The best of intellectual conservative thought.

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​​​Note from the Editor: The Intercollegiate Review will be moving to Substack later this month.

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CATEGORY: POLITICS (21 MIN)

Extreme measures

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Relentless efforts to shut down conservative viewpoints during the past decade have engendered much anger and frustration. Now that Republicans are back at the controls of the government, many are debating what kind of retaliatory measures, if any, should be taken against those who tried to censor their political opponents.

Writing in Law & Liberty, Samuel Gregg warns against illiberal instincts on both right and left, criticizing both cancel culture from progressives and a dangerous love for power among some on the right. Gregg does not see these trends as new—history is full of examples of widespread media attacks on reputation and overreaches of government power that lead to tyranny. He finds shades of today’s accusations of sexism and racism in 1800s newspapers and 1900s radio broadcasts.

Gregg draws from Alexis de Tocqueville to point out that public opinion can do an incredibly effective job of shutting down those it disagrees with. But to solve this problem, he urges avoiding fighting illiberalism with illiberalism. Instead, Gregg suggests emphasizing the importance of the rule of law, the habits of an ordered society, and a free economy.

If the government uses more interventionist methods to stop censorship and cancel culture, Gregg worries that those methods may also then hurt free speech and association. He also notes that such efforts might “open the door to governments infringing unduly on other private associations’ freedoms on illiberal grounds.”

What do you think? Read Gregg’s article here to learn more.​

Read Now

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Weekly Poll

Is government intervention required to combat censorship and cancel culture?

[A] Yes

[B] No

[C] Unsure

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RESULTS: 1/23/2025

Did you like President Trump’s inaugural address?

[A] Yes - 53.7%

​​​​​[B] No - 20.9%

[C] Unsure - 4.5%

[D] Didn't watch - 20.9%

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CATEGORY: INTERNATIONAL (8 MIN)

Battlefield of bots

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Countless professions are currently deciding how to respond to the influence of AI models with great capability. Teachers wonder how to stop students from relying on apps to answer their questions, artists wonder how to maintain their business in the face of increasing AI art, and researchers wonder how to balance using AI models to save time with checking their still-sketchy results.

But last month’s revelation that China had created its own powerful AI model for a fraction of the cost (purportedly) of major American companies’ efforts might pose the greatest threat yet. In The American Conservative, Spencer Neale discusses DeepSeek, the Chinese open source model that rocked American markets. Neale takes the opportunity to urge U.S. business and education leaders to train Americans who can respond to Chinese efforts like DeepSeek.

Neale sees DeepSeek and the many other AI efforts of the past two years as the opening salvos in the “coming AI wars.” He praises President Donald Trump’s immediate response to DeepSeek, but he also believes China’s success has revealed American weakness. As Neale puts it, American tech companies have “spent excessively, used too much energy, and overcharged for services rendered.”

Neale traces some of this to America’s lack of engineering experts and “math geniuses.” He laments our nation’s focus on training managers rather than prodigies, which may have put us in a difficult position for the future.

Read Neale’s piece here.​​​​​​

Read Now

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CATEGORY: VIDEO

The Church Against the State with Andrew Willard Jones

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Join host Tom Sarrouf as he sits down with historian and theologian Andrew Willard Jones to discuss his latest book, The Church Against the State: The Birth of Liberty in the Late Middle Ages. In this thought-provoking episode, Jones explores the fascinating historical relationship between the Church and state during the medieval period and how these tensions shaped the development of liberty as we know it today.

From the sacramental vision of society under St. Louis IX to the modern misunderstandings of freedom and authority, Jones offers deep insights into the spiritual, cultural, and political implications of his research. Together, Tom and Andrew unpack how these historical lessons challenge contemporary notions of power, governance, and faith.

Whether you're a student of history, a seeker of truth, or simply curious about the Church’s role in defending human dignity, this conversation will leave you with a richer understanding of how faith and politics can—and should—interact.

Watch Now

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Because our student editors and writers are bravely bringing conservative ideas to their campuses, we’re highlighting their efforts here.

UChicago’s “Center on Democracy” Rages Over Democratically Elected Trump Administration

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via The Chicago Thinker

“On November 12th, 2024, one week after President Trump’s decisive electoral victory in which he also outright won the popular vote, the Chicago Center on Democracy, an organization within the University of Chicago, released an official response decrying President Trump as “a leader who winks at autocratic actions,” “[promises] retribution against political opponents,” and has “a democracy-eroding agenda.” Written by Professor Susan Stokes, a Professor of Political Science at the College and the Director of the Chicago Center on Democracy, the statement first describes a survey that found bipartisan sentiments among American voters of democracy being at risk. Then, in service of answering why so many voters believe this, the statement first defines what democracy is, saying: 'The most compact definition, favored by many political scientists, is that it is political system in which the leadership is chosen in free and fair elections, in which nearly all adult
citizens have the right to vote… in democratic elections, the governing party can be defeated and, when it is, it will step aside and allow the peaceful transition of power to the opposition.'”

