, it has become my habit to keep two journals: a personal journal (which I may pull information from time to time) and a reading journal. In the reading journal, I have included any thoughts that I deem interesting whilst reading... well, anything. Also, I have included thoughts that have striken me during lectures or seminars. These journal entries shall become my blog. - For as Louis L'Amour wrote, it is only apropos to say "May there be a road." I will hence-forth share my experiences along the road to truth - to what is. Please share my learning and growing experiences with me. Thank you.

Inscription in the Beginning

"Caught up in the Plot" - C.S. Lewis

XI - 11 - 2011

Discussion on C.S. Lewis
"On Stories"

"Sometimes, fairy tales may say best what is to be said."

Movies
"Do movies kill books?Are we missing something valuable by watching movies? - However,I ask the question, I am sure that the answer is no. This book, or essay rather, asserts that we read because the stories enthrall us. We love the events, we love how they play out, we love relating to the story by comparing our lives with the characters'. - More groundbreaking: I love to marvel at what could happen. This leads me to another question - What about fantasy stories? Tose events ccannot possible happen... ... ...

" ' The logic of a fairy tale is as strict as that of a realistic novel, though different.' - Lewis

"He says earlier:

" '... much more about giants and dragons - it is not necessary to believe in them; it may be a positive disadvantage.' - Lewis

"We can learn more from fantasy because anything is possible. This is a positive disadvantage. While movies do not allow us to visualize characters and settings for ourselves, they are still valuable to the story."

Excitement and Wine
"Excitement does not equal a great and enjoyable story. We do not read for pure excitement, just as we do not drink wine for the strength of the alcohol content. Alcohol does not make wine good. People enjoy it for different reasons.

"Some like wine because of taste, age, aeration, etc... Therefore, it only makes sense that some read stories for things other than excitment - beauty, poetry, etc... to get right down to it, we love to feel what characters feel. At least, that is the reason that I, personally, enjoy reading."

Caught up in the Plot
I've inscribed this in the front of this journal. Am I living in the way Lewis writes? - Full of life? Experiencing every detail? Or am I just learing to see the plot? I want to be caught up in the plot. I want to live and love life - I do not want to get to the end of my life's story to realize that I've missed enjoyable moments. From this day forward, I want to live every moment."

-Benjamin Whitlock

First Year in Moot Court

2011-12-08T23:48:00.004-05:00

As a freshman in Moot Court it was certainly a profoundly new experience. With a fair background in both debate and oration competitions, I can definitively say that Moot Court is a more intellectually enriching and difficult endeavor than any I have been involved with before. Before Moot Court I had never read a court case and did not know even the simplest details such as the meaning of per curiam or the significance of a number for a district. A few months later I am now dynamically better versed in the judicial system and the history of the First Amendment. More than content, however, it has helped me grow in the depth of my thought. Rather than seeing the surface meaning of cases and ruling, I have learned to analyze the underlying processes and similarities that exist. Furthermore, this skill set is one that I have carried outside of legal studies to simply an understanding of all types of situations. Overall, Moot Court has been a serendipitous ELO to have stumbled into, and has taught me the value of having substance behind rhetoric.

Arsh Haque
Class of '15

Alfred the Great

2011-12-08T22:39:00.005-05:00

Professor William Campbell visited the McConnell Center this past August. Although trained in Economics, his knowledge of English history was impressive. He spoke with us about Alfred the Great. The only English monarch to be given the epithet "the Great".

Alfred the Great, the King of Wessex, has lived on through the ages because of his defense of Southern England. He united the kingdom for the first time under one banner. He endured a number of defeats but was eventually triumphant in his attempt to expel the Vikings from the homeland.

A great number of lessons can be learned from the legends of King Alfred. Mainly, that perseverance with the help of a deeply rooted cultural tradition will pay off in the end. Alfred contributed much to the revival of his subjects educational ambitions. He viewed himself as the basis of both spiritual and mental fortitude in his kingdom and appointed officials that demonstrated pious, honest, and learned qualities.

Dr. Campbell recounted the many myths of Alfred, all of which, even in the inclusive nature of their historical accuracy, sparks fantastic images of England's heroic past. Those images will stay with me on our journey to Oxford and London this spring. They are incredibly valuable in understanding the English people's cultural pride and heritage.

Dr. Campbell's visit was one of my favorite this semester. His economic and literary interests provided a great example of someone who pursued his curiosities, wherever they took him.

Veterans Service

2011-12-08T18:07:00.002-05:00

If you did not know my dad and step mom are currently active duty in the Military. They are both currently stationed in Afghanistan. I miss them a lot! But the good news is that they come home in one month! As I have gotten older I have become more and more like my dad. My mannerisms, actions, and even the way I speak are almost a splitting image of my father. No one makes me laugh more then he does. My step mom is also great and she fits my dad perfectly. I am so excited for their return. I would like to thank everyone who has participated in making letters, cards and sending gifts to the troops overseas. I know those letters and gifts will be a blessing to all the soldiers one way or another. I look up to my dad for his dedication and service in the military, and its sad that I haven't done much for him or other soldiers and veterans before. I thank you all for giving back to the men and women who give so much to ensure our protection here at home. Pray for my dad's safe return, and thanks again.

Reflection on my summer internship with Senator McConnell

2011-12-08T15:42:00.001-05:00

Over the summer, I had the wonderful opportunity to intern in Senator Mitch McConnell's Washington, DC office. The experience proved to be everything I had hoped it would be, and more.

When I was in high school, I was selected as to be a Page in the United States House of Representatives. As a Page, I had the opportunity to move to Washington as a high schooler and experience the city while living on my own. Because of this opportunity, I had been exposed to the inner workings of the government and saw the House work- up close.

This summer, I got to experience the other chamber of the Legislative branch. For the first time, I was able to observe the United States Senate in the same way I had experienced the House of Representatives-- up close and personal.

While in the Washington office, I worked as a Legislative Intern. My research field encompassed all things having to do with Kentucky agriculture, energy, and wildlife. Prior to this experience, I was not very well versed in any of these issues. I was really happy that I got to learn as much as I did about them- they are among Kentucky's most important.

I lived in Washington with fellow McConnell Scholar, Justin Brandt. He also interned in the Senator's office, working in Education policy (if my memory serves me, correctly!) We were quite lucky to be able to share a room. Justin really came through for me and helped me find a place after I got scammed out of $3,000 through a fraudulent lease agreement. (That is a whooooole other story!) Living with someone who worked in the same office was nice because we kept the same schedule and were able to commute back and forth together everyday.

One of the most random (and cool) experiences of my internship was the opportunity to meet Martin Sheen. In the show "The West Wing," he played President of the United States, Jeb Bartlett. I was a big fan of the show and felt really cool when I had the opportunity to meet him. He was at the Capitol working on raising awareness for "Drug Courts."

I had one other interesting run-in while I was in Washington. One day, during lunch, I, believe it or not, ran into the President! My friend, David, and I were having lunch at "Good Stuff Eatery" near the Capitol and security got very tight. We wondered what was going on, but soon realized when we saw the President walk in! There were not many people in the place and when he came, they closed off the entrance. It was interesting because we were able to basically just "hang out" in a restaurant with the President. Since there weren't many people there, he was able to just walk around and chat with people. I didn't talk to him for very long, but we did shake hands and I wished him 'Happy Birthday.'

Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better experience in Washington. Because of my time there, going back is something that I am seriously considering doing after I graduate next summer. The fast paced behind-the-scenes action of the legislative body that is usually considered "slow moving," re-inspired my love for American politics. I am very grateful that the McConnell Center helped me finance part of my time in Washington with a $750 special grant.

The Freshman Experience

2011-12-07T18:21:00.000-05:00

So, roughly four months ago I arrived at the University of Louisville to begin my Freshman year as a McConnell Scholar. I had no idea what to expect from college life as a whole. I was nervous about the classes, living in a big city, and about meeting new people. However, looking back on the first semester, I had nothing to worry about. The University is great, the city is fun, and the people are wonderful.

The first semester of the McConnell Program provided me with amazing opportunities, and some of the best times I had this semester were with the program. How many college Freshman can say they have met the Speaker of the House, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, had an all-expenses paid trip to Washington D.C. and Williamsburg, Virginia, and have been in seminars led by experts in their fields? I believe the answer to be 10. Myself and the nine other Freshman McConnell Scholars.

I cannot express how fantastic an opportunity the McConnell Program is. It has already taken me places that I have never been and introduced me to people I never imagined being able to meet. Without the program, I do not think my college experience would have been nearly as amazing as it has been this semester.

Sam Whittaker

Liberal Education Luncheon

2011-12-07T18:14:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, freshman McConnell Scholars had a "liberal education luncheon" with Dr. Gregg. We discussed readings by Plato and Schall. I left the seminar with an understanding of the difference between training for a job versus training for an education. Many colleges just give students a training to go out and get a job, but as Scholars we strive to not only get training, but also an actual education. We discussed the importance of having self-discipline and taking our education into our own hands. Though our talk was cut short because of time constraints and finals, I felt as if there is so much more that I can do to really take charge of my education. So hopefully over Christmas break I will pick up a challenging read, discuss Plato with a friend, or just take some quiet time to really think about what I have learned this semester. As always Merry Christmas and GO CARDS!

Samantha Roney

McConnell Scholar, Class of 2015

A Greek McConnell

2011-12-07T17:44:00.002-05:00

That's me on the left. I'm with my Kappa Delta sisters/fellow McConnell Scholars - Taryn, Alex and Jessica.

As a freshman McConnell Scholar shadow host I always get the question, "Do you do anything other than the McConnell Program?" The answer to that question is YES, I do!

Being involved in activities other than the McConnell Center is important to create well-rounded leaders. Many Scholars, myself included, decide to join a Greek organization. I am a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, and other Scholars are a part of many other organizations. Being Greek and a McConnell is an awesome way to meet new people and help refine leadership skills. As a McConnell, I continually learn new ways to show my leadership skills through readings and community service. Through Kappa Delta, I refine my leadership skills through helping girls with academics, as I was just appointed Academics co-chair.

Being Greek and a McConnell has helped my first semester of college be more enjoyable and successful. Not only do I have all the support of my fellow McConnell Scholars, but I also have the support of all of my sisters. With the support of both I feel as if I can succeed in whatever I choose to do. As my first semester of college ends, I am - as I have always been - proud to be a Cardinal.

