College libertarians: Difference between revisions

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Many colleges have libertarian organizations. Presently, the LP's campus coordinator is Dr. James W. Lark, III, Libertarian National Committee member (and former national chairman of the Libertarian Party) and professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Virginia.<ref>http://www.lp.org/campus-organizations</ref> In searching for campus libertarian groups, one should consider alternate names, e.g. "Students for Individual Liberty," and the like.
A college libertarian movement arose in 1968-1972 and was comprised of such groups as [[Young Americans for Freedom]] (which splintered in 1969), the [[Society for Rational Individualists]], and the [[Society for Individual Liberty]] (an outgrowth of SRI), and the [[Student Libertarian Action Movement (SLAM), an uncompromisingly anarchistic organization. They operated under the banner of "No war, no welfare and no damn taxation." The college libertarian movement was already in decline in 1971 (due partly to fundraising difficulties and elitism), at the same time that the LP was ascending.<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=e-a94OIfLcQC&pg=PA42&lpg=PA42&dq=%2B%22crippling+contradiction%22+%2Blibertarianism&source=web&ots=kZik1KdBsm&sig=NGvEASuq4JjLyVEXO4zr8TIXNcU&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPA43,M1</ref> Many other organizations, such as [[Students for a Libertarian Society]], have also folded.
 
==Outreach to college students==
Outreach to college students is crucial, since it is in these years that long-lasting political and philosophical beliefs are often formed. They often long for solutions for the world's social problems; yet without sound libertarian doctrine, may be lost to counterproductive causes such as socialism. Many college students are budding intellectuals who will become opinion-leaders for the rest of society and take the reins of government in the future.
 
The importance of countering government indoctrination of this demographic is underscored by Murray Rothbard's ''For a New Liberty'':<ref>http://mises.org/rothbard/newlibertywhole.asp</ref>
:''In all societies, public opinion is determined by the intellectual classes, the opinion moulders of society. For most people neither originate nor disseminate ideas and concepts; on the contrary, they tend to adopt those ideas promulgated by the professional intellectual classes, the professional dealers in ideas...To insure the dominance of the new statism over public opinion, to insure that the public's consent would be engineered, the governments of the Western world in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries moved to seize control over education, over the minds of men: over the universities...''
 
Four-year colleges often consist of many students from other states, and even other countries. These are good for recruiting students to help with nationwide campaigns (e.g. U.S. President). The best colleges on which to canvass for relatively local races may be community colleges, since the students presumably live nearby.
 
Many college campuses are publicly owned, and therefore it is permitted to distribute literature, gather signatures for [[ballot access]], etc. You may be able to set up a booth in a well-trafficked area. See [[Operation Politically Homeless]]. College campuses can be good places to address issues of particular concern to youth (e.g. underage drinking laws).
 
==Outreach by college students==
Young people can be some of the most ardent activists. They often have more time on their hands than adults (in most cases not being occupied by full-time employment, lengthy commutes, and family) with which to help out political causes. Nonetheless, it can be challenging to keep a college organization active. All members can be expected to graduate within a few years; thus, recruitment of leaders and rank-and-file members of these organization must be a constant priority. An involved faculty adviser can help provide continuity.
 
An effective movement must conduct both "inreach" and "outreach." Social activities can be organized to build esprit de corps, and internal debates can be held on particular issues, to expose faulty arguments and prepare students for outreach. Campus libertarians have organized many bold and edgy initiatives, such as [[affirmative action bake sale]]s, handgun raffles,<ref>http://www.michigandaily.com/content/frustrated-national-politics-group-promotes-libertarianism-a2</ref> hempfests, etc.
 
==See also==
*[[List of college libertarian chapters]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=4&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmarketliberal.org%2FLP%2FDocs%2F1996%2520College%2520Libertarian%2520Handbook.doc&ei=X1IOSdmhKYfceqmD0cIE&usg=AFQjCNHonEF0zRn8yipBRfkdba60y8mz7w&sig2=P55LHiJnmcR9yLiM6zDLgA College Libertarian Handbook]
*[http://chelm.freeyellow.com/collegelibsusa.html College Libertarian Groups]
*[http://www.lpedia.org/Category:Student_Organizations LPedia Student Organizations category]
*[http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2204331022 College Libertarians Facebook group]

Revision as of 03:22, 3 November 2008

A college libertarian movement arose in 1968-1972 and was comprised of such groups as Young Americans for Freedom (which splintered in 1969), the Society for Rational Individualists, and the Society for Individual Liberty (an outgrowth of SRI), and the [[Student Libertarian Action Movement (SLAM), an uncompromisingly anarchistic organization. They operated under the banner of "No war, no welfare and no damn taxation." The college libertarian movement was already in decline in 1971 (due partly to fundraising difficulties and elitism), at the same time that the LP was ascending.[1] Many other organizations, such as Students for a Libertarian Society, have also folded.

References

  1. ↑ http://books.google.com/books?id=e-a94OIfLcQC&pg=PA42&lpg=PA42&dq=%2B%22crippling+contradiction%22+%2Blibertarianism&source=web&ots=kZik1KdBsm&sig=NGvEASuq4JjLyVEXO4zr8TIXNcU&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPA43,M1
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