| From | Intercollegiate Review <[email protected]> |
| Subject | Chaos and construction abroad |
| Date | December 12, 2024 7:06 PM |
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The best of intellectual conservative thought.
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CATEGORY: INTERNATIONAL (7 MIN)
Disorder in Damascus
[link removed]
This past weekend, the Middle East saw another groundbreaking political shift. Rebel forces overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, marking the end of a ruling family who had controlled the country for more than 50 years. Assad fled to Moscow after the successful revolution, and now the world is watching Syria to see what form the new government takes.
For Unherd, David Patrikarakos describes the events leading to Assad’s fall and the rebel takeover, and he discusses the potential future of the Syrian government. Patrikarakos begins by noting the surprising lack of civilian violence as the militants marched toward the country’s capital. The rebels released videos proclaiming their openness to minority rights, the joyful release of prisoners, and the peaceful departure of Assad’s soldiers.
Whether these videos accurately capture the situation or not, Patrikarakos calls the rebels’ communication strategy “a stroke of genius.” Now, in the resulting power vacuum, Patrikarakos notes that a host of outcomes are possible. If the new government is true to its word, Patrikarakos thinks that Syria could undergo a radical transformation for good—they have even suggested “a phase of harmony and of peace with the State of Israel.”
But whenever they gain the reins of power, Patrikarakos warns, new leadership will always face the temptation to become dictators themselves. He urges prayer for Syrians hoping for a new, freer, more peaceful existence.
To learn more, read Patrikarakos’s article here.
Read Now
[link removed]
Weekly Poll
Do you generally see Assad’s fall as a good thing?
[A] Yes
[B] No
[link removed]
[C] Not sure
[link removed]
RESULTS: 12/5/2024
Did you celebrate Thanksgiving?
[A] Yes - 96.4%
[B] No - 3.6%
[link removed]
CATEGORY: ARCHITECTURE (8 MIN)
Building and rebuilding
[link removed]
President-elect Donald Trump, President Joe Biden, and many international dignitaries attended the reopening of the legendary cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris last week. After a fire tragically destroyed much of the building in 2019, the repair process raised nearly $1 billion in donations from around the world.
Notre-Dame was completed after more than a century and a half of work in 1345—an architectural marvel of the medieval era. Allan Greenberg, an American architect, writes in First Things that Notre-Dame inspired him as he entered the craft, and he describes the considerations that the great cathedral encapsulated and that he tried to mimic in his later work.
Greenberg emphasizes the importance of light. Cathedrals like Notre-Dame try to filter light in ways that transform it, Greenberg says, using enormous stained windows to create a divine effect on viewers. As he puts it, “The goal was to bathe the entire interior in light.”
Greenberg also highlights the incredible structural achievement of Notre-Dame, with its towering arches and many support columns. He notes that the builders learned from other failures in other cathedrals to construct Notre-Dame as something that would last. All the more tragic, Greenberg muses, when “heavy air-dried oak timbers that were meant to last a thousand years or more” burned a few years ago.
Greenberg also talks about his personal connection with the cathedral, the modern innovations to protect the building going forward, and the importance of great architecture.
Read his piece right here.
Read Now
[link removed]
[link removed]
CATEGORY: VIDEO
The Legacy of Christine de Pizan (ft. Erika Bachiochi)
[link removed]
Join Johnny Burtka and Erika Bachiochi, an American legal scholar and fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, as they uncover the work of Christine de Pizan—a writer in medieval France who devoted her work to studying the role of women in statecraft and government.
In this episode of Daring Greatly, Johnny and Erika delve into the tradition of marriage and romance, the rational capabilities of both genders, and the role of honor and piety in statecraft.
Daring Greatly is the newest video series from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. Over the course of this series, join ISI President Johnny Burtka as he explores key leadership characteristics throughout history, from ancient times to the present.
Watch Now
[link removed]
Because our student editors and writers are bravely bringing conservative ideas to their campuses, we’re highlighting their efforts here.
