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Volume 13, Number 9, September 2007 The Objectivist Academic Center: Educating Future New Intellectuals

At a special lunch for complete the undergraduate program and are Dave Zornek. Many of these scholarships are students hosted by the planning careers as professional intellectuals can made possible by ARI’s memorial scholarship Objectivist Academic go on to apply to the OAC graduate program, funds (see related article on page 2). Students who Center at this year’s which helps students master the philosophy. This are working toward careers as intellectuals also summer conference in year’s graduate students, for example, took part have the opportunity to interact with mentors— Telluride, Dr. Onkar Ghate, ARI senior fellow and in a course titled “Confusion Papers,” which intellectuals who have already established careers. dean of the OAC, explained the value of the OAC’s Dr. Leonard Peikoff gave in the late nineties. In In order for the OAC to continue to grow, undergraduate program for the study of Ayn Rand’s the original course, students were asked to write additional resources are required—above all, more philosophy. “It is possible to learn philosophy on short papers on a philosophical issue they found talented, qualified teachers. To make this possible, one’s own, but it is extraordinarily difficult. In confusing, and received feedback from Dr. Peikoff ARI has launched its OAC expansion campaign. my judgment, there is no substitute for having a on the issue and on their methodology. Today’s To date we have raised $114,535 toward our first knowledgeable teacher from whom to learn—who students read and analyze the original papers and year goal of $160,800, but we still need additional can clarify challenging concepts, who can answer listen to Dr. Peikoff’s recorded comments. support. To learn more about this important questions, who can give insightful feedback.” But the benefits of the OAC are not only campaign and how you can support it, please visit The OAC was started six years ago as a way intellectual. ARI also provides an array of support www.aynrand.org/support_campaigns_oac. to help train and cultivate future Objectivist intel- for qualifying OAC students. For example, OAC lectuals by giving them access to expert teachers students are eligible for various forms of financial and a rigorous curriculum. (The OAC was pre- support, such as grants to apply to graduate school ceded by the Objectivist Graduate Center.) Today or to attend academic colloquia. Each year a Audit the OAC more than one hundred students are enrolled in number of OAC students are able to attend the the OAC undergraduate and graduate programs, Objectivist summer conference as conference For those who are not, and are not planning to become, a number that continues to grow each year: this scholars; in exchange for supporting ARI staff, intellectuals, auditing is a great way to take advantage of our one-of-a-kind educational program. Auditors can year the OAC received about ninety-five applica- they receive free tuition, room and board. This enroll in select OAC classes and listen to class lectures, tions, and we plan to accept fifty students into the year’s conference scholars were: Matt Bateman, but may not participate in class discussions or receive program, our maximum class size due to financial Christian Beenfeldt, Nancy Bialasz, Kristina feedback on assignments. Auditing is open to anyone and resource limitations. Biniek, Katie Brakora, Kelly Cadenas, Adam not enrolled in the OAC. Space is limited and those Students in the OAC undergraduate program Croom, Ray Girn, Gena Gorlin, Audra Hilse, interested are encouraged to register early. Classes spend four years studying Objectivism as a Rebecca Knapp, Arthur Lechtholz-Zey, Tasos begin in October. For more information, including tuition philosophical system, and methods of objective Papaioannou, Tuomo Paqvalin, Jeff Scialabba, costs, please visit our Web site: www.aynrand.org/audit. thought and communication. Students who Dale Stevens, Don Watkins, Kara Zavarella and Winners of Essay Contests Announced his year ARI received a record-breaking change, identifying the steps by which we aim to Clemson Institute for the T20,794 entries to our Anthem and Fountain- find, train and support the future Objectivist intel- Study of Capitalism’s head essay contests, which aim to inspire high lectuals who will one day promote rational ideas in student summer conference school students to read Ayn Rand’s novels and the universities and the culture. (covered in the August 2007 examine the ideas they contain. Impact is pleased This year’s essay contest winners indicate issue of Impact), Miss Basu to announce this year’s winners. that our approach is effective