Samantha Roney
McConnell Scholar, Class of 2015

Mentoring in the Service Team, a semester in review

2011-12-07T15:38:00.003-05:00

The new design of the service component allows scholars to choose one of three areas to focus on: the environment, mentoring, or veterans. I had the pleasure of leading the mentoring track this semester and want to reflect back on a few of the events that we participated in.
This year, the McConnell center is continuing to partner with the Dawson Orman elementary school in downtown Louisville. The school has students from over twenty countries and many that live below the poverty line. Every time I go to the school, I am overwhelmed by how grateful the staff is for our help. The scholars mostly work with pre-kindergarten kids, usually reading books or just playing in the classrooms. One craft we did this semester focused around Shel Silverstein’s book, The Giving Tree. We helped each classroom make their own version of the Giving Tree by letting all of the kids put their thumb (or in most cases, their entire hand) into green paint and add a leaf to the tree. It was, albeit messy, a very sweet sight.
This semester, the mentoring track also worked with the Americana Community Center. The center focuses on international students. While there, I got to be an assistant in an ESL classroom for second graders. After doing some math and English help, the class went outside and into the gym for free time. I found myself crawling across bleachers and giving piggy back rides to most of the class. It was one of the best service projects I’ve ever been apart of. With the success of the mentoring service project this semester, I’m excited to see where we can serve and lead next semester!

Fourth amendment and the internet

2011-12-07T15:26:00.000-05:00

This year moot court discussed a mixture of fourth amendment privacy rights and first amendment free speech issues. Little did we know that this would become a current issue over the semester. The Supreme Court recently decided on a case that allows for federal agents to use GPS trackers without a warrant. Similar cases have ruled on the rights of the government to search Twitter accounts. This leaves many to wonder, what is really private on the internet?
The corner stone case for modern privacy rights is Katz v. United States. Here, the court established that the fourth amendment protects people not places. Further, this case and others to follow ruled that the fourth amendment must expand and evolve with changes in society. In most cases today, it seems the government has decided society does not have privacy in their online communications. Most of us have been told since we were young that what we put on the internet will be there forever, for all to see. The courts seem to agree with this reasoning, that nothing on the internet is really private.
However, the sixth circuits recent decision in Warshak vs. US seems to differ a little from the Twitter and GPS case. The court analogized a person’s email account as being the same as a home phone line and cited previous cases necessitating email as a form of self identity and self expression. This decision is one court fighting back against government over stepping their boundaries.

Fighting Racism

2011-12-07T15:11:00.006-05:00

After encountering a lot of hate while pursuing an interracial relationship, I have decided to take a stand. Racism is not dead, as many people believe. It still exists in our lives and it is time for more people to take a stand.

Yes, I am from Kentucky, and I have encountered many people who look down upon me for my interracial relationship. I am by no means saying that Kentucky is the only place where this happens. Racism is a problem throughout our entire country and our entire world.

By posting this video on CNN, I was not asking for sympathy. Many people have called me a "Drama Queen" and have said that I brought this upon myself. I don't want you to feel sorry for ME. I want you to feel sorry for the state of our country! Just because things are no longer segregated does not mean that everything is perfect. We need to fight for equality, not only when it comes to race, but other issues. Yes, people are different, but that does not mean we should discriminate, treat others differently, and hate.

STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT! Do not judge people on the color of their skin. Do not judge people for who they love. Stop the hate and start loving.

(Also, I want to make the note that not ALL of my family is displeased with me. I have many friends and loved ones who support me and I am very thankful for them. Still, there are those who have said things to me and who disapprove. What's sad is that there are many in this world who do the same. And I know I am not the only one experiencing this, and I am sure there are others who have encountered more racism. Like I said, this is not about ME. This is about the issues of racism within our country. I hope this gets people to start thinking.)

Featured on CNN ireport:

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-712941

A Million Thanks

2011-12-07T13:16:00.002-05:00

This semester at the McConnell center we wrote letters to the troops overseas. Support for the troops overseas is as important now as ever. What we do on the home front truly matters to everyone helping to get Iraq back on its feet. It is amazing being able to express my gratitude to these brave American troops in the Middle East, and to let them know that their hard work does not go unnoticed. It is sometimes bothersome because they are still over there, but I know those soldiers are doing what they were sworn into the military to do. There are plenty of ways to show support, but I do feel like letters are one way that is sincere and lifts their spirits. Let us not forget about them and the work they are doing for our country.

“My heart goes out to the families of these brave heroes. I believe the best way we can respect their memories is to finish their mission in Iraq with honor,” - Senator Mitch McConnell.

A Very Merry Chinese Dinner

2011-12-06T23:27:00.000-05:00

This evening the junior and senior class had dinner together to discuss the upcoming trip to China for the juniors. It was a great evening in which we got to sit around, ask our questions and hear the stories that we hopefully will be able to come back with and tell all the scholars at retreat next fall.

From the first day of entering the program, the trip to China becomes engraved in our minds slowly etching its way closer to the front. Today while discussing what types of things we should and should not bring, where we will go and how long we will be in each city brought that reality to life. In less than six months, my class and I will be packing up to get on a plane and go to the other side of the world and learn about this distinct culture which we hear so much about. As the China coordinator, I've been working on the many aspects of the trip such as the details for our class in the spring, getting the paperwork ready for the group and organizing meetings such as tonight's. Sitting with my class and discussing everything helped put things into perspective and brought me to the realization that, "Wow, I need to start getting ready."

As winter break approaches and spring gets here, there will be many more updates and things will start to shape up nicely for the trip. Tonight was a great start to getting ready for the trip to China. I will keep you all informed with the progress next semester and hope that everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

2011-12-06T17:22:00.003-05:00

It is the season of giving and giving thanks. This year, the McConnell Center, through our service team, has given me a greater opportunity to get involved and give back to my community.

My favorite time of the year, Project Warm, came upon us in early November and was, as usual, incredibly fulfilling. It was wonderful to meet fellow Louisvillians and assist them in weatherproofing their homes and help them prepare for winter.

Our Veterans' has also been very invloved on campus getting donation packs together to send to our troops both in Afganistan and Iraq. We collected an enormous amount of non-perishables and financial donations. Books, drink mix, clothing, toiletries, games, puzzles, and cards were all included in the boxes.

This time of year can be a tough period for those who have lost someone this year. Empathy, understanding, and a listening ear can do more than a thousand gifts under the tree. Remember, to give. It is the most rewarding gift to humanity; the ability to care.

Enjoy the Muppets! It really is the most wonderful time of the year.

Washington at Night

2011-12-06T16:11:00.000-05:00

This semester the McConnell Center took another trip to Washington D.C. Washington is always a great experience, especially when you are given the opportunity to meet and speak with the people who keep the country running. Those experiences are ones that will never forget; however there are plenty of other things that make Washington a memorable city. Getting lost trying to get to the Old Post Office Pavilion and then having some lady follow behind you yelling because you wouldn’t give her money is one of those experiences.

One of the best experiences was walking the monuments at night. Zach, Meagan, Kiser, Ben, Neil, and I decided to take go see the monuments one night we were there. Not only does seeing the monuments at night give you a change to view their true beauty, but the 5 mile walk there and back also gives you a chance to have good conversations with friends. We did realize that the EPA takes up about 4 city blocks, but hey we need good air right? Washington is a city with a lot to offer, especially for young people looking for the perfect balance of business and fun. Everything in Washington is beautiful; you just have to take the time to appreciate it.

Leadership at its best.

2011-12-06T15:42:00.000-05:00

As the semester is coming to a close it is always interesting to just sit back and reflect on what has happened over the course of only four months. We have met people such as Speaker of the House John Boehner, Coach Rick Pitino, and Mayor Greg Fischer. Now even though all of these men are different in their own positions, they all exemplify what a leader is. Leadership for John Boehner is trying to get his majority to agree on bills and pieces of legislation to keep the government running. Rick Pitino's leadership is being ready every morning at 6 A.M. and getting his basketball team ready to play the next opponent and succeed in college. Mayor Greg Fischer has the responsibility of a city from finding a new police chief to cleaning and improving city government; leadership comes in all forms.

One thing that I can take away from all of these leaders is that they are all dedicated to what they do. There is no set manual to run their positions because it changes from day to day. As Rick Pitino pointed out, in the morning he could have a full roster and by the afternoon two players could be injured, thus changing his game plans. Another key point that can be taken away from them, is to be yourself and stay true to your values. Even though these men seem like titans who are part of an elite group of people, they are all just regular men. This lesson is what has struck to me the most. Regardless of how powerful or famous anyone is, they are, at the end of the day regular people with extraordinary jobs. My definition of leadership has changed some this semester with more emphasis that anyone can be a leader. Even though some people cannot handle being a leader on big scale operations or with big projects, a leader is someone who can take care of what they are responsible of, and do it to the best of their ability.

Road Trip

2011-12-06T15:36:00.000-05:00

Part of the college experience has to be the road trip. During Labor Day Weekend, a group of McConnell Scholars and a friend ventured to Niagara Falls. As you could expect, Niagara Falls was beautiful; but what made the trip were the random stops and the random trip to Canada, without passports. The first bright idea we had was to leave Louisville at a time that we could watch the sunrise on Lake Erie. This idea was great, beside the fact that there are a lot of bugs on Lake Erie and I don’t like bugs. Second best bright idea that we had was to buy this 90 dollar tour pass that turned out to be pointless. I won’t name the person who had the idea, because oSha gets very mad when we talk about it. Last and best bright idea was going to Canada. Our tour guide lady told us that if we could somehow get into Canada, that the United States would have no choice but to let us back into the country; although they may detain is for a few hours. Yeah we got detained for half an hour in Canadian immigration, but the experience was well worth it. All I will say is that I have plenty of stories to tell my grandchildren one day!

King Arthur in Our Time

2011-12-06T14:17:00.000-05:00

As a part of the America’s British Culture Extended Learning Opportunity, the McConnell Center invited Dr. Michael Williams to lead a seminar on “Modern Camelots: King Arthur in Our Time”. Professor Williams is an assistant professor in the Division of Humanities in A&S, here at the University of Louisville. As an enthusiast of medieval folklore and experience as a fantasy novelist, Dr. Williams has an extensive knowledge of fables pertaining to King Arthur and many modern day portrayals of King Arthur. Dr. Williams began the seminar by providing an insightful explanation of the study of Arthurian folklore, the desirable traits expressed in King Arthur, and the way in which eras of transition elicit Arthurian leaders.

As Dr. Williams connected prominent leaders such as John F. Kennedy to the Arthurian ideal, he discussed the ways in which Arthur can be seen in recent history and in our own times. By discussing how he believes that Arthur-like figures emerge only in times of transition, Williams ties these figures to the Arthur in medieval folklore by noting the common goal of reforming society toward justice and truth.

Once we had gained a solid base knowledge of the importance of the fable of King Arthur in modern society, Dr. Williams led a discussion on the readings he recommended. This discussion allowed scholars and faculty, alike, to raise important questions and explore certain aspects of King Arthur more in depth. The seminar concluded with our viewing and discussion of various sources depicting the story of King Arthur in a variety of different lights. Dr. Williams provided everyone in attendance with an insightful perspective on King Arthur and the omnipotence of his values throughout the ages.