BREAKING: UChicago CCSS Breaks University’s Institutional Neutrality Pledge, Endorses Political Attack Against Chicago Thinker’s Christopher Phillips
[link removed]
via The Chicago Thinker
“The Center for College Student Success (CCSS), a University of Chicago organization dedicated to supporting first-generation and lower-income students, is facing criticism for liking a controversial Instagram comment that specifically targeted Christopher Phillips, a prominent conservative student leader and editor-in-chief of the Chicago Thinker, as well as Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Critics argue that this action contradicts the university’s commitment to maintaining political and social neutrality, as detailed in the University’s Kalven Report. On November 16th, 2024, the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics innocuously posted the reactions of two UChicago undergraduate students to Donald Trump’s decisive 2024 victory on their Instagram page, featuring the post-election reactions of Christopher Phillips, a 4th year student and the president of College Republicans and editor-in-chief of the Chicago Thinker, and Jacob Steinberg, a 3rd year
student and the vice president of UChicago Democrats.”
Trans Athlete Battle Goes To Minnesota Supreme Court
[link removed]
via The Minnesota Republic
“The Minnesota Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in a high-stakes discrimination case filed by JayCee Cooper, a 37-year-old transgender woman who has been barred from competing in women’s USA Powerlifting events. Cooper, who has undergone more than nine years of hormone therapy, submitted evidence showing that her testosterone levels are below the threshold set by the International Olympic Committee for participation in women’s sports. However, USA Powerlifting maintains that individuals who are biologically male and have gone through male puberty hold a significant, inherent advantage in women’s competitions, with some league leaders citing research suggesting a performance edge of up to 65%. To address this, the league has created a mixed division but insists that fairness is their only concern—not the medical care or personal choices of athletes. Supporters of Cooper, however, argue that the league’s strict stance on transgender athletes is an attempt to
push an anti-transgender agenda. As the case moves forward, the Minnesota Supreme Court must determine whether this ban on Cooper’s participation violates the state’s anti-discrimination laws, a decision that could have far-reaching implications for transgender rights in sports."
Majoring In Time-Wasting: The Hidden Cost of Academic Bloat
[link removed]
via The Stanford Review
“A Stanford Computer Science degree requires 180 units to graduate. However, only 58 of these units—less than a third—consist of actual computer science coursework. The mathematics major is a similar story, requiring just 57 units of mathematics coursework. Strip away the peripheral requirements, and a dedicated student could complete their degree in just three or four quarters. The remaining two-thirds of a Stanford degree—and the additional three years it demands—consists almost entirely of largely unrelated, mandatory diversions like physics and faux-ethics. As we confront mounting student debt and growing skepticism about the value of a college degree, it's high time to assess whether our current system serves students' best interests.”
A Semester of Free Speech: Ten Mission-Aligned Events Recently Held on Grounds
[link removed]
via The Jefferson Independent
“The Jefferson Independent’s mission, first and foremost, is to promote freedom of speech on Grounds. There are many ways to do this, such as reporting on perspectives that might be controversial, writing articles that freely express the author’s views, and covering events that are in line with TJI’s mission. Accomplishing the last of these tasks can be difficult, as there are hundreds of events that take place on Grounds every semester. To make the job of highlighting events that have promoted freedom of speech on Grounds easier, we’ve made a list of the ten that we feel did the best job.”
Jerry East-West Mends the Universal Church One Basket at a Time
[link removed]
via The Torch
“Boston College encompasses a wide variety of different cultural experiences, the two most notable are its Jesuit-Catholic identity and Division 1 Sports. Masses are offered at multiple times throughout the day and a wide variety of Christian clubs exist on campus such as the Sons of Saint Patrick, Gratia Plena, and Orthodox Christian Fellowship. Football, especially with new Coach Bill O’Brien has piqued the interest of the student body, especially with the recent win over the University of North Carolina securing them Bowl Status for the second season in a row. BC Hockey, in the wake of an appearance in the National Championship (and still rostering reigning Resident of the Year Jacob Fowler), is once again dominating the ice and drawing massive crowds to Conte Forum. Very rarely, however, do these sports and Christian aspects overlap, but our campus has recently experienced one of these rare occurrences. It isn’t a Division 1 sport nor is it a sanctioned club or
Mass on campus, but it might be the greatest form of Ecumenical Dialogue since Florence in 1449. Yes, I am referring to Jerry East West, the most recent addition to Competitive Recreation Basketball.“
CATEGORY: INTERNATIONAL (8 MIN)
Northern opportunity
[link removed]
Just as our own country undergoes a shift in leadership, our northern neighbors are facing the winds of change as well. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a progressive who has led Canada for the past decade, has become incredibly unpopular. And with his Liberal Party deeply in the polling hole, the Conservatives, who have not won a general election since 2011, have hope.
