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ARI Co-Hosts Third Conference for BB&T Professors Volume 14, Number 6, June 2008 A Message from ARI Co-Hosts Third Conference for John P. McCaskey BB&T Professors professor who wants to include Atlas AShrugged in his classes faces many chal- lenging questions, from “How do I teach the novel?” to “How do I get students to read such John P. McCaskey, PhD, is a long book in the first place?” For participants the founder and chairman in the BB&T Charitable Foundation-sponsored of the board of the Anthem programs for the study of capitalism, those Foundation for Objectivist questions—and many others—are addressed at Scholarship, as well as an the annual conference for BB&T professors co- Dr. John McCaskey ARI board member. The hosted by ARI and the Clemson Institute for the Left to right: Drs. Onkar Ghate, Tara Smith, Yaron Brook, Anthem Foundation is a Study of Capitalism in Clemson, South Carolina. C. Bradley Thompson 501(c)(3) organization, separate from ARI, that This year marked the third such confer- provides funding to colleges and universities for ence, which drew thirty-one attendees, including Yaron Brook lectured on Ayn Rand’s unique teaching, writing or research on Objectivism. eleven first-time attendees. defense of capitalism. For returning attendees, “These conferences give us a chance to Brook and Ghate were joined by two econo- Dear Impact readers, meet and interact with the BB&T-funded pro- mists for a roundtable discussion of economics I am excited to tell you about big organizational, fessors,” said Debi Ghate, ARI’s vice president and morality. operational, and managerial changes we are of Academic programs. “They also give the Other talks included “Teaching Ayn Rand’s making at the Anthem Foundation for Objectivist professors a chance to network with each other, Ethics,” by Tara Smith, and “Ayn Rand’s Poli- Scholarship. as well as help them develop content and strate- tics,” by Fred Miller. The Anthem Foundation was incorporated in gies for the courses they are teaching using The conference program concluded with 2001 and since then has experienced remarkable Atlas Shrugged.” a session focused on strategy for how to growth and success in supporting professors who One of ARI’s major contributions was implement the BB&T grants, how to share want to teach or study Objectivism. But as struc- to lead several of the sessions. For first-time resources among the programs and how ARI tured, Anthem can no longer keep up. For the last attendees, ARI senior fellow Onkar Ghate can help. There are now thirty-eight BB&T seven years, the Foundation has operated with just a taught a class introducing them to the ideas of programs across the country. part-time volunteer (me), a mail-forwarding service, Atlas Shrugged, while ARI’s executive director continued on page 4 a bookkeeping service, and a file cabinet beside my desk. It is now time to make some changes. Anthem will take on a paid, part-time Senior Director. This will be Debi Ghate, who is now and will also remain vice president of Academic pro- Student Conference for Capitalism grams for the Ayn Rand Institute. Additional part- ecently thirty students from around the goal, ARI senior fellow Onkar Ghate taught time staff will help her. I will remain Chairman of Rglobe took part in the Clemson Institute for a three-part class on ethics and capitalism in the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Yaron Brook the Study of Capitalism’s second college stu- Atlas Shrugged. and Ed Locke will remain on the board. Debi will dent conference. “The best part manage all the day-to-day operations and relations The conference of the conference continued on page 3 brought together was meeting Dr. college students Ghate,” said Roder- to read and dis- ick Fitts, a first- Breaking News: cuss Ayn Rand’s year OAC student novel Atlas and conference Two New Web Sites Shrugged and to attendee. “His active hear lectures on approach to teach- mpact is pleased to announce the complete the moral founda- ing was incredibly Iredesign of its Web site, www.aynrand.org. The tions of capital- helpful. I’ve learned site’s new look reflects a reorganization designed ism. more about philoso- to increase ease of navigation. The site has also “My experi- phy, both from his been supplemented with many new pages of writ- ence was intel- OAC teaching and ten, audio and video content, with additional new lectually invigo- his Clemson course, content to follow in the future. rating,” said Sam than I’ve learned ARI also announces the Tenney, confer- taking sixteen simultaneous launch of a new ence attendee, Student attendees and professors at Clemson credits of college Web site, www.aynrandcenter former ARI intern courses.” .org, dedicated to the work and second-year OAC student. “The students Other