Students For Liberty
Encyclopedia
Students For Liberty seeks to support student groups that hold a wide-range of philosophical beliefs that all share an underlying dedication to liberty
with resources like leadership training, literature, grants, and speakers. Forming after a meeting where students exchanged ideas from their own experiences with liberty
advocating student groups, SFL quickly expanded with new programs and an exponentially growing network of affiliated student groups. Gene Healy
with the Cato Institute
includes the organization in the limited-government movement.
Organized after the success of a conference, the largest program of the organization is conferences in the form of an annual international conference as well as various regional conferences. The organization experienced rapid growth since its inception in 2008. The network now includes 429 student organizations around the world. The SFL network currently includes groups located in Belgium
, England
, Ghana
, Hong Kong
, India
, Italy
, New Zealand
, Nigeria
, Poland
, South Africa
, Tanzania
, Uganda
, United States of America, and Venezuela
. The rapid expansion is encouraged and supported by current students involved in the Campus Coordinators Program.
SFL seeks to raise awareness of the benefits of liberty
and civil society
with several evolving programs that focus on student rights events, lectures, literature, an academic journal for student work, and an Alumni network.
Koch
Summer Fellowship got together on July 24, 2007 to discuss successes and challenges faced by liberty advocating student organizations. After the discussion, Alexander McCobin and Sloane Frost decided to organize a conference for 40 students participating in liberty advocating organizations in 2008. As many more students contacted the planners to participate, more students joined the planning. The first Students for Liberty Conference was held at Columbia University
, despite a snow storm, from February 22 to 24, 2008 with 100 students participating. The success of the conference and the enthusiasm of the participants encouraged the planners to form Students For Liberty to provide continuing support.
(CPAC) by thanking the American Conservative Union
for welcoming GOProud
as a co-sponsor of the event. California Young Americans for Freedom's
chairman (and author of The "Born Gay" Hoax) Ryan Sorba followed with less than kind words for McCobin, SFL, Young Americans for Liberty’s
Jeff Frazee, and the American Conservative Union
with a rant about human nature.
scanners linked to cancer concerns, scanners involved in leaked revealing images, and rights violating enhanced pat down searches as security theater
, Mark Ames and Yasha Levine wrote an article accusing Koch
funded charities, including SFL, of inventing the public outcry.
in February, 2008, SFL hosts an annual International Conference that serves as its premiere event each year. The inaugural conference brought 100 students from 42 schools in three countries to New York City. The second annual International Conference brought 153 students from 13 countries to George Washington University
. The third annual International Conference took place February 13 and 14 at American University
in Washington, DC and had more than 300 students in attendance. The fourth annual International Conference, covered by ReasonTV
, returned to George Washington University
on Friday, February 18 and continued until Sunday, February 20, 2011, this time with 500 students participating. This International Conference included a taping of Stossel, which aired March 31, where John Stossel
and Cato Institute
Vice President David Boaz
spoke to students about the ideas of liberty.
, Harvard University
, and the University of Michigan
. In 2009, SFL held seven regional conferences. They were hosted by pro-liberty student groups at Drexel University
, Harvard University
, Arizona State University
, University of Texas at Austin
, Wake Forest University
, University of Chicago
, and Columbia University
. In 2010, SFL held nine regional conferences at the same schools (except Wake Forest
) as the 2009 conferences (listed above), while adding three new schools: Pepperdine University
, Kennesaw State University
and University of California at Berkeley. On November 18-20, 2011 SFL hosted the first European conference at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
in Leuven
, Belgium
.
from Cato
, copies of Guide to Free Speech on Campus from FIRE
, and the movies 10 Rules for Dealing with Police
, Busted: The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters
, and Indoctrinate U
as well as supplementing those resources with new ones like marketing support to assist student groups in advocating for civil liberties. A popular project is the establishment of temporary “free speech walls” usually made of paper where community members are encouraged to express their opinions by writing comments that will be left in public for several days.
sponsors awards for the top paper and two honorable mentions based on clarity of thought, originality, intellectual skill, and connection of liberty to important social or theoretical issues as well as offers to all award recipients to join the Prometheus Institute staff for a semester.