The Civil War: A Sesquicentennial Seminar

2011-12-04T16:13:00.002-05:00

On November 28, a group of McConnell Scholars sat down with Dr. Thomas Mackey, a History professor at UofL, to discuss the American Civil War. The Scholars have been studying different aspects of American History throughout the semester, and the Civil War is the latest and, in my opinion, the most important event we have studied thus far.
The Civil War is the defining moment in American History. The nation that we are today was shaped and formed in the crucible of fratricidal war. Before the war, the United States were referred to as "the United States are." It was not until after the war, when the idea of a Union of States gave way to a united nation, that the United States was referred to as "the United States is." Dr. Mackey, an expert in his field, drew our attention to documents from the time period to give us a better understanding of the war's beginning, its transformation from a fight to preserve the Union to a crusade against slavery, and the difficult task of Reconstruction (a task which some would argue is not yet complete). President Jefferson Davis' speech to the Confederate States Congress in April 1861 and President Abraham Lincoln's address to the United States Congress in July 1861 are just two examples of the documents that help show how complicated the causes of the war really were and the disagreement between the two sides.
It is of the utmost importance that we as McConnell Scholars know and understand American History. If we cannot understand the events of our past, we have no hope of understanding the present or shaping the future. The Civil War is THE defining moment in our history, and its effects are still being felt today. Our history makes us who we are, and we ignore it at our peril.

"The truth is this: The march of Providence is so slow and our desires so impatient; the work of progress is so immense and our means of aiding it so feeble; the life of humanity is so long, that of the individual so brief, that we often see only the ebb of the advancing wave and are thus discouraged. It is history that teaches us to hope." - Robert E. Lee

Freedom Isn't Free

2011-12-04T00:06:00.016-05:00

On December 1 and December 2 several McConnell Scholars, including myself, hosted a fundraiser to benefit the men and women in our armed forces. With help from family, friends, and UofL students and staff, we were able to raise almost $500. With this money we will be assembling care packages and shipping them out this coming week. I'm very pleased to say that some of the items we buy will be going to Freshman McConnell Scholar Andrew Stewart's father and stepmother, both of whom are currently serving our country in Afghanistan. I'm also happy to announce that part of our donations will go to the Support for Overseas Students Program (SOS), which was created by former McConnell Scholar Jordan Glover to help support local Afghan children. Jordan Glover is also currently stationed in Afghanistan. Many thanks to everyone who contributed!
I cannot begin to express how fulfilling this service experience was for me. It was extremely rewarding to sacrifice a little time and money for the men and women who sacrifice so much for me and my country daily. Because of the longevity of the War on Terror, we sometimes take for granted the sacrifices these men and women continue to make. We must remember, freedom isn't free.

South Africa Hosts The United Nations Climate Change Conference

2011-12-02T15:05:00.002-05:00

The 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Climate Change Conference is held in Durban, South Africa this year. Shortened to COP17, this conference addresses climate issues affecting countries across the globe. Efforts to regulate global impact on the environment began with the World Climate Conference and led to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the implementation of the United Nations Climate Change Conference. In 1995, the first Conference of Parties, COP1, was held in Berlin and since its establishment the UNCCC has made large steps toward addressing global climate change issues. The biggest impact these conferences have had is the establishment of the Kyoto Protocol.

The Kyoto Protocol was established in hopes of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Specific provisions of the Protocol call for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, methane, sulphur hexafluoride and nitrous oxide as well as the reduction of products and procedures that emit hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons. 191 countries have signed and ratified the Protocol, excluding the United States, the only signatory not to approve of the Protocol. American leaders have chosen not to sign the protocol because the restrictions would adversely affect America’s economy.

This year in the 17^th Conference of Parties countries are aiming to advance implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, the Conventions, the Bali Action Plan, and the Cancun Agreements. A student from Point High School, the school in South Africa that I attended the fall semester of my senior year, was invited to present at the conference. Chuma Magusha and another student in the Eden District Municipality’s Youth Climate Change Knowledge Exchange will discuss adaptation and mitigation of climate change in the Mossel Bay area, and greening initiatives at their schools. Hopefully the leadership ability displayed in these young high school students will mean a brighter history for political reform in South Africa.

Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika

God Bless Africa

The LSAT

2011-12-02T14:06:00.000-05:00

Thought the ACT was bad? Try taking the LSAT. On December 3, I undergo one of the most difficult challenges of my collegiate career: attempting to ace the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). For nearly a year, I have been preparing. Starting in March 2011, I collected practice books and began testing myself with old exams. My thanks to the McConnell Center for providing such materials. On and off for the next year, I checked my progress, determining what sections needed the most work and what sections could be given less attention. No section could be completely ignored. Additionally, it was important to approach the examination as a whole, not only as a compilation of sections. After all, the intellectual focus needed for the five hour LSAT demanded as much practice as the questions themselves. Some signed up for the LSAT-approved preparatory class. Though the class forced its participants to confront the LSAT with practice, I did not find the cost justifiable. With the right amount of discipline, any individual could manually teach themselves what was learned in the class. Wish me luck and remember to start studying earlier if you ever find yourself considering law school.

Memories and the British Culture ELO

2011-12-02T13:48:00.001-05:00

As part of the McConnell Center’s British Culture ELO, I had the opportunity to relive one of the most exciting experiences of my life: a summer study in the United Kingdom. The ELO concentrated on the Inklings, a literary focus-group of illustrious British authors. In discussing their works, the locations of their meetings, and the topics of their discussions, I was able to again place myself in the scholarly atmosphere of Oxford that I missed so much. In the process, I shared photographs of the Eagle and Child (a favorite pub of the Inklings) as well as Oxford’s Magdalene College (the location of C.S. Lewis’s office). Thanks to the McConnell Center, I not only relived a study abroad program, but also many of my favorite childhood memories. After all, few books did more to shape my views of right and wrong, good and evil than J.R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. I am looking forward to rereading Tolkien’s masterpiece and exploring others’ insights this spring.

McConnell Scholar On Campus Leadership

2011-12-01T14:22:00.005-05:00

It's very important for all of the scholars to be leaders on campus. We have leaders in SGA, Greek Life, Recognized Student Organizations and local chapters of national organizations. McConnell Scholars help add a lot to the vibrancy of campus, but more important is the work with all students across the campus. Without their help many of our goals and initiatives would not have support within the organizations we lead. While McConnell Scholars are not the only leaders on campus, the leadership experienced through members of the program helps better the University of Louisville.

The following is just a bit of the collaborative efforts through my leadership in SGA. For more information go to www.uoflsga.org and check the accomplishments tab.
Top 5 Accomplishments this semester:
1) Eliminated the Diploma/Graduation Fee saving students 85,000 annually.
2) Hired an SGA Advancement Officer that raises money specifically for SGA and endows the Chair positions.
3) Prepared a bill to be sent to the state legislature that defines college affordability and makes sure that the state does its part in making sure our universities are affordable. Kentucky currently receives an F on college affordability and ranks 49th out of 50 states.
4) Started the Barefoot Campaign which is a march on Frankfort for college affordability.
5)As a way to provide discounts for local businesses to students,
SGA has brought on University Mobile, a text based service
at no cost to students that could raise over $100,000 for SGA in
only a few years. Text UL to 78601 to sign up! Anyone can sign up and it benefits all int he Louisville area.

An amazing amount has been accomplished and a full report is issued on the website.
Also check out Cardcast to learn about different organizations on campus.

Working with Frankfort on College Affordability

2011-12-01T14:13:00.003-05:00

* The following is a speech to be given at the Rally for Higher Education in Frankfort by UofL SGA President Kurtis Frizzell in the coming Spring. Feedback is appreciated.

Education Cuts: Kentucky’s Attempt to Fulfill It’s Own Stereotypes
In the early years of Kentucky, a man would study by candlelight in his own home. The same man, paying nothing for his education, could become a State Senator and President of the United States of America. One man in that circumstance helped end slavery and preserved the union. Abraham Lincoln commented upon the subject of education, “I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people may be engaged in.” In each of our respective positions whether they be; students, citizens, statesmen, are we living up to the importance of education expressed by our own self-educated, Kentucky Statesman, and former President, Abraham Lincoln. If Lincoln were here today, what would he say to the inability for our citizens to gain a job in our state due to the increase in the cost of education? More inflation occurred in costs of education than in any sector of our economy over the last 30 years. It is time for all of us to do our part and regain hope in the slogan, Kentucky: Where education pays!
Today, the Presidents from all Public Universities in the State of Kentucky come together to fight to keep our state’s Education slogan. Together we warn that college affordability is the most important item needing focus in our state’s near future. Together we warn that with the federal government failing at Pell Grants that the state most focus to help our own citizens. Together we warn that without action our state will continue to receive its yearly grade of “F” on college affordability. What if our teachers worked in the classroom as hard as our state works on college affordability? What if our students worked on their homework as hard as our state worked on college affordability? If they did, we would have uneducated doctors, lawyers, and engineers.
We should all thank our Governor, senators and representatives that are knowledgable on this important issue. We should send out greater thanks to the senators and representatives that stand up and sponsor the bill as written by the Student Government Association of the University of Louisville. They join us in believing that Kentucky should raise its grade so that we are no longer failing our students. The bill defines college affordability and focuses on the state’s duty to keep our students out of overwhelming debt. The bill helps ensure that the state strongly tries to remain in the scope of the rubric presented by the Council on Postsecondary Education, an organization put into effect by the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997 and charged with monitoring tuition rates and recommending state funding for state education institutions. These and many more goals sponsored by our state will help reform college affordability to that slogan our state once envisioned. Lincoln would be proud of the engagement that this bill places on education.
We must also emphasize that, we understand that our legislators are doing a great deal, but they need to be reminded in a big way how important education is not only to this Commonwealth, but to the people in it. Eleven budget cuts in eleven years is not something we should be willing to accept, and it is not something that we should write off as a side effect of poor economic times. If our state wants to require more and more out of our universities, then we must have adequate funding with which to succeed.
If the state demands we produce higher-quality research, we need adequate funding for technology. If the state calls upon us to graduate more and more students with degrees, we need adequate funding to keep those students in college. If the state requires programs for diversity, we need adequate funding for those programs. If the state requires higher admission rates, we need adequate funding for recruitment. If the state wants more scholarships, we need adequate funding to counter yearly tuition escalation. Kentucky ranks 47th in the nation on residents holding a bachelors degree or higher, we need adequate funding if we want to improve Kentucky’s standing within our nation.
The University of Louisville alone has faced $15 million in budget cuts from the state, while the state has demanded more and challenged the institution on terms of diversity, admission rates and test scores. The state further challenges the institution on research achievements, scholarships and degrees.
Specifically, UofL has been called by the Kentucky Legislature to become the premier metropolitan research university, not only in our state, but in our nation. I can understand why the University of Louisville students are upset, I can understand why the University of Louisville students wrote this bill, and I can understand why the students march in barefoot to warn this state that our citizens grow poorer with the rise in cost of education. They march to encourage the passing of the College Affordability Bill! Senators take note, that the students have written this bill because they realize if they don’t act the state will never scrutinize itself on this issue. These students are from all different backgrounds and political affiliations, but they share one common message. “Education Cuts, Kentucky’s attempt to fulfill it’s own stereotypes!”
What we have here today is NOT merely an Occupy Frankfort movement. It is a movement to ensure that some day, we will be able to have an occupation. In a 10 year span, Kentucky’s median family income went down 20%, while Four year colleges and Universities escalated tuition by 105%. Kentucky was the second highest tuition escalation in the nation. Thus, Kentucky is almost last in terms of college affordability in the nation. Additionally, students have paid more for tuition and fees per full time student than the state has allocated since 2008. The state used to fund more dollars than student’s paid for education before 2008. Kentucky is digressing its standards and placing more burden on students with education cuts. The facts about Kentucky’s dedication to education are not helping recruit the best and brightest students to Kentucky’s universities.
An area of great concern with the rise of tuition is families with lower incomes. Middle Class families in Kentucky must pay between 10-17% of their total income for the cost of tuition at a Public University. Why have Kentucky legislators allowed institutional tuition revenues to grown 66% since 2004, while the state financial aid has only grown 15%? Kentucky law makers must battle these statistics by focusing on lower income families and the importance for our citizens to have a college education. Sixty-two percent of eligible applicants for the need-based aid programs,—were denied assistance in 2011. The College Affordability Bill will inspire lawmakers to change these statistics in the future by passing laws to completely fund the CAP grant so all students who are eligible receive funding, prioritize CAP, KTG and KEES funding in the budget process in order to prioritize aid to those in poverty, and re-direct funds from the Postsecondary Tuition Tax Credit to need-based aid.
As students, what greater calling could you have than to fight for college affordability, and what greater let down could there be than to remain neutral? As senators and representatives, do you not have an obligation to college affordability in our state, and would you not be letting down the states slogan if we continue to make Kentucky, a state where education costs. Kentucky must pass the Higher Education Affordability Act, or we will be fulfilling Kentucky’s negative stereotypes in the future by forcing our students to be shoeless and poor in exchange for their needed education. We are not here in protest. We are not here in anger. We are here to raise awareness, to give our constituents a voice, and to fight to keep education affordable for all people in our state that wish to achieve it. The Barefoot Campaign serves as a warning to our legislators, that if they do not want to be responsible for our state’s stereotypes then THEY MUST ACT NOW! Thank you.