courses included “Heroic Capital- of its new public policy and were generally very bright and eager to engage ists,” taught by Andrew Bernstein, “Econom- media center. The Ayn Rand Center for Individual in philosophical discussions, which often lasted ics of Capitalism,” taught by Richard Ebeling, Rights, which opens later this year in Washington, long into the night. The intellectuals were top- “Freedom of Speech,” taught by Eric Daniels D.C., will promote the philosophical case for notch, and listening to as well as interacting with and “The Moral Case for Abolishing the Gov- individual rights and laissez-faire capitalism to them was very rewarding.” ernment Schools,” by C. Bradley Thompson. the public policy and business communities, the The Clemson Institute’s mission is to All of the attendees had read Atlas media, the general public, and elected officials explore the moral foundations of a free society, Shrugged, but familiarity and agreement with and their staffs. to introduce students to proper principles and Ayn Rand’s ideas varied enormously. “I attended Impact will bring you more details on these practices that are essential to defending capital- the conference to discuss Ayn Rand’s great mas- new Web sites, and on the Ayn Rand Center in ism, and to inspire a new generation of intel- terpiece Atlas Shrugged and learn more about our August issue. lectuals to defend capitalism. In support of that continued on page 3 Spotlight on OAC Auditing: An Interview with Sandra Miller Sandra Miller, a mar- keting research spe- cialist from Southern California, recently audited Seminar course of action. This does not require omni- on Ayn Rand’s Philo- What One Can Do science or omnipotence; it is the subconscious sophy (SARPO), the second-year OAC course expectation of automatic omniscience in oneself taught by Onkar Gate. She recently spoke to Each month Impact suggests readings and other and in others that defeats many would-be cru- Impact about her experience. resources for fans of Ayn Rand’s fiction who wish saders (and serves as an excuse for doing noth- to learn more about her philosophy, Objectivism. ing). What is required is honesty—intellectual first read Atlas Shrugged the summer before honesty, which consists in knowing what one Imy freshman year in college and I was cap- yn Rand’s ideas have changed the lives of does know, constantly expanding one’s knowl- tivated by the propositions Rand delineated. As Amillions—and have inspired many readers edge, and never evading or failing to correct a I looked out on the world I was convinced that to try to change the culture. In her essay “What contradiction. This means: the development of Rand was the first person to truly understand Can One Do?” (reprinted in Philosophy: Who an active mind as a permanent attribute.” man, to place him in the proper reality and to Needs It), Ayn Rand gave her answer to the Once one understands one’s own position, define a moral and social scenario in which he question of what an individual can do to help Miss Rand continued, one’s means of having could not only survive but thrive. Of course, create a rational culture. a positive influence on the culture consists of when I entered college in 1980, my classmates “If you are seriously interested in fighting one simple but crucial action. “[W]hen you ask preferred Marx or Kant to Rand. So, I stud- for a better world,” Ayn Rand wrote, “begin ‘What can one do?’—the answer is ‘SPEAK’ ied Rand’s work on my own. By the time I by identifying the nature of the problem. The (provided you know what you are saying). graduated, I had met one other Objectivist and battle is primarily intellectual (philosophical), “A few suggestions: do not wait for a concluded that there was no purpose in study- not political. Politics is the last consequence, the national audience. Speak on any scale open to ing philosophy formally. Of course, I know practical implementation, of the fundamental you, large or small—to your friends, your asso- now that that was because my early professors (metaphysical-epistemological-ethical) ideas that ciates, your professional organizations, or any had no convictions and no answers. For them, dominate a given nation’s culture. You cannot legitimate public forum. You can never tell when philosophy had become a purely academic fight or change the consequences without fight- your words will reach the right mind at the right endeavor. I saw Objectivism as a philosophy ing and changing the cause; nor can you attempt time. You will see no immediate results—but it for living. any practical implementation without knowing is of such activities that public opinion is made. I have spent my adult life focused on what you want to implement.” “Do not pass up a chance to express your living as an Objectivist.
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