. On November 18-20, 2011 SFL hosted the first European conference at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
in Leuven
, Belgium
.
. SFL is run by five full time professionals at the headquarters in Washington, DC
. Direction of the organization comes from the executive director, as well as other directors, the executive board (entirely composed of current students), and the board of directors.
completely funded from private donations from individuals, foundations, and participation fees, SFL does not solicit or accept any government contributions.
Liberty
Liberty is a moral and political principle, or Right, that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions...
with resources like leadership training, literature, grants, and speakers. Forming after a meeting where students exchanged ideas from their own experiences with liberty
Liberty
Liberty is a moral and political principle, or Right, that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions...
advocating student groups, SFL quickly expanded with new programs and an exponentially growing network of affiliated student groups. Gene Healy
Gene Healy
Gene Healy is an American political pundit, journalist and editor.Healy is a Vice President at the libertarian think tank Cato Institute, as well as a contributing editor to Liberty magazine...
with the Cato Institute
Cato Institute
The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1977 by Edward H. Crane, who remains president and CEO, and Charles Koch, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the conglomerate Koch Industries, Inc., the largest privately held...
includes the organization in the limited-government movement.
Organized after the success of a conference, the largest program of the organization is conferences in the form of an annual international conference as well as various regional conferences. The organization experienced rapid growth since its inception in 2008. The network now includes 429 student organizations around the world. The SFL network currently includes groups located in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, United States of America, and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. The rapid expansion is encouraged and supported by current students involved in the Campus Coordinators Program.
SFL seeks to raise awareness of the benefits of liberty
Liberty
Liberty is a moral and political principle, or Right, that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions...
and civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
with several evolving programs that focus on student rights events, lectures, literature, an academic journal for student work, and an Alumni network.
Origin
Students participating in an Institute for Humane StudiesInstitute for Humane Studies
The Institute for Humane Studies is a classical liberal non-profit organization whose stated mission is “to support the achievement of a freer society by discovering and facilitating the development of talented students, scholars, and other intellectuals who share an interest in liberty and in...
Koch
Koch Family Foundations
Koch Family Foundations is the informal name for a group of charities in the United States of America associated with the family of Fred C. Koch. The most prominent of these are the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation and the David H. Koch Charitable Foundation, created by two of Fred C...
Summer Fellowship got together on July 24, 2007 to discuss successes and challenges faced by liberty advocating student organizations. After the discussion, Alexander McCobin and Sloane Frost decided to organize a conference for 40 students participating in liberty advocating organizations in 2008. As many more students contacted the planners to participate, more students joined the planning. The first Students for Liberty Conference was held at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, despite a snow storm, from February 22 to 24, 2008 with 100 students participating. The success of the conference and the enthusiasm of the participants encouraged the planners to form Students For Liberty to provide continuing support.
Conservative Political Action Conference Controversy
SFL co-founder and executive director, Alexander McCobin, opened his remarks on the February 19, 2010 panel “2 Minute Activist: Saving Freedom Across America” at the Conservative Political Action ConferenceConservative Political Action Conference
The Conservative Political Action Conference is an annual political conference attended by conservative activists and elected officials from across the United States....
(CPAC) by thanking the American Conservative Union
American Conservative Union
The American Conservative Union is an American political organization advocating conservative policies, and is the oldest such conservative lobbying organization in the country.-Organization:...
for welcoming GOProud
GOProud
GOProud is an American tax exempt 527 organization representing conservative gays, lesbians, transgendered people, and their allies. GOProud advocates for small government conservatism at the level of federal public policy. GOProud was founded by Christopher R...
as a co-sponsor of the event. California Young Americans for Freedom's
Young Americans for Freedom
Young Americans for Freedom is a 501 non-profit organization and is now a project of Young America's Foundation. YAF is an ideologically conservative youth activism organization that was founded in 1960, as a coalition between traditional conservatives and libertarians...
chairman (and author of The "Born Gay" Hoax) Ryan Sorba followed with less than kind words for McCobin, SFL, Young Americans for Liberty’s
Young Americans for Liberty
Young Americans for Liberty is a political organization that was formed in 2008 at the end of Congressman Ron Paul's Presidential campaign. They focus on educating their peers about various topics including libertarian values and emphasizing the role of the Constitution in the American government...