Capitol Politics: A D.C. Experience

2011-11-30T21:48:00.002-05:00

In October, McConnell Scholars of all ages were invited to attend a 3 day conference in Washington, DC that was focused on Capitol politics. The McConnell Center hosted the trip and even covered all expenses for the McConnell Scholars who chose to take the trip.

Over the course of the 3 day trip, we had the opportunity to meet and interact with some of the United States top lawmakers and their staffs. We also had the chance to take special tours that were arranged through the McConnell Center and Senator Mitch McConnell's Washington, DC staff. Among our special tours were tours of the White House and even the "Special Treasures Vault" at the National Archives.

During our tour of the White House, I noticed a white stripe across the front of my suit after leaning through a doorway to see one of the rooms. I looked around trying to figure out what I had done and then I saw a piece of paper on the ground. I picked the paper up and flipped it over to see that it said "WET PAINT." It had fallen off the wall where it had originally been taped up. Needless to say, I was not very happy that my suit had been ruined but, I did jokingly say that I got to take a pretty unique souvenir away from the world's most famous Exectuive Mansion.

Our tour of the Legislative vault at the National Archives was also something really special. On the tour, we were able to sit down in a room and see the original documents that make up some of the most important artifacts in American history. We got to see the hand-written Inaugural address of George Washington. We saw the handwritten nomination of Ulysses Grant to be General of the Union Army by President Lincoln. Along with these neat artifacts, we also saw hand written documents from Kentucky's own Henry Clay.

All in all, the trip to Washington was a great capstone experience for me. So much has changed since I went to the Washington with the McConnell Program just before my freshman year of college. Now, as a senior, I enjoyed being able to reflect on my own growth as a person over the course of my 4 years of college.

Faith, Fortune and the Founding of English America

2011-11-21T10:53:00.000-05:00

Today, I had the privilege to be a part of my second McConnell Scholars Seminar. Our topic today was "Faith, Fortune and the Founding of English America" which centered on the Jamestown settlement in colonial Virginia. Dr. Lorri Glover, an expert on colonial America, came to talk with us about Jamestown and the shipwreck that "saved" the settlement before her public lecture this evening. She recently has done extensive research on these subjects and authored a book titled: "The Shipwreck that Saved Jamestown: The Sea Venture Castaways and the Fate of America".

Personally, I quite enjoyed the seminar. I found what Dr. Glover had to say on Jamestown to be interesting and, in some cases, very different from what I have learned in other places. For example, one of the central issues that we discussed was the importance of faith in the founding and success of the Jamestown colony. This is usually an aspect of Jamestown that is glossed over, and traditional textbook history teaches us that Jamestown was founded purely for monetary gain whereas Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth were founded for solely religious reasons. Dr. Glover contends (and I agree) that the founders of Jamestown had a deep rooted belief in God's providence and blessings, and this led them to persevere in the colonization of Jamestown. The colony was advertised by appealing to religious feelings, and one of the reasons people were interested in it was to prevent the spread of Spanish Catholicism in the new world. Other topics that we discussed included: what caused intial difficulties for Jamestown settlers; international struggles for religious, economic, and cultural supremacy; the importance of tobacco in the survival of the colony; and the qualities of audacity and perseverance that allowed for the colonization of North America.

I had a wonderful time, and I learned a lot. I look forward to many more exciting seminars, and I would like to thank Dr. Lorri Glover for taking the time to come talk with us.

Sam Whittaker

Jacksonian Era

2011-11-17T19:14:00.003-05:00

Those of us who attended the Jacksonian America lecture learned a little more about the nature of the very unique Andrew Jackson. Well at least I did. I knew Andrew Jackson was a bold preseident who intended to stand up for the "people" and he based his presidency around this idea. But I didn;t know the degree in which he created a strong imperial presidency. With Jackson's following emerging as the American Democracy party, as they called it, they were actually inferring they were against the aristocracy. We would formally know them as the Democratic party, I learned that this was the beginning of the idea of the vast distinction between the elite and the common person. Jackson thought he was the direct representative of the people as president, evern though that meant eligible white men who could vote, everything he did he felt like he was doing in the interest of the "people" and against the elite. Andrew Jackson would be the face of the Occupy movement going on today, standing in favor of the 99%. The word tyranny did come up in the lecture referring to Andrew Jackson. Well was he? Maybe... maybe not. I can't really assess that question but it is fair to bring up when discussing the way Jackson did somewhat abuse his power as president firing cabinet members and forcing Indians to resettle because Jackson knew what was best for them. It seems to me that Jackson expanded the power of the president, and the modern president seems to assume these expanded roles. Does that mean presidents now have more power then they deserve? Would our founders be acceptable of the role the president plays now? Would a president every be willing to go back to what the presidency was supposed to be before Jackson came in and messed it up? Jackson truly has made me question the role of the president, at least for right now. I wonder if another Andrew Jackson will ever rise up again, but I think we learned our lesson the first time. Who knows, I mean my name is also Andrew...but I don't have the audacity to ever do what Jackson did... and that is just assuming that I ever have the honor of being the president. But I like learning about Jackson, at least he was not afraid to stand up for what he thought was right.

A Surprise Leadership Lesson

2011-11-17T14:11:00.006-05:00

A few weeks ago I was elected as President of my sorority, Kappa Delta. First and foremost, I was blown away by such an honor and looked forward to leading the most honorable, beautiful, and highest woman on our campus. Once I got home I started to think about how I was going to lead my chapter to ensure that my term and our year was as successful as possible. I sat down to write a few notes on what leadership means to me and what type of leadership style I was going to use. As soon as I wrote down the word 'leadership' my mind drifted to the Spring of 2011 when I took Dr. Gregg's Political Science class on Political Leadership and I knew exactly what book I needed to consult.

I dug through a few drawers and found 'The Prince' by Machiavelli. I never thought that I would be able to heed the advice of Dr. Gregg and Machiavelli and apply it to my sorority life but at that moment I was glad I had saved the book, jotted notes down in the margin, and taken the class. There are several lessons that I will apply to my term and I am anxious to see how they work out. First of all, Machiavelli often talks about how important it is to know the people who you are leading. As President, it is important to remember that I am first and foremost a member of my chapter and that makes me no better than anyone else. I must spend precious time with my sisters and consider their input when making decisions. Secondly, Machiavelli says "do not get frightened in adversity" and I hope to remember this when times are hard. As a leader, it is important to keep your demeanor confident and calm even if bad events are bestowed upon you. Lastly, every one's favorite Machiavelli lesson- "if you cannot have both, it is better to be feared than loved". Obviously, I do not want my sisters to fear me, but I do believe that is important to stick to the rules, that are set by our bylaws- no matter what or who is the case. It is essential that a leader has a backbone and shows diligence in everything that they do.

Little did I know that sitting in Dr. Gregg's class would be able to impact me in such a way. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to read 'The Prince' and I look forward to seeing how the lessons that I learned will continue to impact me and help to make my term as President as success. I know that did not Machiavelli write 'The Prince' with sororities in mind, but I am glad that I can heed his knowledge and apply to my life.

Modern Camelots

2011-11-17T13:51:00.003-05:00

It is rare that a story can span generations, the test of time, and still impact every person that reads it in a very unique and moving way. The story of King Arthur is the perfect example of such a literary device. King Arthur, as most of you know, is of a legendary British leader who according to medieval histories and romances led the British to defeat the Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. This whimsical coming of age story of King Arthur began to spread across Britain in the form of tales and poems that were told for entertainment. Since the story is composed of fantasy, the legitimacy of its historical relevance is often debated but its mystical and enchanting story has truly entertained generations of people.

Many literary adaptations have been made of the original story. Alfred Lord Tennyson, Mark Twain, and poet William Morris have all written pieces based on the story and themes of King Arthur. Several movie adaptations both on the large and small screen have also made quite a debut. Movies as Excalibur, Legend of King Arthur, and my personal favorite, The Sword In The Stone have entertained audiences in the past several decades.

I believe this story has had such an impact because both young and old, those in the 12th century and the 21st century have the ability to relate to the rags to riches story that King Arthur provides. It is also malleable to fit different audiences but still keep the same theme and moral value. Literature in itself has a magical power about it, but added to the magic of the tale of King Arthur, I believe that this story will never go out of style and will continue to touch generations to come.

