A Blog on McConnell Center Life

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 th...

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 ...

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...

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 th...

The American Conservative

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 ...

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 ...

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. ...

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.

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 v...

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 semest...

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...

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.

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.  Rath...

The second edition of The McCenter Top 10! Every new semester presents us with new speakers, new topics, and new seminars and lectures on interesting subjects and ideas. It's always good to keep our events interesting and unique, though. Because of that, the second Top 10 is a list of possible ideas for event in the Spring. 10. Speeches - Public speaking is something we should all just get used to. I think a seminar on public speaking and speech making/writing would be very beneficial to all of us. 9. Local Leaders - Governor Beshear and Lieutenant Governor Abramson. The pair is officially inaugurated tomorrow. Once they get their footing (well, Beshear already has his, I guess), let's see if we can get them in for a discussion about state affairs. This could be an amazing seminar. 8. "Good" Reading vs. "Bad" Reading - Another topic that has been addressed at a great number of our events. Is some reading more intrinsically valuable than other reading? 7. Eco...

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 stu...

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 ...

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 ...

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...

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! Ju...

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 ...

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 t...

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." -...