For this week’s article from the Modern Age website, Geoff Russ details the Canadian crisis and urges the country’s conservatives to reclaim its history in pulling the nation back from the brink. Russ describes the antisemitic violence that has swept through Canada along with rising inflation and ineffective healthcare service. Even more fundamentally, Russ says Canada has lost its national identity—an identity that Trudeau claimed didn’t exist.
Russ points to the example of Sir John A. Macdonald, the country’s first prime minister, who had a nationalist vision for Canada that Russ argues must be taken up and promulgated to the masses. Russ then gives specific policy ideas for the achievement of “peace, order, and good government,” but he thinks that all comes after the cultural change.
“Ethnic, religious, and cultural minorities should always be free in Canada to practice their traditions, but citizenship should come with the obligation to recognize what makes Canada distinct,” Russ argues.
Do you agree? Read his article here on the Modern Age website.
Read Now
[link removed]
Thought of the Day:
“There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder.”
- Ronald Reagan
Join ISI’s new Alumni Giving Club
It’s never been easier for you to support our mission—and stay part of our community—with ISI’s new Alumni Giving Club!
For just $19.53 a month, you can join the fight and “pay it forward” by educating the next generation for ordered liberty.
Join the Club
[link removed]
Follow on Twitter Friend on Facebook Forward to Friend
Copyright © 2024, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Intercollegiate Studies Institute
3901 Centerville Road
Wilmington, DE 19807
unsubscribe from all emails
[link removed]
update subscription preferences
[link removed]
Email not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser
[link removed]
.
[link removed]
CATEGORY: INTERNATIONAL (7 MIN)
Disorder in Damascus
[link removed]
This past weekend, the Middle East saw another groundbreaking political shift. Rebel forces overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, marking the end of a ruling family who had controlled the country for more than 50 years. Assad fled to Moscow after the successful revolution, and now the world is watching Syria to see what form the new government takes.
For Unherd, David Patrikarakos describes the events leading to Assad’s fall and the rebel takeover, and he discusses the potential future of the Syrian government. Patrikarakos begins by noting the surprising lack of civilian violence as the militants marched toward the country’s capital. The rebels released videos proclaiming their openness to minority rights, the joyful release of prisoners, and the peaceful departure of Assad’s soldiers.
Whether these videos accurately capture the situation or not, Patrikarakos calls the rebels’ communication strategy “a stroke of genius.” Now, in the resulting power vacuum, Patrikarakos notes that a host of outcomes are possible. If the new government is true to its word, Patrikarakos thinks that Syria could undergo a radical transformation for good—they have even suggested “a phase of harmony and of peace with the State of Israel.”
But whenever they gain the reins of power, Patrikarakos warns, new leadership will always face the temptation to become dictators themselves. He urges prayer for Syrians hoping for a new, freer, more peaceful existence.
To learn more, read Patrikarakos’s article here.
Read Now
[link removed]
Weekly Poll
Do you generally see Assad’s fall as a good thing?
[A] Yes
[B] No
[link removed]
[C] Not sure
[link removed]
RESULTS: 12/5/2024
Did you celebrate Thanksgiving?
[A] Yes - 96.4%
[B] No - 3.6%
[link removed]
CATEGORY: ARCHITECTURE (8 MIN)
Building and rebuilding
[link removed]
President-elect Donald Trump, President Joe Biden, and many international dignitaries attended the reopening of the legendary cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris last week. After a fire tragically destroyed much of the building in 2019, the repair process raised nearly $1 billion in donations from around the world.