President Andrew Jackson: A Man of Stark Contradictions

2011-11-16T16:45:00.006-05:00

Who knew that former President Andrew Jackson could be so contradictory? Several McConnell Scholars had the opportunity to discuss the impacts and beliefs of Andrew Jackson with University of Tennessee (Knoxville) History Professor, Dr. Daniel Feller just a few weeks ago.

Dr. Feller brought to the forefront several contradictions about Jackson: his belief in people, small government, and equality. Jackson's ascent into politics and the changes in rhetoric in Washington were also discussed. Andrew Jackson, a "good 'ole boy" according to most historians, was a man a firsts. His emergence into national politics began with an interesting "grass roots" campaign in Philadelphia, and he was the first president in seven to take office who wasn't a Virginian. Jackson was the first president to alter the course of rhetoric used in Washington, as exemplified by his accusations against the "too powerful" and their selfish intentions.

I guess I never realized just how much Jackson "shook-up" the American Presidency. His humble beginnings and rambunctious nature did more than alter the image of this prestigious office, they altered the role forever! As discussed in the seminar, I think it's the contradictions that emerged during his presidency that revealed that he in fact wasn't so in touch with the people, and that government needed to be larger to manage the growing issues in society. This conclusion prompts me to ponder. . . How much can becoming President of the United States alter one's opinion? Are the contradictions within our political ideologies contingent upon current circumstances, or does the desire for power motivate people to abandon their beliefs? These answers can surely be debated in the next seminar.

Oxford's Imagination: C.S. Lewis

2011-11-16T15:50:00.003-05:00

Last Friday a little more than 20 of us spent the late afternoon learning about C.S. Lewis. We watched a one hour documentary on his life. After that Dr. Gregg led a discussion on some of his writings which we were assigned.

These included his essays On Stories, his review of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, and the transcript of a recorded conversation between Lewis, Kingsley Amis, and Brian Aldiss about the importance of stories and myths.

We wrestled with many questions and points during our discussion. What do children stories and legends do that normal stories don't? Why is it important to read a book more than once? Do movies and TV shows hurt our imagination?

C.S. Lewis would answer respectively with the following.

"The Value of the myth is that it takes all the things we know and restores to them the rich significance which has been hidden by 'the veil of humanity'."

"An unliterary man may be defined as one who reads books once only."

"There is death in the camera."

Coach Pitino's Lessons on Leadership

2011-11-16T11:07:00.021-05:00

This morning several McConnell Scholars, including myself, met with Coach Rick Pitino to discuss his ideas about leadership. From the UK Wildcats to the Boston Celtics and now the Louisville Cardinals, Coach Pitino knows a thing or two about leadership on and off the court. Coach Pitino left us with some very interesting thoughts, and I'd like to share a few of them here.
One major thing that he stressed was ego. "Ego is the biggest killer of greatness," he said. "Ego stands for edging greatness out." For Coach Pitino, humility, as opposed to ego, is a key to leadership. When he left UK to go to the Celtics, he said, he claimed it was for the $50 million. But, in reality, his ego pushed him to Boston; he wanted the status of "NBA coach." He went for the wrong reasons, he said, but he ended up learning a great lesson: humility is key.
Coach also stressed the importance of listening: "you should listen four times more than you speak." To emphasize his point, he shared with us two instances where he was trying to recruit players for the UK basketball team. In the first instance, Coach Pitino focused on selling the UK basketball program. He mentioned everything from the weight room to the jets. When he followed up with the young man, UK was not on his list of top five schools. Coach Pitino knew immediately what he had done wrong: he had done too much talking and not enough listening. "I failed to form a bond with him," he said. In the second instance he recounted, Coach Pitino revised his strategy. This time when he went out to recruit another athlete, Coach Pitino did nothing but ask the young man and his family questions. He did very little talking and a lot of listening. It turns out that the young man visited the University of Kentucky the weekend following his conversation with Coach Pitino and signed on with the team. Coach's new strategy had worked.
Finally, Coach Pitino shared with us a conversation he had had with a close friend who worked on Wall Street. Coach asked him, "what kind of people do you look to hire? Wharton grads? University of Chicago? Harvard business school?" His friend, Mario Gabelli, replied, "I couldn't care less where they went to school. I look for PHDs." Coach Pitino was puzzled; why did Mario need Ph.Ds on Wall Street? Mario clarified: "I recruit Poor, Hungry, and Driven people." Coach Pitino translated this conversation into a lesson for his players: you have to be passionate and positive about what you do, stay hungry for success, and be driven and motivated to reach your goals.
Needless to say, we left our meeting with Coach Pitino not only with some valuable leadership lessons, but also valuable life lessons. Coach Rick Pitino proved to be yet another reason why I am proud to be a Louisville Cardinal.

The Go-Giver: Todd Schmiedeler

2011-11-14T16:53:00.002-05:00

On September 19, a group of McConnell Scholars had the opportunity to meet with Todd Schmiedeler and discuss The Go-Giverby Bob Burg and John David Mann. Mr. Schmiedeler used the book as a guide to help the scholars understand not only how to become a leader in whatever field we find ourselves but also to make sure that we are the right kind of leaders. There are five laws in The Go-Giver, laws that cannot only improve the kind of leader one is but also the kind of person. They are:

The Law of Value: Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.

The Law of Compensation: Your income is determined by how may people you serve and how well you serve them.

The Law of Influence: Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interests first.

The Law of Authenticity: The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself.

The Law of Receptivity: The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.

These laws, at first glance, may seem antithetical to anyone who wants to be a successful leader in business, law, politics, etc. Through our reading and discussion of the book, however, it became apparent that that was not the case. These laws, if applied, lead to success not only in business but also in one’s own personal life. Mr. Schmiedeler walked the walk and talked the talk in shaping oneself in service to others, and every scholar who took part in this seminar benefited from his insights.

An evening with Dr. Rinda Frye, a theatrical director

2011-11-03T10:23:00.000-04:00

Recently, the McConnell Scholars welcomed Dr. Rinda Frye for a discussion on William Shakespeare's Richard III, a play which she directed at the University of Louisville. Dr. Frye teaches acting and voice at UofL where she chairs the Theatre Department. In addition to directing at Actors Theatre of Louisville and the Utah Shakespeare Players of Salt Lake City, Dr. Frye has written numerous scholarly articles on Shakespeare and stage dialects.

During her time with the McConnell Scholars, Dr. Frye offered insight into both acting and directing. She related how modern theatre requires directors to downsize scripts and utilize versatile actors. Simply put, today's society has neither the patience nor the theatrical interest to completely fulfill the intent of some scripts. However, such a trend allowed directors greater liberty in crafting their own dramatic interpretations.

Lastly, Dr. Frye commented upon the disparity between Broadway and Hollywood. In her view, acting was not a universal trait that transferred from the stage to the screen. Instead, Dr. Frye argued that Hollywood hired models, not actors, thus relying on music and special effects to invoke emotions typically the result of quality acting. Dr. Frye concluded by conveying her confidence in the future of theatre. As long as drama remained the product of competent acting, society would have both a need and a place for it.

BRC, Class of 2012

American History Project

2011-10-31T20:28:00.002-04:00

With over half the semester already passed, the American History Project is well on its way. I originally joined this extended learning opportunity because my background in American history was quite frankly lacking. Subsequently, I found it fortunate that the McConnell center would be addressing this area throughout the year. As a freshman, this has been my first ELO and has made quite the mark. Thus far the seminars and the trip to Williamsburg in particular have been filled with engaging, enriching opportunities that have had what I am sure are lasting effects. That is not to say, however, that it is what I expected.

I have come across a wealth of knowledge in the form of enlightened speakers who have passionately unfolded the tale of American history, but I have gained more than simply textbook knowledge. While answering questions during seminars and elaborating on moments in history, many of the speakers have bridged the past to the present to show the profound prevalence of American history to modern times. From Andrew Cayton's discussion of the roots of power in persuasion to the Williamsburg discussions of regionalism with Albion's Seed, it is clear that American history is still a living part of our day to day lives.

On the McConnell binders we received at the beginning of the year, it had a quote on the back cover by President Truman stating that "leaders must be readers." At first I was uncertain what this meant because I unsure at how reading pragmatically affected leadership. After being exposed to scholarly seminar leaders as well as the texts associated with them, however, it has become clear to me from the American History Project that by reading and studying the texts of American history, one can confidently meet the challenges of our country's future.

Arsh Haque
Class of 2015

Operation Brightside: Old Louisville Cleanup

2011-10-21T16:55:00.003-04:00

This afternoon, ten McConnell Scholars spent three hours cleaning up the Old Louisville area through Operation Brightside. Each year, Brightside holds a community-wide cleanup in an effort to keep Louisville "clean, green, and beautiful." This year, hundreds of people joined together from communities in Louisville to work on the project. The McConnell Scholars were proud to be included among the group.

Throughout the afternoon, the scholars picked up trash on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd streets in Old Louisville. It was surprising to see how much trash the scholars collected. At the end of the afternoon, the scholars had filled ten trash bags, with garbage found on side walks, the side of the road, and borders of yards.

Each member of the McConnell Scholar team reported having a rewarding experience. Each of the scholars are looking forward to participating in Brightside's community-wide cleanup again next year.

The Constitutional Legacy of Thomas Jefferson

2011-10-03T18:29:00.004-04:00

R. B. Bernstein, Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Law at New York Law School, traveled to the McConnell Center the evening of September 26th to discuss the Constitutional Legacy of Thomas Jefferson. Dr. Bernstein also spoke on Thomas Jefferson's constitutional theory as well as Jefferson's failures to reconcile his professed commitments to principle with actual practice. Dr. Bernstein's lecture drew a large crowd, with students and avid listeners from many different disciplines. Dr. Bernstein was excited to hear the question of what a modern-day Jefferson would be like and he heartily laughed when he described his anticipation of Jefferson's nervous breakdown in today's America. Bernstein highlighted Jefferson's tendency to believe that human beings were better than they actually are, a major weakness for Jefferson. Bernstein closed with a discussion on the Jefferson vs. Madison debate and explained why Jefferson is much more celebrated in American history compared to Madison when they were of similar worth during their time.

Solving the national debt crisis with Hon. Jane Harman

2011-10-03T10:34:00.002-04:00

Hon. Jane Harman, president of the Wilson Center
and a former U.S. Representative from California

We had the honor of speaking with Honorable Jane Harman, as well as the opportunity to play the game “Budget Hero,” today at the McConnell Center. Harman proved to be a thoughtful and engaging speaker. In our private seminar with her, we addressed such topics as national security and defense policy, political stances on immigration, marijuana, and war, and we were even able to get her personal views on actors as politicians and the balance between work and family. Overall, it was a wonderful set of seminars. Harman is a very down-to-earth person who was kind enough to be very candid with our group of Scholars.