Jeff Frazee, and the American Conservative Union
American Conservative Union
The American Conservative Union is an American political organization advocating conservative policies, and is the oldest such conservative lobbying organization in the country.-Organization:...
with a rant about human nature.
Security Theater Controversy
Concerned with the growing propensity of the US population to view Transportation Security AdministrationTransportation Security Administration
The Transportation Security Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that exercises authority over the safety and security of the traveling public in the United States....
scanners linked to cancer concerns, scanners involved in leaked revealing images, and rights violating enhanced pat down searches as security theater
Security theater
Security theater is a term that describes security countermeasures intended to provide the feeling of improved security while doing little or nothing to actually improve security. The term was coined by computer security specialist and writer Bruce Schneier for his book Beyond Fear, but has gained...
, Mark Ames and Yasha Levine wrote an article accusing Koch
Koch Family Foundations
Koch Family Foundations is the informal name for a group of charities in the United States of America associated with the family of Fred C. Koch. The most prominent of these are the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation and the David H. Koch Charitable Foundation, created by two of Fred C...
funded charities, including SFL, of inventing the public outcry.
Conferences
SFL holds many conferences during the school year to allow students to meet other students dedicated to liberty, hear from speakers leading the movement for liberty, and discuss how to best promote liberty on campus. In July 2009 SFL launched a new website just for its conferences at www.PoliticalConferences.org. SFL hosts two types of conferences: an annual international conference and regional conferences.Annual International Conference
Continuing the tradition of the inaugural SFL Conference at Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in February, 2008, SFL hosts an annual International Conference that serves as its premiere event each year. The inaugural conference brought 100 students from 42 schools in three countries to New York City. The second annual International Conference brought 153 students from 13 countries to George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
. The third annual International Conference took place February 13 and 14 at American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in Washington, DC and had more than 300 students in attendance. The fourth annual International Conference, covered by ReasonTV
Reason (magazine)
Reason is a libertarian monthly magazine published by the Reason Foundation. The magazine has a circulation of around 60,000 and was named one of the 50 best magazines in 2003 and 2004 by the Chicago Tribune.- History :...
, returned to George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
on Friday, February 18 and continued until Sunday, February 20, 2011, this time with 500 students participating. This International Conference included a taping of Stossel, which aired March 31, where John Stossel
John Stossel
John F. Stossel is an American consumer reporter, investigative journalist, author and libertarian columnist. In October 2009 Stossel left his long time home on ABC News to join the Fox Business Channel and Fox News Channel, both owned and operated by News Corp...
and Cato Institute
Cato Institute
The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1977 by Edward H. Crane, who remains president and CEO, and Charles Koch, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the conglomerate Koch Industries, Inc., the largest privately held...
Vice President David Boaz
David Boaz
David Boaz is the executive vice president of the Cato Institute, an American libertarian think tank. He played a key role in the Institute's development and the American libertarian movement....
spoke to students about the ideas of liberty.
Regional Conferences
During the fall semester, SFL hosts Regional Conferences to offer a comparable experience to its International Conference, but closer to students' homes. In 2008, SFL ran three Regional Conferences at the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, and the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. In 2009, SFL held seven regional conferences. They were hosted by pro-liberty student groups at Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. In 2010, SFL held nine regional conferences at the same schools (except Wake Forest
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
) as the 2009 conferences (listed above), while adding three new schools: Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is an independent, private, medium-sized university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The university's campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States, near Malibu, is the location for Seaver College, the School of...
, Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw State University, also referred to as KSU, Kennesaw, or Kennesaw State, is a public, coeducational, comprehensive university that is part of the University System of Georgia. The university's main campus is located in Kennesaw, Georgia, United States, approximately north of Atlanta...
and University of California at Berkeley. On November 18-20, 2011 SFL hosted the first European conference at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
in Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Campus Coordinator Program
Campus Coordinators work with campus group leaders within a designated regional area to ensure delivery of support and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of programs offered as well as finding and assist with the formation of new campus groups. The school year saw the inaugural class of coordinators accepted into the program. Training was provided by the full time staff as well as executive board members. The class of coordinators includes 60 students from the United States, Canada and Venezuela.Student Rights Week
To leverage preexisting resources such as pocket ConstitutionsUnited States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
from Cato
Cato Institute
The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1977 by Edward H. Crane, who remains president and CEO, and Charles Koch, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the conglomerate Koch Industries, Inc., the largest privately held...
, copies of Guide to Free Speech on Campus from FIRE
Foundation for Individual Rights in Education
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education is a non-profit group founded in 1999 and focused on civil liberties in academia in the United States...
, and the movies 10 Rules for Dealing with Police
Flex Your Rights
Flex Your Rights is a 501 educational non-profit organization that aims to "educate the public about how basic Bill of Rights protections apply during encounters with law enforcement". To accomplish this, Flex Your Rights creates and distributes media that explains individuals' legal rights...
, Busted: The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters
Flex Your Rights
Flex Your Rights is a 501 educational non-profit organization that aims to "educate the public about how basic Bill of Rights protections apply during encounters with law enforcement". To accomplish this, Flex Your Rights creates and distributes media that explains individuals' legal rights...
, and Indoctrinate U
Indoctrinate U
Indoctrinate U is a 2007 American feature-length documentary film written by, directed by and starring Evan Coyne Maloney, on ideological conformism and political correctness in American higher education...
as well as supplementing those resources with new ones like marketing support to assist student groups in advocating for civil liberties. A popular project is the establishment of temporary “free speech walls” usually made of paper where community members are encouraged to express their opinions by writing comments that will be left in public for several days.
E-Leadership Series
To overcome vast geographic separation of students SFL launched the E-Leadership Series of seminars that utilize video conferencing to bring everyone together. Seminars offered include:- On April 20 of the 2009 “Market Based Management® for Student Groups” by Tony Woodlief of the Market Based Management® Institute
- On April 7 of the 2009 “Alumni Involvement” by a student panel
- On March 24 of the 2009 “Transitioning Leadership” by a student panel
- On March 11 of the 2009 “Threats to Liberty Around the World” by a student panel
- On February 11 of the 2009 “How to Get an Internship for Liberty” by Scott Barton of the Institute for Humane StudiesInstitute for Humane StudiesThe Institute for Humane Studies is a classical liberal non-profit organization whose stated mission is “to support the achievement of a freer society by discovering and facilitating the development of talented students, scholars, and other intellectuals who share an interest in liberty and in...
- On February 3 of the 2009 “Student Leadership” by Alexander McCobin of the Students For Liberty
- On September 8, 2009 “Adam Smith, Free Trade, and the Birth of Economics” by Larry ReedLawrence ReedLawrence W. Reed is president of the Foundation for Economic Education , headquartered in Irvington-on-Hudson, New York, a position he has held since September 1, 2008. Before joining FEE, Reed served as president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a Midland, Michigan based free-market...
of the Foundation for Economic EducationFoundation for Economic EducationThe Foundation for Economic Education is one of the oldest free-market organizations established in the United States to study and advance the freedom philosophy. Murray Rothbard recognizes FEE for creating a "crucial open center" that he credits with launching the movement... - On September 23, 2009 “Successful Campus Speaker Events” by student Jared Fuller of Wake Forest UniversityWake Forest UniversityWake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
, student Aaron Moyer of Drexel UniversityDrexel UniversityDrexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
, and Jim LarkJim LarkJames W. Lark III, Ph. D. served as the United States Libertarian Party National Chairman from 2000 to 2002. Lark is a professor of systems engineering at the University of Virginia where he spends much of his time coordinating LP activity on college campuses...
of University of VirginiaUniversity of VirginiaThe University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
and the Libertarian PartyLibertarian Party (United States)The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration... - On October 5, 2009 “An Economic History of the Prison” by Daniel D’Amico of Loyola University New OrleansLoyola University New OrleansLoyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...
