Lawrence W. Reed, president of the Foundation for Economic Education gave the keynote during the Midwest Students for Freedom Conference at the University of Michigan.  Here’s part one of the speech, entitled, “My favorite president”:

Last year, SFE took a convoy of students from Michigan to the Students for Liberty International conference in New York City. This year the conference will be hosted in Wahsington, D.C.

Below you will find the email invite from our friends at SFL about the upcoming conference.

We’re looking into the possibility of doing another Michigan carpool to head down to the conference, so I encourage you to apply, and contact SFE if you’re accepted so we can figure out how many Michigan students are going.

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Second Annual International SFL Conference

SFL is proud to announce that the Second Annual International SFL Conference will be held from February 20th-22nd, 2009, at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The invitation is now available online, as well as a generic schedule (subject to change), FAQ, a conference flier that you can distribute to other students on your campus, and the online application. The 2008 Students for Liberty Conference conference drew 100 students from 42 schools and 2 countries to Columbia University and hear from speakers of such caliber as Keynotes David Boaz (Cato Institute), Randy Barnett (Georgetown Law), and Dr. Alan Charles Kors (University of Pennsylvania). It was from this inaugural conference that SFL was formed as a full-fledged organization, and this year’s conference will be even bigger and better than before!

While we are in the process of inviting/confirming speakers, we are extremely excited to announce the first Keynote Speaker of the 2009 International SFL Conference will be Yon Goicoechea, the recipient of the Cato Institute’s 2008 Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty. Cato’s description of Mr. Goicoechea includes: “A 23-year-old law student, Mr. Goicoechea plays a pivotal role in organizing and voicing opposition to the erosion of human and civil rights in his country. In his commitment to a modern Venezuela, Goicoechea emphasizes tolerance and the human right to seek prosperity. Venezuela’s student movement emerged in May of 2007 in response to a government-ordered shutdown of the nation’s oldest private television station, RCTV. In the face of ongoing death threats and continual intimidation due to his prominent and vocal leadership, Mr. Goicoechea has been indispensible in organizing massive, peaceful student protest marches that have captured the world’s attention. By December of 2007, the student movement was credited with defeating a proposed constitutional reform that would have concentrated unprecedented political and economic power in the hands of the government.”

It’s important to note that there is an application process for students who wish to attend this conference. Due to space and financial restrictions, not all students will be accepted. Last year, we received 140 applications for 100 slots. It is important that you apply early to receive priority. As well, students who apply in 2008 will only pay a $25 registration fee, while students who apply in 2009 will have to pay a $50 registration fee, providing a fniancial incentive for you to apply early.

What: Second Annual Internationl SFL Conference
Where: George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
When: February 22nd-24th, 2008
Who: You
Applying: Apply now!

SFE and Students for Liberty co-hosted the first Midwest Students for Freedom conference at the University of Michigan on Saturday.

50 of the best and brightest students in the region came to hear from 13 different presenters on how to communicate, market and spread freedom in the academic, political, cultural and “new media” (that’s you bloggers and YouTubers) realm.  The day was jam-packed with great info and presentations, and I know I gained a lot of knowledge on how to improve in our efforts to spread the wonderful ideas of liberty.

A few pictures:

2008 Students for Freedom Conference

Saturday, November 8 at the University of Michigan.  13 speakers will present on how to best spread freedom in every sphere.  Lots of great info and material, three great meals, plenty of time to mingle with other freedom-loving students from across the Midwest.  There are a few spots left! - Register here

Mackinac Center Banquet Featuring John Stossel

Tuesday, November 11 at Michigan State Universities Kellogg Center The Mackinac Center for Public Policy will be celebrating it’s 20th Anniversary with a banquet featuring keynote speaker John Stossel of ABC’s 20/20.

Ticket prices for this event are normally $100, but since I know students don’t have that kind of cash lying around, SFE has been able to secure a chunk of tickets free of charge. Please RSVP and let me know if you will be attending.  The spots are limited, so first come, first serve! (PS - this is a formal event, so dress nice!)

The Mackinac Center is celebrating it’s 20th Anniversary this November with a banquet featuring keynote speaker John Stossel!

Ticket prices for this event are normally $100, but a big chunk of tickets have become available for SFE students free of charge!  Please RSVP to me at SFE(at)mackinac.org by October 31 and let me know if you will be attending.  The spots are limited, so first come, first serve!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008
5:30 to 7:00 pm - Cocktails
7:00 pm - Dinner
Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center
55 South Harrison Road
East Lansing, Michigan

The event is black tie optional.  (So if you don’t want to wear a tux, at least wear a suit or Jacket and tie)

I hope to have a good cohort of SFE luminaries to represent the voice of freedom on Michigan campuses!