In addition to meeting with the Scholars, Harman came to the McConnell Center to help introduce the video game “Budget Hero” to Louisville and Kentucky schools. Harman is the president of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, one of the co-creators of the game. Several McConnell Scholars, along with University of Louisville graduate students and high school students from around Kentucky, were given the opportunity to try and balance the federal budget and give feedback on the experience. The game is an interactive opportunity for anyone to try and solve the budget crisis and make important decisions in a very fun and low-stress way. The Scholars and graduate students played together as a team, having to discuss the various policy issues as a group before making decisions. Overall, it was a wonderful opportunity and a great game to help bring knowledge to people on the important decisions our government is making.

Taryn L. Mahanes
McConnell Scholar, Class of 2013
(Sept. 30, 2011)

The Constitutional Legacy of Thomas Jefferson

2011-09-29T09:11:00.001-04:00

On September 26, 2011, the McConnell Center hosted historian Richard Bernstein to discuss Thomas Jefferson’s legacy in American constitutional theory. Professor Bernstein is the author of multiple books on constitutional history, but has also written a biography of Thomas Jefferson that is regarded as "the best short biography of Jefferson ever written." The lecture was the second installment in the Remembering America: From Colonization to the Civil War Lecture Series. Professor Bernstein’s extensive knowledge of the life and work of the American founder offered an enlightening understanding of how Jefferson’s experiences and career shaped the development of American government.

Professor Bernstein traced the path of Thomas Jefferson from his early political career as a founder and state legislator through his eventual term as Secretary of State and finally as President. One of the most striking views of Jefferson depicted during the lecture was his struggle to reconcile his personal beliefs with his political actions. As a firm proponent of the Bill of Rights and the people’s right to govern themselves, Jefferson struggled to justify his decision to buy the Louisiana Purchase.

In regards to the legacy of Thomas Jefferson, Professor Bernstein told the story of how Jefferson wrote his own epitaph, making sure to include those things for which he most wanted to be remembered. Despite his extensive experience in the executive branch of government, the Founder wanted it known that, “Here was buried Thomas Jefferson Author of the Declaration of American Independence Of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom & Father of the University of Virginia.”

The lecture concluded with the essential question asked of every modern political issue. How would the Founders, in this case Jefferson, react to the political climate of today? Professor Bernstein’s response was that of strict practicality; that no individual from more than two centuries ago would be able to function in our world of skyscrapers and the Internet.

-Danielle Robinette

My Summer in DC

2011-09-15T14:32:00.000-04:00

During the Summer of 2011 I spent six weeks in Washington D.C. interning for the Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. It was an extremely rewarding experience during a fascinating time for our country. For the most part, my time in Washington was very enjoyable and I was able to learn quite a bit along the way.

I roomed with fellow McConnell Scholar, Trey Pippin, in an English Basement Apartment near Galluadet University. I was fortunate to find this place on Craiglist, owned by a Political Science professor who worked at the nearby University. Everyday we could catch the bus right outside and have a ten to fifteen minute commute to Union Station. After the short five minute walk (which was very nice because this summer was the hottest D.C. has been in a while) we would clear the security scanners at the Russell Senate Office Building.

I worked Monday through Friday from 8:30 A.M. - 5:30 P.M. It was quite the change of pace from the college lifestyle. My duties at work including organizing mail, answering phones, drafting responses, and giving tours. I also was able to attend a few lobbyist meetings, committee hearings, and guest speaker lectures. I had the legislative topics of Labor, Transportation, Technology and a few others, working primarily under the Senator’s legal counsel, Russell Coleman, and Legislative Aide, Talmage Hocker.

Going through mail was tedious but it was also informative. The sheer volume of e-mails and snail-mail is much more than you would think. It’s also disheartening to know that because there is just so much, that it would be impossible for the Senator to read it otherwise he would do nothing but that all day long. It pained me to see a four-page hand written letter from a Veteran who lived in another state and know that his comments had fallen to deaf ears. On the bright side though, it was rewarding to draft up the responses that constituents would one day receive and hopefully feel proud to participate in the two-way communication that must take place in a republic.

Answering phones was usually provided a good mid-day rush. The types of people and the topics they were calling about were all over the place. You would have the short exclamation of “Don’t cut my medicare!” to a ten minute conversation where you essentially let the person rant. While the occasional caller was just completely angry, it was uplifting to get the occasional compliment from people that were just happy to have someone to voice their opinion to , and from those who were glad to hear “a young man” was interested in public service.

Giving tours of the Capitol was by-far my favorite part of the workday. Walking through that incredible building never got old, and it was especially rewarding to share that experience with those who were seeing it for the first time. The families I gave tours to were from all over Kentucky, yet most of the time I could name a mutual friend or acquaintance. They all had their own story and included alumni of the McConnell Center, U of L, and my fraternity. One of the most memorable experiences of my summer was giving a tour to a Kentucky Veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam War. He was visiting D.C. with his son and grandson, for the first time since he had been through there in the military. He knew 34 people on the Vietnam Memorial Wall, which he said was tough to visit but, “was something that he needed to do.” As we walked around the Capitol other veterans approached him and asked him which company he served in and it was incredible to see the type of bond that existed between what otherwise would have been strangers. He even managed to stand up from his wheel chair to get a picture next to the statue of Eisenhower, his favorite President.

The Senate Sergeant in Arms Office puts on a Guest Lecture Series for the interns. I was able to attend a few of these while I was there, with an impressive list including but not limited to: Attorney General Holder, Justice Scalia, Congressman Shock, Secretary Sebelius , and Senator Alexander. Celebrity Status aside (well for Political Science and history nerds), it’s always insightful to have the opportunity to hear these successful people tell their stories about being involved in government and politics, and there are a few anecdotes and lessons that I will be taking away from them.

I also was sure to make the most of my time living in D.C. On the weekends I would meet up with friends that I had met through my fraternity and experience what the city has to offer. During the weekends I was able to visit the monuments and tourist attractions which still managed to move me on the fourth and fifth visit. My parents and sister visited one weekend and we did a Segway tour of the monuments which I’m sure will be a topic of family discussion for quite some time. I also really enjoyed trying the various restaurants and shops in the city. D.C. has a wide-array of places to experiences, and I know that I only touched the tip of the iceberg. Bill Brammell and I took a morning hike along the Potamac and then ate at the infamous Ray’s Hell Burger (President Obama’s burger place of choice). It was days like this that really make me want to go back and spend a few years in a city which seems to have the people, places, and opportunity that I’m searching for after graduation.

One lesson I definitely learned was the limitless worth of your human network. Because of U of L, McConnell Scholars, and Sigma Chi, I was able to go to Washington and meet exactly the mentors and friends I needed to meet to make it an incredible trip. If you make the right connections in this country you will never be without someone to help, something to do, or someone to be with.

The common questions upon my return were, “Are you a republican now?” and “Has Washington left a bad taste in your mouth.” The answers are no, (both parties are starting to disgust me) and absolutely not. Despite our Congress’ all-time low approval rating, and the large amount of inefficiency and posturing in Washington, I personally still find it to be a place where great things can be done. However, this can only be if the right people are there. The signature Capitol Dome stands for nothing if the people under it don’t. Looking at the opportunities that I have had, including this Summer, I feel obligated to at least play my part in maintaining (or returning) the glory of our government. I may have naive patriotism, but not many people get to celebrate their 20th Birthday next to the Washington Monument during the 4th of July Fireworks.

The entrance interview: SGA President Frizzell details plans for the year

2011-09-12T08:04:00.000-04:00

The entrance interview: SGA President Frizzell details plans for the year

American Audacity

2011-09-08T15:11:00.006-04:00

"How audacious to think that tobacco farmers, shopkeepers, and lawyers knew how to better govern a society?" Quite audacious, even laughable, it may seem to the loyal Englishman during the American Revolution. Dr. Lorrie Glover sat down with the McConnell Scholars in a seminar to discuss early American history, the primary focus on the courage of men and women to say, "Yes, I'll get on the boat," to a brave, new world.

This idea of American Audacity is not tucked away in the books of history. The idea of knowing better than the other man is an idea that reigns supreme in this country. American ideas continue to revolutionize landscapes today. Blake Christopher and Paige Brewer both touched upon that point. The man behind Microsoft Computers, Bill Gates, thought he knew the best way to develop and market personal computers to the world. And even still with all of the success Mr. Gates has enjoyed over the years, Steve Jobs, thought he had an even better idea. Some say audacity, others say vision.

Dr. Glover did not only talk about the courage embodied by the first Englishmen and women, but she also covered their commitment to religion (almost considered unmatched in comparison to contemporary religion) and "The Starving Times" of Jamestown, VA.

It was a pleasure to be able to meet someone of Dr. Glover's academic stature. She was kind, honest, and approachable during our seminar. I would like to thank the McConnell Center for the privilege of being able to interact with her.

Sean Southard, 15'

The Ballad of the White Horse

2011-08-28T17:54:00.001-04:00

On August 26, 2011, the McConnell Center presented a seminar on The Ballad of the White Horse by renowned English author G.K. Chesterton. Our guest speaker for the evening was Professor William Campell. It was interesting having a professor of economics lecture about British history and literature. His passion for English history, especially about Alfred the Great, was very noticeable, as was his espousal for politically conservative public policy.

The Ballad of the White Horse received quite a positive reaction from the scholars. During the seminar, we discussed the imagery and semantics utilized by Chesterton, which presented a narration of warfare, brutality, and gore as a beautiful tale of wisdom, nobility, honor, and respect. However, Professor Campbell, in my personal opinion, presented the story in an overly positive light. While Chesterton’s imagery and use of religious morality is seemingly virtuous, one must not forget that the tale is about religious warfare and intolerance: Alfred the Great viewed his enemies as nihilist hedonists in the story, according to Professor Campbell. Should such tolerance receive support? Of course, historical context and cultural influences should be taken into consideration. Perhaps these factors make my point invalid.

One of the most meaningful symbols taken from the poem was the White Horse, which is a metaphor for the Christian light of truth and righteousness. Freshmen scholar Joel Ben Thomas asked, “What would you say is the White Horse of our generation?” This question still has me thinking. Perhaps Chesterton’s overlying message was not a defense of Christianity justifying violent conflict. Maybe it is about the neglect of virtue in present society. Whatever the answer is, I hope to definitely revisit the pages of the White Horse to piece together and understand Chesterton’s disdain with the 20^th Century, and how our current century may have possibly taken society in a more negative direction.

Study Abroad: Greece

2011-08-22T11:26:00.002-04:00

When I was home-schooled, much of my learning experience was devoted to ancient civilizations. The ancient Greeks intrigued me because of the homogenous mix of industry and philosophy that was their culture. So, when I was given the opportunity to travel to Greece with well-respected professors of religious studies and history from Western Kentucky University, I jumped at the chance.