Notre-Dame was completed after more than a century and a half of work in 1345—an architectural marvel of the medieval era. Allan Greenberg, an American architect, writes in First Things that Notre-Dame inspired him as he entered the craft, and he describes the considerations that the great cathedral encapsulated and that he tried to mimic in his later work.
Greenberg emphasizes the importance of light. Cathedrals like Notre-Dame try to filter light in ways that transform it, Greenberg says, using enormous stained windows to create a divine effect on viewers. As he puts it, “The goal was to bathe the entire interior in light.”
Greenberg also highlights the incredible structural achievement of Notre-Dame, with its towering arches and many support columns. He notes that the builders learned from other failures in other cathedrals to construct Notre-Dame as something that would last. All the more tragic, Greenberg muses, when “heavy air-dried oak timbers that were meant to last a thousand years or more” burned a few years ago.
Greenberg also talks about his personal connection with the cathedral, the modern innovations to protect the building going forward, and the importance of great architecture.
Read his piece right here.
Read Now
[link removed]
[link removed]
CATEGORY: VIDEO
The Legacy of Christine de Pizan (ft. Erika Bachiochi)
[link removed]
Join Johnny Burtka and Erika Bachiochi, an American legal scholar and fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, as they uncover the work of Christine de Pizan—a writer in medieval France who devoted her work to studying the role of women in statecraft and government.
In this episode of Daring Greatly, Johnny and Erika delve into the tradition of marriage and romance, the rational capabilities of both genders, and the role of honor and piety in statecraft.
Daring Greatly is the newest video series from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. Over the course of this series, join ISI President Johnny Burtka as he explores key leadership characteristics throughout history, from ancient times to the present.
Watch Now
[link removed]
Because our student editors and writers are bravely bringing conservative ideas to their campuses, we’re highlighting their efforts here.
BREAKING: UChicago CCSS Breaks University’s Institutional Neutrality Pledge, Endorses Political Attack Against Chicago Thinker’s Christopher Phillips
[link removed]
via The Chicago Thinker
“The Center for College Student Success (CCSS), a University of Chicago organization dedicated to supporting first-generation and lower-income students, is facing criticism for liking a controversial Instagram comment that specifically targeted Christopher Phillips, a prominent conservative student leader and editor-in-chief of the Chicago Thinker, as well as Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Critics argue that this action contradicts the university’s commitment to maintaining political and social neutrality, as detailed in the University’s Kalven Report. On November 16th, 2024, the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics innocuously posted the reactions of two UChicago undergraduate students to Donald Trump’s decisive 2024 victory on their Instagram page, featuring the post-election reactions of Christopher Phillips, a 4th year student and the president of College Republicans and editor-in-chief of the Chicago Thinker, and Jacob Steinberg, a 3rd year
student and the vice president of UChicago Democrats.”
Trans Athlete Battle Goes To Minnesota Supreme Court
[link removed]
via The Minnesota Republic
“The Minnesota Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in a high-stakes discrimination case filed by JayCee Cooper, a 37-year-old transgender woman who has been barred from competing in women’s USA Powerlifting events. Cooper, who has undergone more than nine years of hormone therapy, submitted evidence showing that her testosterone levels are below the threshold set by the International Olympic Committee for participation in women’s sports. However, USA Powerlifting maintains that individuals who are biologically male and have gone through male puberty hold a significant, inherent advantage in women’s competitions, with some league leaders citing research suggesting a performance edge of up to 65%. To address this, the league has created a mixed division but insists that fairness is their only concern—not the medical care or personal choices of athletes. Supporters of Cooper, however, argue that the league’s strict stance on transgender athletes is an attempt to
push an anti-transgender agenda. As the case moves forward, the Minnesota Supreme Court must determine whether this ban on Cooper’s participation violates the state’s anti-discrimination laws, a decision that could have far-reaching implications for transgender rights in sports."