The 2008 Students for Freedom Conference just keeps getting better!

Saturday, November 8 at the University of Michigan we’re hosting the first Midwest regional conference to equip freedom loving students with the tools and expertise they need to successfully advance freedom on campus and beyond.  Panels of awesome speakers will cover tips for effective writing, speaking, blogging, video, political action, academic work, and much much more.  The conference is only $20, which includes lots of free stuff and three square meals.

The following speakers are confirmed for the event:

Keynote speaker:

Larry Reed, President, The Foundation for Economic Education.

Marketing and Communications panel:

John Tillman, The Illinois Policy Institute.

Gerry Nicholls, The Institute for Liberal Studies and The Democracy Institute, Canada

Michael Jahr, The Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

Activistm and Strategy Panel:

Joe Lehman, The Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

Leon Drolet, Michigan Taxpayers Alliance.

Professor Harry C. Veryser, Jr.,University of Detroit Mercy.

Nigel Ashford, The Institute for Humane Studies.

New Media Panel:

Jason Talley, Atlas Economic Research Center.

Leslie Graves, Lucy Burns Institute.

E.M. Zanotti, The Sam Adams Alliance.

Nick De Leeuw, RightMichigan.com.

Writing a good op-ed:

Tom Shull, The Mackinac Center for Public Policy

Register now while there’s still space!

The 2008 Students for Freedom Conference is less than a month away.  This event, a one-day deal with all meals provided as well as some great materials, will be a one-of-a-kind experience featuring some truly great minds in the battle for liberty.  The 12 speakers will be presenting on how to effectively spread the ideas of liberty through writing, blogging, video, events in the political, academic and cultural spheres and more.

For me, trying to discover how to fight against the overwhelming tendency to let “liberty yield” is a consuming passion.  Every time I see news stories, movies, books, advertisements, etc. that elevate the government and, often unknowingly, denigrate liberty I wonder how we can fight it.  How can liberty overcome the forces of big government, special interests, apathy, and the desires of silver-tongued and power-hungry politicians?  There is a way.

In fact, if you look back on the history of the world you can see a general movement toward liberty.  Even something as reprehensible as slavery was around in this country not 200 years ago.  But the movement towards liberty did not happen overnight, or inevitably.  It took relentless effort by intellectual and cultural movers and shakers to awaken people from the slumber of servitude to the pure air of freedom.  From thinkers like John Locke to pamphleteers like Thomas Paine to novelists like Ayn Rand to economists like Milton Friedman to reporters like John Stossel; the defense and advance of liberty is forged by the efforts of those who have not only dedication, but insight into the most effective means of reaching their fellow man.  The beauty is, there isn’t just one way.  The individuals listed found their unique talent and passion and applied it in a way that only they could.

I want to be one of those voices for freedom.  So do you.  The Students for Freedom Conference is a phenomenal way to start honing your ability to advance the precious idea of liberty in whatever sphere you are most capable.  The speakers are wholeheartedly advancing liberty, each in their own sphere, and they are taking an entire day to share with us what they’ve learned.  I do not want to miss it, and neither do you.

Register online here.

SFE is joining with Students for Liberty to host a conference for liberty-minded students in the Midwest.  A dozen of the best speakers and activists in the movement will be sharing best practices for promoting liberty on campus.  Panels will covers how to effectively market the ideas of liberty through writing, blogging, video, events in the political, academic and cultural spheres and more.  With Keynote Speaker Larry Reed, former President of the Mackinac Center and current President of the Foundation for Economic Education, and a slew of other speakers from the Midwest, this will be a rallying event for the cause of liberty in the region.

Space is limited, so register online today!

Here’s a list of speakers:

Larry Reed, Foundation for Economic Education

Nigel Ahsford, Institute for Humane Studies

Jason Talley, Atlas Economic Research Center

John Tillman, Illinois Policy Institute

Gerry Nicholls, Political Strategist

Joe Lehman, Mackinac Center

Leon Drolet, Michigan Taxpayers Alliance

Professor Harry C. Veryser, Jr., University of Detroit Mercy

Nick De Leeuw, RightMichigan.com

Leslie Graves, Lucy Burns Institute

Michael Jahr, Mackinac Center

Tom Shull, Mackinac Center

SFE's booth at U of M Festifall '08

Two more weeks and four more campuses and SFE’s campus count will reach 11 this year.  We’ve handed out thousands of booklets and hundreds of T-shirts, and signed up hundreds of new SFE students!  We’ll be at EMU, UM-Flint, Northwood and Ferris in the next two weeks.  If you missed us at your campus no worries, we’ll be back with events all year.