Volume 15, Number 11, November 2009 Benefit Dinner Raises Funds for an “Atlas Shrugged Revolution” he Ayn Rand Institute hosted a major fund- mission and activities of ARI; Clemson University Traising dinner on September 15 in New York professor C. Bradley Thompson, who discussed the City. About 125 people gathered at the W hotel Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism; and in Midtown Manhattan to learn more about ARI Evan Lowenthal, a high school teacher in Harlem, and support its programs. The dinner, titled “Atlas New York, who described his experiences teaching Shrugged Revolution,” included a silent auction Continued on page 4 featuring several rare books from the collection of ARI donor Tedd Potts, who split the proceeds with the Institute. “The Atlas Shrugged Revolution dinner excee- Declare Your Support for ded all expectations” said ARI executive director Yaron Brook, who emceed the event. “We had a a Free Society fantastic turnout that included many new faces, and from becoming reality—which was also one of he newly launched Principles of a Free Society the guests were able to connect with one another Ayn Rand’s reasons for writing the book. The din- TWeb site (principlesofafreesociety.com) now through a shared appreciation for Ayn Rand and ner raised money for programs that are crucial to allows visitors to publicly declare their support her masterpiece. The presentations were outstand- achieving that goal.” for freedom. Visitors to the homepage will find a ing; the auction was lucrative and a lot of fun. I’d The proceeds from the dinner benefit the button prominently displayed at the top of the right- like to give a big thank-you to Tedd Potts for his Atlas Shrugged Initiative and the expansion hand column marked “Declare your support for the generosity—I’m sure it wasn’t easy to part with of the activities of the Ayn Rand Center for principles of a free society.” The button takes visitors such treasures.” Individual Rights, the public outreach division to a page where they can add their name, company, city and state to a growing list of supporters. Impact The $2,500-a-plate dinner included the option of ARI. The Atlas Shrugged Initiative is a major of purchasing full tables for $50,000 or $25,000, readers are encouraged to sign the list, and to pass promotional campaign seeking to capitalize on the word on to others. and a number of attendees did so. An anonymous the surge in interest in Ayn Rand. (See “What Is donor purchased an entire table and requested it be the Atlas Shrugged Initiative?” on page 2.) used to enable students to take part in the event. Dr. Brook began the evening with a brief Consequently the table was filled with graduate and welcome. Following dinner, a series of video clips undergraduate students, mostly from the New York featuring Ayn Rand and Objectivist speakers were area. (See “Student Attendees Inspired by Dinner” presented. The Objectivist speakers included BB&T on page 4.) chairman John Allison, Dr. Brook, ARI senior fel- While the dinner itself was a landmark event low Onkar Ghate, ARI board member John Ridpath in the history of ARI, Dr. Brook said that fact and University of Texas at Austin professor should not overshadow the dinner’s purpose. “The Tara Smith. After the videos, presentations were reason we came together was to try to prevent the given by Mr. Allison, who spoke at length about destruction of America portrayed in Atlas Shrugged the financial crisis; Dr. Brook, who discussed the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest Breaks Record On Winning the s briefly reported in last month’s Impact, Teachers program than ever before. On the whole, Unwinnable War Amore than four thousand students participated the Free Books program distributed more than By Yaron Brook in this year’s Atlas Shrugged essay contest. That 350,000 copies of Ayn Rand novels this year. number more than doubles the previous record of ARI also works with sixty university pro- n late October Winning nineteen hundred entries and, with record-breaking grams supported by the BB&T Foundation that I the Unwinnable War: numbers for the Fountainhead and Anthem essay study the moral foundations of capitalism. Thou- America’s Self-Crippled contests, completes the sands of students have been Response to Islamic Totali- record-breaking trifecta reading Atlas Shrugged in tarianism, a collection of 11th Annual Essay Contest on Ayn Rand’s Novel for 2009. The Fountain- ATLAS SHRUGGED those programs. ARI essays on America’s For College/University Students and 12th Graders head and Anthem contests Entry Deadline: September 17, 2009 To date, more than response to 9/11, was pub- received seven thousand First Prize: $10,000 Cash Award 230,000 students have lished by Lexington Books. 