for promoting plans to extend her study The $2,000 grand prize for the Anthem essay Ayn Rand’s works and encouraging further of Objectivism by joining contest was awarded to Miss Denise Orthner of study of her ideas. the Penn State Objectivist Hammonton, New Jersey. The $10,000 grand “I was introduced to campus club, writing for The prize for the Fountainhead essay contest was Ayn Rand through my Rituparna Basu, The Undercurrent (a student- Fountainhead essay awarded to Miss Rituparna Basu of Norristown, English teacher,” said Miss contest winner run college newsletter Pennsylvania. Orthner, whose teacher written from an Objectivist “Our essay contests are an important received free copies of perspective) and applying to the OAC. “I applied means of helping teachers motivate students Anthem from ARI. “It really to the OAC because I value Objectivism greatly,” to read Ayn Rand’s novels and think critically made me think and question said Miss Basu. “I want to understand every about them, of rewarding those students who much of what I had been facet of it, and I hope to take what I learn and exercise the effort necessary to grasp her ideas previously exposed to. I use it in my daily life to become more productive Denise Orthner, Anthem and communicate that understanding, and—as essay contest winner have already checked out and achieve the most I can in life. There is a crucial step in our ‘education funnel’—of Atlas Shrugged from my no better place to start than the OAC, with its furthering the Institute’s mission of promoting public library, and also plan on reading The distinguished faculty and integrated curriculum.” Ayn Rand’s ideas,” said Ms. Marilee Dragsdahl, Fountainhead—and entering its essay contest. Miss Basu also plans on entering ARI’s Atlas ARI’s Education department manager. I find Ayn Rand’s works to be extremely Shrugged essay contest, open to graduating high Starting with our Free Books to Teachers pro- interesting and thought-provoking, and if it school seniors and college students. gram and high school essay contests, and culmi- weren’t for the Ayn Rand Institute and its The winning essays are available on the nating in the Objectivist Academic Center and our donors, I might not have read them.” Institute’s Web site, www.aynrand.org/contest. ongoing support for intellectuals, the “education Miss Basu had started studying Objectivism Next year’s essay contest questions will be posted funnel” is ARI’s integrated strategy for cultural prior to the essay contest. A participant in the in the near future. people in pursuit of intellectual careers to attend the summer conference. Of this year’s nineteen scholarships to our conference scholars (see related article on page 1), seventeen were funded by the memorial funds. All of this year’s recipients are enrolled at the Objectivist Academic Center or were ARI interns. See below for details about the funds and their 2007 recipients. We thank the donors who have established and perpetuated memorial funds, as well as those who have contributed to the funds, for making In fact, Ayn Rand shows, the egalitarians’ such support possible. The memorial funds are The Evil of claim to uphold equality as a positive value is only part of the Atlantis Legacy, ARI’s planned giving a cover intended to disguise and evade their actual program (www.atlantislegacy.org). To create a Egalitarianism motive. “If there were such a thing as a passion memorial fund, or to support one of the existing for equality (not equality de jure, but de facto), funds and thus assist deserving students, contact Each month Impact suggests readings and other it would be obvious to its exponents that there Kathy Cross, Gift & Estate Planning Manager, at resources for fans of Ayn Rand’s fiction who wish are only two ways to achieve it: either by raising 310-876-1633 or [email protected]. to learn more about her philosophy, Objectivism. all men to the mountaintop—or by razing the mountains. The first method is impossible because “. . . now, more than ever, I am certain galitarianism,” Ayn Rand wrote, “is so it is the faculty of volition that determines a man’s “Eevil—and so silly—a doctrine that it stature and actions; but the nearest approach to that my future career must be academic deserves no serious study or discussion. But that it was demonstrated by the United States and and intellectual in nature.” doctrine has a certain diagnostic value: it is the capitalism, which protected the freedom, the open confession of the hidden disease that has rewards and the incentives for every individual’s —Kelly Cadenas, a student at Harvard University, been eating away the insides of civilization for achievement, each to the extent of his ability and after attending the 2007 summer conference two centuries (or longer) under