Majoring In Time-Wasting: The Hidden Cost of Academic Bloat
[link removed]
via The Stanford Review
“A Stanford Computer Science degree requires 180 units to graduate. However, only 58 of these units—less than a third—consist of actual computer science coursework. The mathematics major is a similar story, requiring just 57 units of mathematics coursework. Strip away the peripheral requirements, and a dedicated student could complete their degree in just three or four quarters. The remaining two-thirds of a Stanford degree—and the additional three years it demands—consists almost entirely of largely unrelated, mandatory diversions like physics and faux-ethics. As we confront mounting student debt and growing skepticism about the value of a college degree, it's high time to assess whether our current system serves students' best interests.”
A Semester of Free Speech: Ten Mission-Aligned Events Recently Held on Grounds
[link removed]
via The Jefferson Independent
“The Jefferson Independent’s mission, first and foremost, is to promote freedom of speech on Grounds. There are many ways to do this, such as reporting on perspectives that might be controversial, writing articles that freely express the author’s views, and covering events that are in line with TJI’s mission. Accomplishing the last of these tasks can be difficult, as there are hundreds of events that take place on Grounds every semester. To make the job of highlighting events that have promoted freedom of speech on Grounds easier, we’ve made a list of the ten that we feel did the best job.”
Jerry East-West Mends the Universal Church One Basket at a Time
[link removed]
via The Torch
“Boston College encompasses a wide variety of different cultural experiences, the two most notable are its Jesuit-Catholic identity and Division 1 Sports. Masses are offered at multiple times throughout the day and a wide variety of Christian clubs exist on campus such as the Sons of Saint Patrick, Gratia Plena, and Orthodox Christian Fellowship. Football, especially with new Coach Bill O’Brien has piqued the interest of the student body, especially with the recent win over the University of North Carolina securing them Bowl Status for the second season in a row. BC Hockey, in the wake of an appearance in the National Championship (and still rostering reigning Resident of the Year Jacob Fowler), is once again dominating the ice and drawing massive crowds to Conte Forum. Very rarely, however, do these sports and Christian aspects overlap, but our campus has recently experienced one of these rare occurrences. It isn’t a Division 1 sport nor is it a sanctioned club or
Mass on campus, but it might be the greatest form of Ecumenical Dialogue since Florence in 1449. Yes, I am referring to Jerry East West, the most recent addition to Competitive Recreation Basketball.“
CATEGORY: INTERNATIONAL (8 MIN)
Northern opportunity
[link removed]
Just as our own country undergoes a shift in leadership, our northern neighbors are facing the winds of change as well. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a progressive who has led Canada for the past decade, has become incredibly unpopular. And with his Liberal Party deeply in the polling hole, the Conservatives, who have not won a general election since 2011, have hope.
For this week’s article from the Modern Age website, Geoff Russ details the Canadian crisis and urges the country’s conservatives to reclaim its history in pulling the nation back from the brink. Russ describes the antisemitic violence that has swept through Canada along with rising inflation and ineffective healthcare service. Even more fundamentally, Russ says Canada has lost its national identity—an identity that Trudeau claimed didn’t exist.
Russ points to the example of Sir John A. Macdonald, the country’s first prime minister, who had a nationalist vision for Canada that Russ argues must be taken up and promulgated to the masses. Russ then gives specific policy ideas for the achievement of “peace, order, and good government,” but he thinks that all comes after the cultural change.
“Ethnic, religious, and cultural minorities should always be free in Canada to practice their traditions, but citizenship should come with the obligation to recognize what makes Canada distinct,” Russ argues.
Do you agree? Read his article here on the Modern Age website.
Read Now
[link removed]
Thought of the Day:
“There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder.”
- Ronald Reagan
Join ISI’s new Alumni Giving Club
It’s never been easier for you to support our mission—and stay part of our community—with ISI’s new Alumni Giving Club!
For just $19.53 a month, you can join the fight and “pay it forward” by educating the next generation for ordered liberty.
Join the Club
[link removed]
Follow on Twitter Friend on Facebook Forward to Friend
Copyright © 2024, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Intercollegiate Studies Institute
3901 Centerville Road
Wilmington, DE 19807
unsubscribe from all emails
[link removed]
update subscription preferences
[link removed]
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