3 Second Prizes: $2,000 Cash Award and sixteen thousand 5 Third Prizes: $1,000 Cash Award entered ARI’s essay ARI fellow Elan Journo is the book’s editor entries, respectively. 20 Finalist Prizes: $100 Cash Award contests and $838,000 and main contributor. ARI fellow Alex Epstein 20 Semifinalist Prizes: $50 Cash Award “We expected there For a list of the 2008 winners, go to www.aynrandnovels.com/contests. has been awarded in and I are contributing authors. This was a might be a bump in 11th Annual Essay Contest on Ayn Rand’s Novel ATLAS SHRUGGED—JUDGING prize money. The $10,000 milestone event for the Institute. Winning the ATLAS SHRUGGED Essays will be judged on both style and content. Judges will look for writing that is clear, articulate and logically organized. Winning essays must demonstrate an numbers for the Atlas For College/University Students and 12th Graders outstanding grasp of the philosophic meaning of Atlas Shrugged. grand-prize winner of this Unwinnable War represents the culmination Entry Deadline: September 17, 2009 ATLAS SHRUGGED—RULES Shrugged contest, but not First Prize: $10,000 Cash Award year’s Atlas Shrugged of eight years of commentary, and provides a • No application is required. Contest is open to students worldwide. 3 Second Prizes: $2,000 Cash Award • Entrant must be a college/university undergraduate, graduate or 12th-grade student. • Part-time students are eligible. a bump like this,” said 5 Third Prizes: $1,000 Cash Award essay contest will be detailed presentation of ARI’s position on the • Essay must be no fewer than 800 and no more 1,600 words in length and must 20 Finalist Prizes: $100 Cash Award be typewritten and double-spaced. ARI Education department • Essay must be submitted online or postmarked by September 17, 2009, no later announced in the January United States’ most urgent foreign policy issue. 20 Semifinalist Prizes: $50 Cash Award than 11:59 PM, PST. • Essay must be solely the work of the entrant. • Plagiarized essays will be manager Marilee Dahl. ATLAS SHRUGGED Essay Contest Questions 2009 disqualified. Impact, and the winning Eight years after 9/11, Islamic totalitarian- • Entrants may submit only one essay. • Decisions of the judges are final. Select ONE of the following three topics: • Employees of the Ayn Rand Institute, its board of directors and their immediate family members are not eligible for this contest. “We’re thrilled—and 1. Hank Rearden does not apply the same philosophy to his personal life essay posted online. For ism remains as grave—if not more grave—a that he applies to his business. In what way does this contradiction harm • All entries become the property of the Ayn Rand Institute and will not be returned. him psychologically and practically? What is the central error that he • Winners and other participants will be notified by November 17, 2009. swamped with grading!” makes? How does correcting his error improve his life? more information on ARI’s threat as it did the day the Al Qaeda destroyed Protected by Turnitin plagiarism detection software (Turnitin.com) 2. In Atlas Shrugged, the heroes want to “make” money while the villains Ms. Dahl said the want, on the surface at least, to “have” money. What is the difference essay contests, including the Twin Towers, a section of the Pentagon, four between these two views of money? Explain your answer by reference to ATLAS SHRUGGED—TO ENTER actual events in the novel. Submit your essay online at www.aynrand.org/contests, and we will send you record-breaking essay con- an e-mail reply acknowledging receipt of your essay. If you have not received a newly launched contest U.S. planes and 3,000 innocent civilians. Yet as 3. Choose one of the following pairs and compare and contrast each e-mail notification with 24 hours, please e-mail [email protected]. character’s approach to life and basic motivation: Students unable to submit online may mail their essays to: test numbers correspond to a. Hank Rearden and Francisco d’Anconia Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest for former participants, the wars in the Middle East plod on, direction- The Ayn Rand Institute b. Dagny Taggart and Lillian Rearden P.O. Box 57044 heightened interest in Atlas Irvine, CA 92619-7044 titled How Has Reading less and ever-more deadly, the wars no longer c. Eddie Willers and James Taggart You MUST staple a cover sheet to your essay and include the following information: your name; mailing address; e-mail address; the name and address Shrugged among teachers, of your school; topic selected (#1, 2, or 3 from list at left); your declared major. Ayn Rand’s Novels Affected grab headlines as they once did. Americans are NEW! A Web site for students who want to If you wish to verify our receipt of your essay, please paperclip a stamped, self- learn more about Ayn Rand’s novels addressed postcard to the essay.