many disguises ambition, thus raising the intellectual, moral and on a memorial fund scholarship and cover-ups.” (“Egalitarianism and Inflation” economic state of the whole society. The second in Philosophy: Who Needs It) That disease is method is impossible because, if mankind were Burton E. Berger Memorial Scholarship Fund altruism, and egalitarianism, she held, starkly leveled down to the common denominator of its The Berger Fund was established in 2003 by reveals its nature and the motives of its advocates. least competent members, it would not be able to Mr. Berger’s wife, ARI donor Leora Berger. Broadly, egalitarianism upholds human survive (and its best would not choose to survive In 2006 and 2007, the Fund has been able to equality. But today’s egalitarians do not demand on such terms). Yet it is the second method that the provide more scholarships than previously, due political equality—equality of rights—they altruist‑egalitarians are pursuing. The greater the to additional contributions to the Fund from demand metaphysical equality: “equality of per- evidence of their policy’s consequences, i.e., the other ARI donors. In both years, Cecil Williams sonal attributes and virtues, regardless of natural greater the spread of misery, of injustice, of vicious donated appreciated stock to ARI to help fund endowment or individual choice, performance and inequality throughout the world, the more frantic scholarships (his 2006 contribution is profiled character.” And since all men are not equal in their their pursuit—which is one demonstration of the on page five of the May 2007 issue of Impact). natural endowment or the quality of their choices fact that there is no such thing as a benevolent This year Richard and Kathleen Nickerson made “the egalitarians propose to abolish the ‘unfairness’ passion for equality and that the claim to it is only an extra contribution to the Institute in support of nature and of volition, and to establish universal a rationalization to cover a passionate hatred of the of a scholarship from the Berger Fund (see “A equality in fact—in defiance of facts. Since the good for being the good.” (“The Age of Envy”) Donor’s Personal Connection to Atlas Shrugged’s Law of Identity is impervious to human manipula- For further reading on this topic (in addition to Fiftieth Anniversary” on page 3). tion, it is the Law of Causality that they struggle to the essays already cited), see “An Untitled Letter” Because Mrs. Berger attends the summer abrogate. Since personal attributes or virtues can- in Philosophy: Who Needs It, and chapter 15 of conferences every year, she has had the not be ‘redistributed,’ they seek to deprive men of Dr. Leonard Peikoff’s book The Ominous Paral- opportunity to meet and talk with the fourteen their consequences—of the rewards, the benefits, lels. All of the items cited in this column can be students whose conference scholarships have been the achievements created by personal attributes purchased from the Ayn Rand Bookstore. To order, made possible by the Berger Fund. This year, and virtues.” (“The Age of Envy” in Return of the please visit www.aynrandbookstore.com or call to mark the fifth anniversary of the Fund, ARI Primitive: The Anti-Industrial Revolution) 1-800-729-6149. arranged a luncheon for Mrs. Berger and most of these students (twelve of the fourteen were in attendance at the conference). Memorial Fund Conference Scholarships: “It has been my great pleasure to meet and visit with ‘my’ students each year, and to follow Supporting and Training Young Objectivists their progress afterward,” said Mrs. Berger. “Their letters about their plans have given me a The length of time required to have been utilized primarily to support students’ further reward. But when I walked into that room bring about a culture of reason attendance at OCON summer conferences, where for lunch and saw all those young, intelligent, is unknown. Accordingly, ARI they acquire knowledge, skills and experience and familiar faces gathered in one place, it was welcomes contributions in support that are not available in a traditional academic almost overwhelming. There before me were of our current programs as well as those that environment. Students not only deepen their concrete examples of the ‘best hope for the future’ provide funding for the Institute’s future existence. understanding of Objectivism, but also benefit that Burton and I have wanted to support and Creating a memorial scholarship fund is one from spending time with others who share their encourage. Talk about return on investment!” way to do both. In cooperation with ARI, several intellectual interests and goals. The Fund’s 2007 scholarship recipients are: donors have established funds in memory of In 2007 the Institute’s memorial funds • Kelly Cadenas, an undergraduate student in deceased loved ones. continued to make it possible for promising young biochemistry at Harvard “Memorial scholarship University; funds help ensure that ARI • Audra Hilse, an will have the resources it undergraduate student needs for as long as it takes in history at Lawrence to accomplish our mission,” University (funded by said Kathy Cross, ARI’s Mr. Williams’s gift) Gift & Estate Planning • Tasos Papaioannou, Manager. “For the donors a graduate student in who establish them, the physics at the University of funds have significant California-Berkeley personal meaning. They are • Tuomo Paqvalin, a a way to create a continued undergraduate student in legacy to one’s dearest philosophy at the University values. As the funds are of Helsinki (funded by the replenished and grow thanks Nickersons’ gift) to new contributions, and as • Kara Zavarella, a graduate new funds are created, they student in English at New in turn help ARI support York University (funded by more young intellectuals Past and present scholarship recipients of the Burton E. Berger Memorial Scholarship Fund at a luncheon to celebrate the five-year anniversary of the Fund, with Mr. Williams’s gift) and thus expand Leora Berger (third on the left) and ARI staff in Mountain Village, Colorado, during the July 2007 Objectivist summer conference. Pictured clockwise from bottom In her letter of thanks to Objectivism’s influence in left are: Debi Ghate, VP of Academic Programs; Gena Gorlin; Leora Berger; Daniel Schwartz; Onkar Ghate, dean of the Objectivist Academic Center; the maitre d’ of the restaurant; Tasos Papaioannou; Audra Hilse; Christian Beenfeldt; Kelly Cadenas; Tuomo Paqvalin; Kristina Biniek; Kara Zavarella; Ray Girn; Rebecca Mr. Williams, Ms. Zavarella the culture.” Knapp; and Kathy Cross, Gift & Estate Planning Manager. Not shown are Matt Bateman, who was taking the photograph, as well as Christopher Alexander and To date, the scholarships Eric Lanser, two past Berger Fund recipients who were not in attendance at the conference. continued on page 4 2 ARI Hosts First Objectivist Academic Center Graduation Ceremony A Donor’s Personal t this year’s summer conference in Telluride, “This ceremony marked an important mile- Athe Objectivist Academic Center held its first- stone, not only for the graduates but for ARI as Connection ever graduation ceremony, recognizing the first well,” said Dr. Brook. “Judging by the OAC’s to Atlas three classes to complete the OAC undergraduate first three graduating classes, it’s clear that our program since its inception six years ago. approach to training new intellectuals works. Now Shrugged’s The ceremony featured moving comments our focus is to continue building on this success.” Fiftieth from Dr. Yaron Brook, executive director of ARI, and Dr. Onkar Ghate, ARI senior fellow and dean Anniversary of the OAC. Dr. Brook OAC Graduates spoke of the OAC’s Corinne Block ichard and Kathleen Nickerson, of Powhatan, success at cultivating Ray Girn RVirginia, are longtime Objectivists and ARI Objectivist intellectuals, Gena Gorlin donors. Having included the Institute in their giving special recogni- estate plan, they are also Atlantis Legacy donors. Judith Hill tion to Dr. Ghate for Bach Ho Residents of the New York City area for many designing the OAC years, where Dr. Richard Nickerson practiced curriculum and teaching Charles Kaner medicine, they were part of Ayn Rand’s circle. many of its courses. Dr. Rebecca Knapp Miss Rand and her husband Frank O’Connor Ghate praised the grad- Paul Marshall attended their wedding in 1963. uates for successfully In May of this year, Dr. Nickerson wrote to Edwin Mizrahi completing the chal- ARI: “I read The Fountainhead in the summer of Dan Norton lenging and demanding 1957. It was a life-changing experience for me. I was Simon Patkin four-year program. desperate to find other writings by Ayn Rand, but All OAC graduates received a diploma, and Daniel Schwartz nothing else was available. Very shortly afterwards, Alex Silverman on the first day of my senior year at NYU, I saw a those in attendance were personally congratulated girl holding a book with the words ‘Ayn Rand’ on on their achievement by Dr. Brook, Dr. Ghate and Aaron Smith the cover. Despite my shock, I determined to keep OAC professor Dr. Keith Lockitch. Kara Zavarella her in sight until I could figure out what to do. I followed her into her class, and when it was over, I got up the courage to introduce myself and ask to borrow her book. She turned out to be Kathleen, and the book was an author’s advance copy of Atlas Shrugged, inscribed by Ayn Rand to Kathleen and dated August 20, 1957. These two events, finding Ayn Rand and finding Kathleen, are the two most fortunate events of my life.”