- On October 19, 2009 “Marketing on Campus” by students Irena Schneider of American UniversityAmerican UniversityAmerican University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
, Liya Palagashvili of George Mason UniversityGeorge Mason UniversityGeorge Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
, Pericles Niarchos of Drexel UniversityDrexel UniversityDrexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
, and Masood Manoochehri of Columbia UniversityColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the... - On November 7, 2009 “An Economic Analysis of Drug Legalization” by Jeffrey MironJeffrey MironJeffrey Alan Miron is an American economist. He served as the chairman of the Department of Economics at Boston University from 1992 to 1998, and currently teaches at Harvard University, serving as a Senior Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Studies in Harvard's Economics Department.Miron is an...
of Harvard UniversityHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country... - On December 2, 2009 “How to Get an Internship for Liberty” by Scott Barton & Isaac Morehouse of the Institute for Humane StudiesInstitute for Humane StudiesThe Institute for Humane Studies is a classical liberal non-profit organization whose stated mission is “to support the achievement of a freer society by discovering and facilitating the development of talented students, scholars, and other intellectuals who share an interest in liberty and in...
- On January 12, 2010 “The Koch Associate Program” by Steve Sweet of the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation
- On March 22, 2010 “How to Write a Winning Resume” by Claire Kittle of Talent Market
- On April 27, 2010 “Job Hunting for Liberty” by Isaac Morehouse and Scott Barton of the Institute for Humane StudiesInstitute for Humane StudiesThe Institute for Humane Studies is a classical liberal non-profit organization whose stated mission is “to support the achievement of a freer society by discovering and facilitating the development of talented students, scholars, and other intellectuals who share an interest in liberty and in...
- On May 26, 2010 “How to Nail the Job Interview” by Lea Krohn and Shannon Quantock of the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation
- On June 28, 2010 “Making the Most of Your Summer” by Chad Wilcox of the Institute for Humane StudiesInstitute for Humane StudiesThe Institute for Humane Studies is a classical liberal non-profit organization whose stated mission is “to support the achievement of a freer society by discovering and facilitating the development of talented students, scholars, and other intellectuals who share an interest in liberty and in...
- "Poverty, Prosperity, and Economic Freedom – The Hard Reality: Where Would we Be Without Economic Freedom?” by Matthew Mitchell with the Mercatus CenterMercatus CenterThe Mercatus Center at George Mason University in the United States is a non-profit market-oriented research, education, and outreach think tank affiliated with the Koch family. It works with policy experts, lobbyists, and government officials to connect academic learning and real-world practice...
- "The Killing Fields: Radical Ideologies of the 20thCentury” by Brad Birzer
- "The Language of Liberty: Improving the Rhetorical Skills of Liberty Activists” by Jim LarkJim LarkJames W. Lark III, Ph. D. served as the United States Libertarian Party National Chairman from 2000 to 2002. Lark is a professor of systems engineering at the University of Virginia where he spends much of his time coordinating LP activity on college campuses...
of the University of VirginiaUniversity of VirginiaThe University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson... - "Going Grad: Law School & Advancing Liberty” by Jeanne Hoffman of the Institute for Humane StudiesInstitute for Humane StudiesThe Institute for Humane Studies is a classical liberal non-profit organization whose stated mission is “to support the achievement of a freer society by discovering and facilitating the development of talented students, scholars, and other intellectuals who share an interest in liberty and in...