Angela Davis to Give King Lecture on Feb. 3

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via The Cornell Review

“Cornell has invited Angela Davis to give the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Lecture on February 3, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in Sage Chapel. Tickets are required. As of December 15, in person attendance was sold out, but registration is available for the livestream. Davis will speak on “The Intersectional Struggle for Liberation Today.” Speakers for this annual commemoration provide a “critical examination of King’s legacy and contemporary issues”, according to Cornell. The purpose of the MLK lecture is as follows: 'The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration at Cornell aspires to be a cross-campus and community partnership that makes accessible the life and legacy of Dr. King for contemporary times. The King commemoration brings together Cornellians, Ithaca College, and Ithaca community colleagues to plan and participate in this event. The Commemoration seeks to bridge the gap between memory and history: the memory of an earlier generation that
participated in or lived during the black freedom struggle of the 1950s and 1960s, and the history of a faraway time for persons born after this period.'”

Wake Forest Tops Pitt: Sights Now Set on Stanford and Cal

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via The Wake Report

"While visiting the Ford School of Public Policy, Former Mayors Lori Lightfoot and Jenny Durkan gave their advice to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass while criticizing L.A. Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley. The two mayors were speaking on a panel hosted by University of Michigan Law School Professor Barbara McQuade called 'Governing in time of crisis,' where they reflected on lessons from their past management of the COVID-19 Pandemic and George Floyd riots, ultimately applying them to offer potential solutions for the Greater Los Angeles Wildfires. Lori Lightfoot called out L.A. Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley for blaming Mayor Karen Bass for inefficiencies in the Los Angeles Fire Department. Chief Crowley has expressed her belief that, under Bass, the City of Los Angeles has failed her department in several, specifically targeting the city’s $17M budget cut to her fire department. Crowley has argued that these budget cuts have made it harder to
combat the wildfires and offer assistance to the community. In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Chief Crowley said, 'The $17M budget cut and the elimination of our civilian positions . . . Did and has and will continue to severely impact our ability to repair our apparatus.'"

The Generals Redoubt Celebrates Founders Day at Fancy Hill

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via The W&L Spectator

"George Washington, Robert E. Lee, and Reverend William Graham were honored at the annual Founders’ Day celebration at Fancy Hill on January 18th, hosted by The Generals Redoubt. Founders’ Day was created three days after Robert E. Lee’s death to honor his legacy alongside benefactor George Washington. Although the university discontinued the holiday in 2021, alumni across the country have carried on the tradition. The event also celebrated the opening of Fancy Hill as the headquarters of The Generals Redoubt. Purchased in 2023, the renovations of the office wing with student workspaces and a podcasting studio are now complete. Formerly a garage built adjacent to the main house in 1936, it has now been turned into a space capable of hosting meetings and receptions."

Mario Thaqi: What the New President Has Planned

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via The Michigan Review

"Mario Thaqi’s journey in student government at the University of Michigan has been one of commitment, leadership, and strategic growth. Beginning his freshman year in October as a representative for first-year students, he quickly rose through the ranks, securing an LSA seat the following year and taking on the responsibility of managing budgets. His leadership style emphasizes continuity and productivity, standing in contrast to opposition groups that lacked concrete steps for their political goals. This vision ultimately led him to win the position of Speaker of the Assembly. As Speaker, Thaqi focused on maintaining stability within the Central Student Government (CSG). One of his key initiatives was advocating for a temporary funding model, ensuring that student organizations had access to financial resources while a long-term solution was debated. However, his tenure saw significant challenges, including a contentious budget meeting that played a role in
the impeachment of the former president and vice president. Following Alifa Chowdhury’s removal, Thaqi’s leadership proved essential in navigating the turbulent transition period, reaffirming his ability to manage complex governance issues."

CATEGORY: CULTURE (6 MIN)

Home and away

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As human beings, we face limits. In 24 hours, in a week, in a year, we can only do so much. In a lifetime, we will have met only a tiny fraction of the other men and women who lived on the earth at the same time as us. Much debate centers on how to make the best impact on those around us with the temporary lives we live.

For this week’s article from the Modern Age website, Gene Callahan defends Vice President JD Vance’s recent invocation of the ordo amoris—“ordered love”—from an economic perspective. Callahan calls on the work of F.A. Hayek to argue that we ought to love those around us before extended outward to love others. This simple idea, that “charity begins at home,” according to Callahan, stems from principles of basic logic.

Callahan notes that we have the most knowledge about the people around us—our immediate family and close friends. That level of knowledge corresponds with our ability to effectively care for someone. Callahan says Hayek referred to this idea when he wrote about the advantage an individual has when “he possesses unique information of which beneficial use might be made.”

Callahan does not think people should ignore the problems of all but the closest to us, but he thinks we need to take opportunities as they come. If we don’t, he worries we could do more harm than good. “Ignoring the particular circumstances of time and place can lead to ‘charitable’ efforts that actually make things worse for the recipients,” Callahan writes.

Read Callahan’s article here on the Modern Age website.​​​​

Read Now

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Thought of the Day:



“Society…is a partnership in all science; a partnership in all art; a partnership in every virtue, and in all perfection.”

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- Edmund Burke​​​

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