C-SPAN3 aired one of Professor of History Brad Birzer’s lectures on Sept. 26–27.
In the lecture, originally filmed and aired in 2010 as part of C-SPAN’s “Lectures in History” series, Birzer discussed the Old Republicans and the development of political parties within the Jacksonian era. He spent a month or two preparing, he said, because he wanted to do well on TV.
The C-SPAN appearances were far from Birzer’s only public appearances, and Birzer is far from the only professor to make a public appearance related to his field.
Provost David Whalen said that it is “pretty common” for Hillsdale professors to make public appearances related to their fields at events not sponsored by the college, though national TV appearances are unusual.
Jon Fennell, dean of social sciences, said professors speak in a variety of forums, including events sponsored by professional societies, think tanks, political organizations, service clubs, and churches. He said different types of appearances “vary greatly” in significance and amount of preparation required.
Dean of Natural Sciences Chris Van Orman said that while professors in his division do not generally give public lectures, they do present research at conferences and help out in public and charter schools.
Dean of Humanities Tom Burke said in an email that professors in his division rarely make public appearances.
Fennell said that in the social science division overall, professors split about evenly as to whether they make public appearances not sponsored by the college. He said a Hillsdale professor’s most important jobs are teaching and advising, so many professors do not feel a compelling need to speak publicly.
“Here, while we certainly encourage it, it’s not required,” he said.
Fennell also stressed that some professors who do not speak at off-campus events make a point of speaking at campus events.
Professors who speak off-campus do so for a variety of reasons.
Birzer often lectures for various groups, mostly discussing Christian humanism or the American Revolution. He said he feels a “natural affinity” for public speaking. He enjoys presenting ideas Hillsdale students take for granted to audiences who find them “shocking in a good way,” he said.
“I believe in the mission of it, too, and I still think public speaking should be an art,” he said.
Assistant Professor of Biology David Houghton presents research annually at the Michigan Entomological Society’s yearly conference, and occasionally at the conferences of other societies. He said his main motivation is to empower his students who attend with him and present their own research.
“To watch them discover something that no one’s ever discovered before and to present it as the expert in the room to a room full of Michigan State University professors — it’s empowering,” he said.
Houghton said he really appreciates students’ moments of self-realization when they realize they are experts, capable of teaching those in the top of their fields.
He also said the conferences are good opportunities to publicize Hillsdale, especially its natural sciences division, which he says is often unknown to those outside the college.
He said he appreciates traveling for conferences and seeing old friends there, as well.
Professor of Economics Gary Wolfram is one the college’s most prolific public speakers, according to Whalen. Wolfram appears weekly on two radio programs and makes an additional radio appearance about once a week, Wolfram said. He testifies before congressional committees three or four times a year, he said, usually in the Michigan Senate. He speaks at national and regional conferences regularly and frequently does appearances for local organizations.
“Some of it’s ’cause I’m getting paid,” he said.
Sometimes Wolfram foregoes pay. He speaks free-of-charge at local events as a form of outreach from gown to town, “so it becomes a college town, instead of town with a college,” he said.
Wolfram also speaks annually at an event for the San Diego chapter of the Freedoms Foundation, teaching high school students about free markets and the importance of limited government. He receives no honorarium, but keeps coming back because it’s a message he wants to spread.
“That one I’ve been doing for 13 years, just because they’re doing the right thing,” he said.
Wolfram said he simply enjoys public speaking.
“Why do musicians tour?” he said. “They’re doing it because they enjoy it.”