, and student Samuel Eckman of the University of Chicago Law SchoolUniversity of Chicago Law SchoolThe University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 as the graduate school of law at the University of Chicago and is among the most prestigious and selective law schools in the world. The U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it fifth among U.S... - "The Pessimistic Bias: Developing Historical Perspectives on Human Progress” by Bradley Hobbs of Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFlorida Gulf Coast UniversityFlorida Gulf Coast University, also known as FGCU, is a coeducational public university located just south of the Southwest Florida International Airport in the South Fort Myers region of unincorporated Lee County, Florida, United States. The university belongs to the 11-campus State University...
- "True Egoism: What it is and Why It’s Needed For Freedom” by Ed Hudgins of the Atlas Society
- "Substantive Criticisms of the Libertarian Perspective” by Jim LarkJim LarkJames W. Lark III, Ph. D. served as the United States Libertarian Party National Chairman from 2000 to 2002. Lark is a professor of systems engineering at the University of Virginia where he spends much of his time coordinating LP activity on college campuses...
of the University of VirginiaUniversity of VirginiaThe University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson... - "They Pay You to Learn: How to Get Funded at a Strong PhD Program” by Bill Glod of the Institute for Humane StudiesInstitute for Humane StudiesThe Institute for Humane Studies is a classical liberal non-profit organization whose stated mission is “to support the achievement of a freer society by discovering and facilitating the development of talented students, scholars, and other intellectuals who share an interest in liberty and in...
- "Frederic Bastiat: The Legendary Life & Works at a Time of Revolution” by David Hart of Liberty FundLiberty FundLiberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. It is dedicated to the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals...
- On November 8, 2010 "The Failure of the ‘Market Failure’ Argument” by John Hasnas of Georgetown UniversityGeorgetown UniversityGeorgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
- "By the Numbers: Important Issues in Interpreting Public Policy Data” by Jim LarkJim LarkJames W. Lark III, Ph. D. served as the United States Libertarian Party National Chairman from 2000 to 2002. Lark is a professor of systems engineering at the University of Virginia where he spends much of his time coordinating LP activity on college campuses...
of the University of VirginiaUniversity of VirginiaThe University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson... - "How to Win Friends and Influence People When Talking Policy” by Tyler Grimm of Public Notice
- On November 29, 2010 "Transitioning Leadership” by students Masood Manoochehri, Andrew Kaluza, Pericles Niarchos, and Kevin Duewel
- "How to Advance Liberty: Winning in the Court of Public Opinion" by Bob Ewing of the Institute for JusticeInstitute for JusticeThe Institute for Justice is a 501 non-profit libertarian public interest law firm in the United States. Its mission is to provide pro bono legal advice and representation, litigating strategically to pursue its goal of a rule of law under which individuals can control their destinies as free and...
- On March 16, 2011 "Austrian Business Cycle Theory and the Great Recession" by Steven HorwitzSteven HorwitzSteven Horwitz is an American economist of the Austrian School.-Early life and education:Horwitz was born in Detroit, Michigan to Ronald and Carol Horwitz. He was raised in Oak Park, Michigan and graduated from Berkley High School in Berkley, Michigan in 1981. He graduated cum laude with an A.B...
of St. Lawrence UniversitySt. Lawrence UniversitySt. Lawrence University is a four-year liberal arts college located in the village of Canton in Saint Lawrence County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2300 undergraduate and 100 graduate students, about equally split between male and female.... - "Intentions and Action are Not Enough: The Need For Ideas in the Libertarian Movement" by Isaac M. Morehouse of the Institute for Humane StudiesInstitute for Humane StudiesThe Institute for Humane Studies is a classical liberal non-profit organization whose stated mission is “to support the achievement of a freer society by discovering and facilitating the development of talented students, scholars, and other intellectuals who share an interest in liberty and in...
