Professor of History Bradley Birzer spoke on Notre Dame’s campus at “The Great American Storybook,” for the Intercollegiate Studies Institute.
“I came into Dr. Birzer’s talk convinced I hated Willa Cather and James Fenimore Cooper’s books and left convinced their books should be the next on my reading list,” sophomore Margaret Baldwin said.
Eight Hillsdale students attended the conference which discussed how American literature reflected American values.
“While on the surface the conference was structured around seminal pieces of American literature, the underlying thread was a debate as to what conservatism stands for and where the conservative movement should be headed,” senior David Swegle said. “This is a debate playing out in conservative circles right now, so it was great to hear the thoughts of the various professors who spoke at the conference.”
“I came to this conference looking forward to more lectures from these interesting and insightful figures in the conservative movement and to interact with fellow conservatives from colleges across the Midwest,” senior Josh Barker said.
According to Barker, the comradery at the conference sealed the deal for him.
“My good friend, David Swegle, told me he was interested in going and willing to drive me over there,” Barker said “I highly recommend going with a friend.”
Some students attended as part of the ISI Honors Program which includes Zoom lectures, a 2022 summer conference in Philadelphia, and “The Great American Storybook” conference, but others attended out of pure interest.
“Seeing the lineup of speakers is what led me to sign up for the conference,” Swegle said.
Baker said the highlight of the conference was Susan Hanssen’s lecture on Little House in the Big Woods and the way it impacts the concept of American culture and its roots in the frontier.
Hillsdale Lecturer and Research Fellow Michael Anton debated Notre Dame Professor of Business Ethics Jim Otterson on “How Moral Are Markets.”
Anton argued the markets themselves are amoral, but Otterson said free markets give individuals the opportunity to choose.
Government should intervene in the markets to foster healthy communities, Anton said.
According to Barker, some of the arguments for protectionism in the markets, whether for increased national security, or for more moral reasons, were incomplete.
“I remain highly skeptical of his arguments for protectionism,” Barker said. “I have great respect for Professor Anton and agree with Anton when it comes to the ends of trade and economic policy generally, but I find the economics behind his reasoning for the means to achieve those ends highly questionable.”
Sophomore Margaret Baldwin attended the lecture series with a friend and said she appreciated hearing from like minded students and professors outside of Hillsdale.
“Many of the students attending were the minority in their college politically or religiously, and my conversations with these students made me grateful for the community and values of Hillsdale,” Baldwin said.