Throughout the McConnell Scholars program, as a scholar, one is encouraged to learn to think well and to embrace a liberal education. It is possible to argue that the ancient Greeks practically started the tradition of liberal education. It was within their culture that philosophy thrived, reaching its pinnacle in great minds such as Pythagoras, Socrates, Aristotle and Plato. Thus, at this point, it is useful to say that my study abroad trip to Greece served to take me to the source of what I was learning at the McConnell Center and to build upon what I had learned previously.

On its own, study abroad is immensely important in the development of a liberal education at the university level. The traditional classroom is an essential tool for learning, but how much better is it to be in the living classroom: the world. The opportunity to experience culture and history in an up-close-and-personal way has a lasting impact on a student; one that I found can be more powerful than the words heard in any lecture. The McConnell Center helped provide me with both kinds learning experiences throughout the last year: in the seminars and lectures as a part of the Scholars program, and also by providing financial aid for my study abroad to Greece.
Greece, contemporarily, is in a very interesting position politically and economically. A study abroad traversing the southern half of Greece, with a lot of time spent in Athens, allowed me to see the impacts of Greece’s current state on the governmental systems and its citizens. While I was in Athens, I had first hand experience with some of the rioting that has been thoroughly covered in the news. It was an incredible experience to be able to discuss the reasons behind the riots with the picketing locals, who seemed to be mostly frustrated over unemployment. This was a side benefit of study abroad that I had not originally anticipated.

In history, the Greeks play a part that is the literally the stuff of legends. Much of Greek culture and history was passed down in the form of some of the earliest stories belonging to the human race, which were transmitted orally by poets and philosophers. Figures of mythology show up all over Greece, especially in art and architecture; and they transcend time, appearing in modern works as well. The Greeks were masters at art. Even their burial stones were wonderfully elaborate. One bronze statue of a boy on his horse looked like it could have belonged in the Derby Museum. This proved to me that just because something is ancient does not mean it is necessarily bested by anything modern. There is something so intriguing about the fact that although technology has definitely evolved since ancient times, the sense of wonder our monuments and achievements evoke is equal to, if not less than, the awe I felt when I looked at any of the marvels of ancient Greece.

These figures – gods, goddesses, heroes, nymphs, etc. – are heavily represented in the ruins of Ancient Greece. While on study abroad I was able to visit many of the centers of ancient Greek culture such as: Athens, Mycenae, Corinth and Delphi. In ancient times, travelers would converge on Delphi from all over the world to hear evidence of their future fate from the famous oracle. People of all origins still walk the ruins at Delphi, only now they do so to see evidence of the ancient Greeks’ fate. I was incredibly blessed to be one of those travelers; it has already had a large impact on me both as a person and as a scholar. I would not have been able to experience any of it without the McConnell Center’s help both in terms of an education and finances.

- Sarah Stovall (Warren County, '14)

Shanghai: The International City

2011-06-20T14:23:00.001-04:00

After asking several Chinese students to describe Shanghai, they replied by calling the city "international." Spending a week in Shanghai revealed the accuracy of this description. Shanghai's acceptance of Western culture differentiated it from the other cities visited by the McConnell Scholars. Xi'an's ancient heritage and Beijing's nationalism reminded me that I was a visitor in a land far different from my own. However, Shanghai provided a familiar environment for Westerners.

The influence of over 100,000 foreign residents has transformed Shanghai into a diverse, commercial metropolis. As I walked around the city, Chinese youths bombarded me with greetings, asking to practice their English. The signage of international corporations lights the evening streets, and sleek skyscrapers define the city's skyline. The sight of parents pleading with their screaming children in shopping centers and seeing a Starbucks Coffee located across the street from yet another Starbucks made me forget that I was travelling.

Foreigners visiting China must spend a few days in Shanghai. However, I encourage travellers to stop in another city if they wish to see stronger domestic culture. Shanghai represents China's emphasis on global interaction.

-Sean Williamson

Heading Home

2011-06-20T14:21:00.002-04:00

As I am writing this blog, we are all working to get our bags packed BACK up for our return to the United States of America.

Tomorrow, we'll depart Shanghai and travel to Chicago and then back to Louisville.

Collectively, I think it is safe to say that while we have all really enjoyed the great opportunities we've had to visit and study in China, we're ready to return to the comforts of our own great country.

We all have different plans for the remainder of the summer ranging from other international trips to just relaxing at home. As for me, I'll spend about 3 days in Kentucky before heading to Washington, DC to intern in the office of Senator McConnell.

I hope you've enjoyed our blog posts throughout our trip. If you see any of us in the near future, ask us about our trip and I'm sure we'll tell you all about it!

My best, one last time from China--

-Trey

Looking Ahead

2011-06-20T14:19:00.002-04:00

I can not believe that I will be back in the states tomorrow, it is somewhat unreal. These past five weeks have seemed to have flown by. I can't even begin to try and put this trip into words. I can only really say that I don't think the entire experience has sunk in yet, and won't for a while. I think it will be a few days or so before I can take a step back and truly reflect on this great opportunity I've had to travel to another country and be submerged in it's culture for five weeks. However, I will soon have to get used to being back in the states and starting/finishing my summer.

In Beijing I turned 21 on May 29th. My first order of business will be to have my American birthday celebration with family and friends. Then the following Monday after we get back I will start my internship with the Department of Juvenile Justice. I'm really hopeful that this internship will help aide me in my future career choices. Aside from my internship my other summer job is serving as a CAPS Leader for the University. I will be in contact with incoming students answering any questions they might have and trying to ease their transition from high school to college. Then, during my "free time" it will be spent preparing for the GRE, my upcoming senior year in college, and hopefully some weekend travels with friends and family.

Again, with it being our last night in China I can not fully explain all of my emotions over the past few weeks. I am excited to return home, amazed that it has already been five weeks, shocked that I have made it this long without Twitter, and beyond grateful for the opportunity to go on a trip like this. As far as the three cities go, I felt the most "at home" in Beijing, had the most fun in Xi'an, and seen the most beautiful buildings in Shanghai! Unfortunately at this point I can't appropriately reflect more on this once-in-alifetime experience than that, so all that I can do right now is look ahead to the future and try to prepare for my upcoming ventures.

-Alex Jenkins

China: Reflections on Xi'an: Part 2

2011-06-14T09:53:00.005-04:00

I am writing this blog in Shanghai, after nearly a week in Xian. It was the first time that the McConnell Scholars have traveled to Xi'an, but I hope that it is not the last. We were able to see how China’s “Little City” differed from both Beijing and now Shanghai culturally, economically, etc. The nickname "Little City" is probably not the most accurate, considering that the size of Xi'an is comparable to that of New York City. However, compared to Beijing and Shanghai, it is significantly smaller. They are currently constructing a subway and don’t have nearly as much smog and pollution. There were certainly similarities, but we appreciated the aspects of being in a smaller town than we had visited over the previous three weeks.

Of course, the Terra Cotta warriors were the highlight of this leg of the trip. It is hard to imagine that they were created before Jesus was born. I also appreciated that we could see history being uncovered as we watched archaeologists work on another area where were only able to see pieces of the buried warriors. One of the stories that specifically stood out to me was about the discovery of the tomb. A farmer was plowing the earth one day and hit something hard. He dug a little and found a face. He wasn’t sure what it was, so he broke it off to go show others, and to possibly sell it. He had no idea that he had just discovered one of nearly 8,000 warriors buried in a tomb with a Qin emperor. The farmer decided not to tell anyone for a short time, but was finally convinced to tell the government official in his town. They seized his property and forced the farmer's family and others to move to another part of the city. The government did, however, give him a finder’s fee for his significant discovery. Unfortunately, he was only awarded 30 yuan, around $5, since the Chinese mentality is that all land belongs to the government. Now the main source of economic input for the city comes from tourism: with a terra cotta soldier factory, lots of small vendors selling miniature versions of the warriors and a gift shop, where the discoverer is available to sign books.

The Terra Cotta Army has given historians a glimpse into the Qin dynasty: one of the most influential dynasties in China. They created the Great Wall, standardized currency and Chinese characters, and began a national highway system, in addition to creating the tomb. They employed over 4 million workers, but had them all killed to maintain a sense of secrecy. Because of this, little of their history survived, until the discovery of the tomb.

We had a great time in Xi'an, and can now say that we have seen two wonders of the world (something that the Chinese people often brag about). I can’t believe that this trip of a lifetime will be over in less than a week. Between learning both inside and outside the classroom, experiencing a new culture, touring historic sites, strengthening friendships, and much more... I can say that this has been one of the best experiences of my life.

- John

China: Reflections on Xi'an

2011-06-13T08:47:00.004-04:00

With a population of nearly 20 million, Beijing awed our group with its population. Viewing such a sprawling metropolis instilled in us the truth of Chinese growth and modernization. After all, Beijing included all the hallmark traits of development—large scale public transportation, infrastructure, and investment—many of which surpassed even American equivalents. However, industrialization often created indistinguishable areas void of uniqueness. Chinese styles crept into architecture, fashion, etc., but their roles were subservient to the traits of modernization. In Beijing, nowhere could we find a location wholly Chinese. This failure resulted, in part, thanks to our inability to observe the countryside.

Xi'an provided us with the closest glimpse of a homey, unique China. Its extensive museums, collection of gardens, and aura of an ancient capital, made it distinctively Chinese. Among the world of goods and services that China fakes, Xi'an's originality proved refreshing.

Though, I look forward to the re-convening of class and discussions with international students, I will miss the personality of Xi'an. Perhaps most of all, I will desire the personal space found in Xi'an's gardens, ponds, and parks. In a country of nearly 1.4 billion and with a group of ten McConnell scholars, I often long for personal space.

-Blake

Post from China: Tiger Lily

2011-06-12T12:48:00.000-04:00

A couple of days ago, I bought a dog. We were headed to the Beijing Zoo when we went under a tunnel. A peasant was selling puppies. One of the puppies looked identical to a tiger. The fur and face were striped black and orange in perfect unison. I have always had a love for tigers because, to me, they are symbolic for knowledge, power, and beauty.

After the puppy caught my attention, I had to stop and play with it. I examined it thoroughly and it did not appear to be dyed. The fur coat felt smooth and other than being dehydrated, the dog appeared healthy. I wondered if the owner had done something painful to the dog to make it that color. She wanted 80 yuan for the dog. I tried bargaining to 40 since I knew it would be a lot of money to send the dog back to the U.S. I walked away and she ran up to me for 60 yuan, 10 dollars. I agreed and, all of a sudden, I had a tiger-striped dog. She gave me a little pouch to put the dog in. It was the ugliest/cutest puppy I’d ever seen and I hadn’t seen any in America like it (if it was real).