OAC students mingle before the graduation ceremony Rebecca Knapp receives her diploma

Dr. Onkar Ghate, dean of the OAC, speaks to the OAC students Edwin Mizrahi receives his diploma

Richard and Kathleen Nickerson, who helped provide one of the Berger Fund scholarships this year, with their grandchildren. “Of course, Kathleen and I contribute to ARI to help make a better world,” said Dr. Nickerson. “But for us, it is more personal. We contribute because we want the right intellectual ammunition to be available—widely available—so that the lives of those we care about, such as our grandchildren, might be full and happy.” Ray Girn receives his diploma Dan Norton receives his diploma For medical reasons, the Nickersons were unable to attend this year’s summer conference held at a remote, high-altitude location, and they very much regretted having to miss the fiftieth anniversary celebration of Atlas Shrugged. As a way of participating from afar, they decided to support a student scholarship to the conference through the Berger Fund (see related story on page 2). Their intention was that the scholarship be used “to sponsor some worthy student who is an admirer and supporter of Objectivism who would not otherwise be able to attend the conference.” Gena Gorlin receives her diploma Daniel Schwartz receives his diploma The scholarship recipient is Tuomo Paqvalin, a philosophy student at the University of Helsinki. In his letter of appreciation to the Nickersons, Mr. Paqvalin wrote: “Besides learning huge amounts of new things, the conference gave me new energy to keep me going through the next year in my studies. Armed with rational ideas and the example of courageous minds pursuing the truth, it is easier to bear the irrational and purposeless elements widespread in academia.”

Judith Hill receives her diploma Kara Zavarella receives her diploma  Memorial Fund Conference Scholarships: Supporting and Training Young Objectivists, continued from page 2 wrote, “I’ve heard so many of Dr. Peikoff’s distributions to ARI earmarked to support and Anne Daw Memorial Scholarship Fund courses on tape, and I must have read almost reward ten accomplished OAC students. This year, The Daw Fund was established in 2006 by everything he’s written (in many instances more four of the Fund’s ten scholarships funded four longtime ARI donor Stuart Daw, in his wife’s than once). But I had never had the opportunity to students’ attendance at the summer conference. memory. The Fund’s 2007 scholarship recipient is hear him speak live before.” She signed her letter, These scholarship recipients are: Rebecca Knapp, a law student at the University “With a mind full of new knowledge gained and a • Kristina Biniek, a graduate student in of California-Los Angeles. heart full of gratitude . . .” philosophy at the University of South Florida In her letter to Mrs. Berger, Ms. Cadenas wrote, • Katie Brakora, a graduate student in biology at Stephen H. Goldman MD Memorial Scholarship Fund “The courses I took were absolutely amazing. the University of California-Berkeley The Goldman Fund was established in 2001 Lisa VanDamme’s course, ‘Gems of Drama,’ was • Eric Brunner, an undergraduate student in by Dr. Goldman’s wife Marilyn. Dr. Goldman a beautiful reminder of the enormous pleasure philosophy at the University of California-Irvine was a longtime Objectivist and supporter of and value that can be gained from analyzing great • Ray Girn, a private elementary schoolteacher ARI. The Fund’s 2007 scholarship recipient works of literature—quite a contrast to literature in Southern California who graduated from the is Christian Beenfeldt, a graduate student courses I have taken in the past. Pat Corvini’s University of Toronto in 2004 in philosophy at Oxford University and the course, ‘Two, Three, Four and All That,’ was University of Copenhagen. an eye-opener in the realm of mathematics. I George W. Brumley III Memorial Scholarship Fund realized that mathematical concepts are far from The Brumley Fund was established in 2003 by Terry Radow Memorial Scholarship Fund mysterious—they have a graspable, reality-based ARI Benefactor David Carr, Jr., Mr. Brumley’s The Radow Fund was established in 2006 by origin. Never again will I look at numbers in the friend and business partner. The 2007 scholarship longtime ARI donor Steven Radow, in his wife’s same way. More fundamentally, OCON helped to recipients are: memory. The Fund’s 2007 scholarship recipient is further my interest in philosophy—now, more than • Nancy Bialasz, an undergraduate student in Matt Bateman, a graduate student in philosophy ever, I am certain that my future career (whatever philosophy and psychology at Wake Forest at the University of Pennsylvania. that may be) must be academic and intellectual in University nature. For this and much more, I thank you and • Adam Croom, an undergraduate student in your