- "How Governmentally Mandated Safety Measures May Be Hazardous to Your Health" by Jim LarkJim LarkJames W. Lark III, Ph. D. served as the United States Libertarian Party National Chairman from 2000 to 2002. Lark is a professor of systems engineering at the University of Virginia where he spends much of his time coordinating LP activity on college campuses...
of the University of VirginiaUniversity of VirginiaThe University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson... - On January 24,2011 "Great Myths of The Great Depression" by Larry ReedLawrence ReedLawrence W. Reed is president of the Foundation for Economic Education , headquartered in Irvington-on-Hudson, New York, a position he has held since September 1, 2008. Before joining FEE, Reed served as president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a Midland, Michigan based free-market...
of the Foundation for Economic EducationFoundation for Economic EducationThe Foundation for Economic Education is one of the oldest free-market organizations established in the United States to study and advance the freedom philosophy. Murray Rothbard recognizes FEE for creating a "crucial open center" that he credits with launching the movement... - On January 17, 2011 "Proving Libertarian Morality" by Stefan MolyneuxStefan MolyneuxStefan Basil Molyneux is a blogger, essayist, author, and host of the Freedomain Radio series of podcasts, living in Mississauga, Canada...
of Freedomain Radio - "How to Get an Internship for Liberty" by Isaac Morehouse of the Institute for Humane StudiesInstitute for Humane StudiesThe Institute for Humane Studies is a classical liberal non-profit organization whose stated mission is “to support the achievement of a freer society by discovering and facilitating the development of talented students, scholars, and other intellectuals who share an interest in liberty and in...
Free Books Project
The project provides liberty advocating student groups with books for discussion. Books available have included:- Frederic BastiatFrédéric BastiatClaude Frédéric Bastiat was a French classical liberal theorist, political economist, and member of the French assembly. He was notable for developing the important economic concept of opportunity cost.-Biography:...
's Economic Harmonies - Frederic BastiatFrédéric BastiatClaude Frédéric Bastiat was a French classical liberal theorist, political economist, and member of the French assembly. He was notable for developing the important economic concept of opportunity cost.-Biography:...
's Economic Sophisms - Frederic BastiatFrédéric BastiatClaude Frédéric Bastiat was a French classical liberal theorist, political economist, and member of the French assembly. He was notable for developing the important economic concept of opportunity cost.-Biography:...
's Selected Essays on Political Economy - Frederic BastiatFrédéric BastiatClaude Frédéric Bastiat was a French classical liberal theorist, political economist, and member of the French assembly. He was notable for developing the important economic concept of opportunity cost.-Biography:...
's The Economics of Freedom - Henry HazlittHenry HazlittHenry Stuart Hazlitt was an American economist, philosopher, literary critic and journalist for such publications as The Wall Street Journal, The Nation, The American Mercury, Newsweek, and The New York Times...
's The Foundations of Morality - Henry HazlittHenry HazlittHenry Stuart Hazlitt was an American economist, philosopher, literary critic and journalist for such publications as The Wall Street Journal, The Nation, The American Mercury, Newsweek, and The New York Times...
's Economics in One Lesson - Ludwig von MisesLudwig von MisesLudwig Heinrich Edler von Mises was an Austrian economist, philosopher, and classical liberal who had a significant influence on the modern Libertarian movement and the "Austrian School" of economic thought.-Biography:-Early life:...
' Marxism Unmasked - Ludwig von MisesLudwig von MisesLudwig Heinrich Edler von Mises was an Austrian economist, philosopher, and classical liberal who had a significant influence on the modern Libertarian movement and the "Austrian School" of economic thought.-Biography:-Early life:...
' The Free Market and its Enemies - Leonard E. Read's Anything That’s Peaceful
- James Doti and Dwight Lee's Market Economy: A Reader
- Louis Carabini's Inclined to Liberty
Journal of Liberty and Society
To encourage undergraduate academic work surrounding the topic of liberty and its role in society for students everywhere SFL publishes an annual academic peer-reviewed journal. The Prometheus InstituteThe Prometheus Institute
The Prometheus Institute is a 501 non-profit public policy organization founded in 2003. The organization is "dedicated to discovering independent policy solutions to pressing national issues, and creatively marketing these ideas to the people of the United States, especially the younger...
sponsors awards for the top paper and two honorable mentions based on clarity of thought, originality, intellectual skill, and connection of liberty to important social or theoretical issues as well as offers to all award recipients to join the Prometheus Institute staff for a semester.