Quickly, I started running into problems. I am in China and do not speak Chinese. I can’t haul the dog around for two more weeks and I’m leaving Beijing in 3 days. The hotel doesn’t allow dogs, so I had to smuggle it in overnight.

I called my mother, and asked her to help find out how to send it back to the U.S. Finally, I found an English speaking veterinarian at the International Center for Veterinary Services. They told me how difficult sending the puppy was going to be. It needed a rabies vaccination, then had to wait 30 days before travel. I wasn’t going to be in China that long.

I finally got a quote from a pet relocator for 20,000 yuan, which is over 3000 dollars to transport the puppy. I couldn’t afford to send the dog that I had bought for 10 dollars back to America for 3000.

The dog stayed with me throughout the night and despite my promise to not name the dog. I quickly caved and named him Diego, after the Tiger in Ice Age. The whole night, the puppy would get up every hour and make sure I was still there. Finally, I made a bed beside my own and hung my hand off so that the puppy could sleep better. The puppy was sweet laying there on the blanket that it had claimed as its own upon arrival to the hotel.

The next morning Sean and I took the puppy to the vet. I sat the dog down and the vet started laughing. “Like a Tiger,” he said. He confirmed that the puppy had been dyed that color. He also confirmed that it was not a boy dog, but actually a little girl. Embarrassing for me not to have noticed, after growing up on a farm, but I didn’t really even check. Diego changed to Tiger Lily, from Peter Pan. I had her tested for disease and everything came back negative. The dye would fade in about 2 months and it didn’t appear to have caused severe damage. 400 yuan later, I had a healthy puppy and no place to take her that was safe. A reminder at this point is that in China dog meat is sometimes found on the menu.

In China, they do not have clinics and shelters like in America. This was extremely bad news on my time scale. Finally, the ICVS told me of a guy that fostered and adopted rescued animals. He was an American fluent in Chinese, Chris. I called him and he finally found a new animal hospital that would take Tiger Lily in for adoption. Chris sent a text for the location in Hutong and we met him there.

He runs a site called lingyang.com (which means adoption service in Chinese). It is nice to know that I saved this puppy from the harsh treatment it would have received here in China. Chris showed us around the clinic and we saw one of the 75 brutally mutilated dogs they were housing. The group of 75 came from a rescue mission of 500 dogs that were found on a meat truck. Thankfully, my puppy will never experience this type of animal cruelty.

Chris confirmed that Tiger Lily would find a good home, very soon, because she was a puppy. A beautiful “tiger striped” puppy. A few days later he called me and stated that she had been adopted by a nice family, the hospital almost didn’t want to give her away because they had loved the puppy too.

In a China blog, I am now known as the “Kind-hearted American” for helping the puppy. I only had Tiger Lily for a day, but I already miss her. I miss her not being beside my bed checking on me every hour. China's standard for animal cruelty are very poor.

On a side note, in relation to the mistreatment of dogs, I went to the Beijing Zoo. At the Beijing Zoo, animals lived in small cages with dirt or concrete floors. Sometimes they forced the animals into really small cages so they had to sit up for people to take pictures with them. The people would throw bottles, bananas and anything they could get their hands on to make the animals move. The only animal that was properly taken care of was the precious panda bears. The other animals didn’t even have water in their cages on hot days. Most could be seen as malnourished and laying down almost dead.

I was shocked by the lack of animal rights in China to say the least, I’m glad America is much more humane.

We've made it to Xian

2011-06-09T07:58:00.000-04:00

I am now writing from Xian, the ancient capital of the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties of China! It looks like every other big city I've seen, but the weather is nice and my hotel is extraordinary. We arrived about an hour and a half ago from Beijing by sleeper train. The experience on the train was phenomenal (our four person cabin watched the Godfather part II for the first leg of the journey), although we were slightly disappointed by the absence of the promised "dinner car". Water, a canister of Chinese pringles, and chocolate was the entree a la carte for the evening. Hope the morning finds you all doing well.

Zach

June 8, 2011, from the PRC

China: The World is Shrinking

2011-06-06T11:56:00.001-04:00

We have been in China for about 3 weeks now, and it has already been quite an experience. I feel like we have seen so much of Beijing, but there is still so much of the city that we have not had time to see. One of the best things about this trip has been the opportunity to interact with students not only from China but from all parts of the world. There were students in our class from Brazil, France, Germany, China, Thailand, Lesotho, among others. A couple of other scholars and I went to church with a student from Germany and met and talked with people from Korea, the U.K., and others from the United States that had been in China for over a year. If there is only one overarching aspect of this trip that makes the whole experience worthwhile it would be the opportunity to sit down and get to know these students from around the globe. We have talked about everything from American foreign policy and politics to movies, books, and pop culture. In a way I have come to see that people our age are not as different from us as we might expect. They have largely the same likes and dislikes, the same dreams and fears. After only three weeks in China, my world has most assuredly shrunk.

— Eric Kiser, from the PRC, June 6

China: Second Impressions

2011-06-06T10:59:00.000-04:00

For this blog I am going to give you a few tastes of what the group has been doing daily.
…
There are three apparent challenges China must face: A reform of its industrial structure both in terms of labor and economy, the social tension that will arise from the world’s greatest income gap must be addressed, and the foreign policy issues that are present with its current position in the world.
…
We went to the Great Wall today and Ming tombs; unbelievable. John, Blake, Ben, and I walked the entire renovated portion of the wall. It was glorious. After a week stuck in the city it was freeing to finally be able to get out and stretch my legs.

Rural/Countryside China has a majestic landscape. The small taste of it today gave me an appreciation for historical China. Capitalistic tendencies are prevalent and emerging in the countryside, as exemplified by the slide cars and cable cars built at the Great Wall. It will not be surprising to see China submerged even more completely in capitalism than the United States soon.

Chinese tourists were heavy on the pictures today. The four of us that continued to walk the wall were stopped incessantly for picture opportunities. It has been fun being a celebrity for nothing but my skin color and hair.
…
The Imperial Academy was an extraordinary place. The history of the training and civil service exams that took place there is astounding. The compound was beautiful and its history was wonderfully preserved (a rarity for our visit). Ironically, shops and stalls have flooded every historical and religious sight, even those where there are no pictures allowed because of their religious importance.
…
The Christian Church was a very eye-opening experience. From common perception in America I expected the pastor to speak in a hushed tone. But instead, she had a confident/comfortable air, many services, and many bibles translated into Chinese. Now, there is no way to tell if it is a legitimate translation, but they were, in either respect, selling them for very little money. She did not seem to view the government as an obstacle that they had to get around.

Later on that night the guys travelled to the “Bardstown Road” area of Beijing. What an incredible atmosphere. There was good music, few cars, great shops, and fantastic food. It was one of the best nights of the trip so far.

— Zach Barnes, from the PRC, June 5

The Cost of Chinese Industrialization

2011-05-31T10:26:00.000-04:00

I often wondered the nature of American cities like New York, Chicago, etc. during the age of our industrial climb. I pictured crowded streets, noisy construction, small vendors, and a universally-ambitious attitude. The same proved true of today's Beijing, China. If for no other reason, Beijing proved appeasing simply because of its genuine desire for economic advancement, no matter the cost. From professors to street-sweepers, Beijing citizens upheld the Chinese policy of economy first. China pressed forward despite the halt of the Great Recession or its discontinuing development in other nations. I found it reassuring to view progress even in a communist state.

However, China's growth comes with costs. Beijing's grimy sanitation struck me as appalling. The government failed to guarantee the quality of air, tap water, or street food. Putrid smells accompanied me on a walk to school, as did the chance of being run down by unorganized traffic. In essence, I felt Beijing's (and China's) industrialization occurred so quickly that order was sacrificed — frightening for a communist party legitimized by sustainable stability.

Thus, much remains for China to accomplish in its modernization. Entire districts of Beijing existed without one signal of progress while industrial parks gleamed with opulent advancement. Average housing lacked needed additions and up-grades. Transportation required increased options and more stringent policing of driving habits. And business failed to uphold accepted standards of quality and safety. With China already producing 1/3 the GDP of the United States and this much development left to achieve, American economic dominance ought to worry.

-Blake Christopher, from the PRC, May 30

A Blog on McConnell Center Life

Poco a poco

My Never Ending To-Do List

Looking to the Future

Undergraduate Thesis: How 'Prigg v. Pennsylvania' Inadvertently Pushed the Nation Closer to Civil War

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

A Bit of Classical Education

J.R.R. Tolkien Round Two

Friendship in Tolkien's LOTRs

Greetings from Cebu, Philippines!

Finding Someone to Emulate

What a Conversation Can Mean

Thankful in India

The National Popular Vote Method is NOT the Way to Elect Presidents

Dinner with the Senator

Power, Persuasion and the Origins of the Imperial Republic

Local Leaders

The Imperial Republic

Jackson's America

Costa Rican Bribri Community

Pink on Pink?

Moot Court Nationals

The Civil War

Top 10 Topics for a McSeminar Next Semester

Top 10 Things to Avoid Around our Major Speakers

Richard III

The World of J.R.R. Tolkien (with some C.S. Lewis)

Insight into the life of Varina Davis, First Lady of the Confederacy

Advice to students headed for study abroad in China

Getting Older

Connecting through the McConnell Center

A Semester's Worth of Quotations

Always room to study at the McConnell Center

This is Water.

Moot Court 2011

Impressions of Turkey - Traveling Abroad

A Poem

Journal of a McConnell Scholar

Surviving My First Semester

Journal of a McConnell Scholar

First Year in Moot Court

Alfred the Great

Veterans Service

Reflection on my summer internship with Senator McConnell

The Freshman Experience

Liberal Education Luncheon

A Greek McConnell

Mentoring in the Service Team, a semester in review

Fourth amendment and the internet

Fighting Racism

A Million Thanks

A Very Merry Chinese Dinner

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Washington at Night

Leadership at its best.

Road Trip

King Arthur in Our Time

The Civil War: A Sesquicentennial Seminar

Freedom Isn't Free

South Africa Hosts The United Nations Climate Change Conference

The LSAT

Memories and the British Culture ELO

McConnell Scholar On Campus Leadership

Working with Frankfort on College Affordability

Capitol Politics: A D.C. Experience

Faith, Fortune and the Founding of English America

Jacksonian Era

A Surprise Leadership Lesson

Modern Camelots

President Andrew Jackson: A Man of Stark Contradictions

Oxford's Imagination: C.S. Lewis

Coach Pitino's Lessons on Leadership

The Go-Giver: Todd Schmiedeler

An evening with Dr. Rinda Frye, a theatrical director

American History Project

Operation Brightside: Old Louisville Cleanup

The Constitutional Legacy of Thomas Jefferson

Solving the national debt crisis with Hon. Jane Harman

The Constitutional Legacy of Thomas Jefferson

My Summer in DC