husband.” philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania; Impact is published monthly by the Ayn Rand® Institute (ARI) and is complimentary to current donors who contribute $35 or more per year. • Jeff Scialabba, a graduate student in linguistics For information on how you can support ARI and to learn about Betty and Daniel Bloomfield Scholarship Fund at Georgetown University our projects, please visit our Web site: www.aynrand.org. Atlantis Legacy®, the Institute’s planned giving program, and related indicia The Bloomfield Fund was established in 2004 by • Dale Stevens, a post-doctoral student in are registered trademarks. The Ayn Rand Archives is a special the Bloomfields’ son Charles, shortly before his psychology at Harvard University collection of the Ayn Rand Institute. Objectivist Conferences (OCON) and the Ayn Rand Bookstore are owned by Second Renaissance, death, in memory of his father and in tribute to • Dave Zornek, a undergraduate student in physics Inc., which is operated by the Ayn Rand Institute. Second his mother. Held and managed by the California at San Francisco State University Renaissance, Inc., and the Ayn Rand Institute do not necessarily Community Foundation, the Fund makes annual endorse the content of the lectures and courses offered. All photos of Ayn Rand are used by permission of the Estate of Ayn Rand. Purchases from the Ayn Rand Bookstore do not qualify as tax-deductible contributions to the Ayn Rand Institute. Editor: Don Watkins Editorial Advisers: Dr. Yaron Brook, Mark Chapman, Debi Ghate, Anu Seppala Designer: Simon Federman Thomas A. Bowden Joins Wanted: Executive Assistant Printing: David Antonacci Copy Editor: Donna Montrezza Headquarters: 2121 Alton Parkway, Suite 250 ARI’s Academic Division ARI is seeking a full-time executive assistant to Irvine, CA 92606-4926 Phone: 949-222-6550 Fax: 949-222-6558 join our Administration department in our Irvine, © The Ayn Rand Institute 2007. All rights reserved. Not to be his month Mr. Thomas A. Bowden will California, office. The executive assistant is reproduced without permission. Tjoin our staff as a full-time analyst, responsible for providing professional support for writing and speaking primarily on legal issues. the CEO. To learn more about this opportunity Mr. Bowden is the author of The Enemies please visit www.aynrand.org/employment. of Christopher Columbus, which was the subject of a C-Span BookTV broadcast, and a contributing author to The Abolition of TM Antitrust. His op-eds for ® ARI have appeared in the books/audio/videos . . . for the rational mind TM Philadelphia Inquirer, Miami Herald, Los Angeles SPOTLIGHT ON THE BOOKSTORE Daily News and many other newspapers. Mr. Bowden has given Antislavery Political Writings, dozens of radio interviews and has appeared 1833–1860 on Fox News Channel’s Hannity & Colmes. He has also spoken at numerous Objectivist Edited by C. Bradley Thompson conferences. Mr. Bowden received his JD The abolitionist move- from the University of Maryland and, before ment in nineteenth cen- joining ARI, practiced labor and employment tury America led directly law on the management side in Baltimore, to the end of slavery in Maryland. the United States. The “Since reading The Fountainhead movement was deeply as a teenager,” said Mr. Bowden, “I have divided, however, as been enthralled by Ayn Rand’s fiction and abolitionists clashed convinced by her ideas. When I started law with each other over school in 1983, there was no Ayn Rand methods, strategies and Institute, and therefore no ready opportunity tactics, as well as with to earn a living by advancing her philosophy. proslavery opponents. Today, thanks in large part to donors’ This unique collection of more than twenty generosity, ARI has emerged as the world’s original documents captures the deep ideologi- leading institutional advocate for a culture cal divisions within the abolitionist movement. It of reason. How could I refuse an opportunity includes selections drawn from speeches, editori- to join this team that has dedicated itself als, pamphlets, books and fiction—some of which to changing the world? Twenty years spent have never before been reprinted. The authors practicing law have given me an insider’s include both black and white, male and female perspective on the troubling legal issues that abolitionists, including well-known figures such as confront both individuals and businesses in the William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass, twenty-first century. I look forward to drawing as well as lesser-known names. Together these on that knowledge and experience in helping selections demonstrate the development and deep the Institute promote Ayn Rand’s vision of disputes within the antislavery movement in the individual rights.” years leading up to and including the Civil War . We are pleased to welcome Mr. Bowden on board. (Softcover; 320 pages) $29.95