Alumni For Liberty
The Alumni For Liberty initiative is a resource and network for working professionals interested in supporting students and student organizations dedicated to liberty. The program is open to all adults interested in supporting the student movement, whether or not they were a member of a liberty oriented student group. The project provides ways to remain involved in supporting the student movement for liberty with monthly updates describing opportunities such as networking events, job openings, training sessions, leadership dinners with movement celebrities, options for financial support of alma mater student groups, speaking to student groups, and mentoring of students interested in related careers.European Students For Liberty
In 2011, SFL established a board to expand their programs into EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. On November 18-20, 2011 SFL hosted the first European conference at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
in Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Organizational structure
SFL is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports student groups advocacy libertyLiberty
Liberty is a moral and political principle, or Right, that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions...
. SFL is run by five full time professionals at the headquarters in Washington, DC
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Direction of the organization comes from the executive director, as well as other directors, the executive board (entirely composed of current students), and the board of directors.
Finance
Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organizationNon-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
completely funded from private donations from individuals, foundations, and participation fees, SFL does not solicit or accept any government contributions.
| Fiscal Year | Type | Item | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-2010 | Income | Individuals | $57,509.22 |
| 2009-2010 | Income | Foundations | $119,600.00 |
| 2009-2010 | Income | Conferences & Other Income | $29,434.41 |
| 2009-2010 | Income | Total Income | $206,543.63 |
| 2009-2010 | Expense | Conferences & Programs | $72,416.60 |
| 2009-2010 | Expense | Student Leadership | $21,108.95 |
| 2009-2010 | Expense | Outreach | $11,185.01 |
| 2009-2010 | Expense | Development | $8,051.33 |
| 2009-2010 | Expense | Operational Expenses | $42,218.24 |
| 2009-2010 | Expense | Total Expenses | $154,980.13 |
| 2008-2009 | Income | Individuals | $22,517.59 |
| 2008-2009 | Income | Foundations | $10,000.00 |
| 2008-2009 | Income | Conferences & Other Income | $17,700.00 |
| 2008-2009 | Income | Total Income | $50,217.59 |
| 2008-2009 | Expense | Conferences | $19,487.28 |
| 2008-2009 | Expense | Leadership | $4,545.97 |
| 2008-2009 | Expense | Outreach | $4,014.74 |
| 2008-2009 | Expense | Development | $2,421.02 |
| 2008-2009 | Expense | Operational Expenses | $1,967.91 |
| 2008-2009 | Expense | Total Expenses | $32,436.92 |
See also
- LibertarianismLibertarianismLibertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
- Institute for Humane StudiesInstitute for Humane StudiesThe Institute for Humane Studies is a classical liberal non-profit organization whose stated mission is “to support the achievement of a freer society by discovering and facilitating the development of talented students, scholars, and other intellectuals who share an interest in liberty and in...
- Foundation for Economic EducationFoundation for Economic EducationThe Foundation for Economic Education is one of the oldest free-market organizations established in the United States to study and advance the freedom philosophy. Murray Rothbard recognizes FEE for creating a "crucial open center" that he credits with launching the movement...
- Cato InstituteCato InstituteThe Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1977 by Edward H. Crane, who remains president and CEO, and Charles Koch, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the conglomerate Koch Industries, Inc., the largest privately held...
- Reason FoundationReason FoundationThe Reason Foundation is an American nonprofit think tank founded in 1978 that also publishes Reason magazine. Based in Los Angeles, Reason is self-described as nonpartisan and publishes a statement of values that can best be described as libertarian...
- Atlas Economic Research FoundationAtlas Economic Research FoundationThe Atlas Economic Research Foundation, also known as the Atlas Network, is a non-profit organization based in the United States which organizes and convenes workshops, offers training, runs prize programs, and provides advisory services in order to continue growing and strengthening an informal...