WINTER 2021
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Inside: Governor Kristi Noem Gains Inspiration at Rancho del Cielo
December 30, 2021 Dear Friends,
A
visit to the Reagan Ranch is a life-changing experience. This edition of Libertas shares Governor Kristi Noem’s story about visiting Ronald Reagan’s Rancho del Cielo. We are grateful to all who help Young America’s Foundation protect this national treasure. Also featured in this issue are YAF’s activities at the Reagan Ranch and Reagan Ranch Center in California, the Reagan Boyhood Home in Illinois, and our headquarters in Virginia that inspire our many students. It is an honor to lead an organization with a nationwide presence. Additionally, you will see amazing images from YAF’s 9/11: Never Forget Project. With our help, students planted 2,977 American flags—each representing one of the innocent victims killed 20 years ago—on campuses across the country. More than 12 million flags have been displayed since YAF launched this initiative in 2003. Astonishingly, students are not allowed to erect our 9/11 memorial on some campuses. Worse yet, in 2021, some fellow students destroyed these flag displays. This is the kind of radical opposition young conservatives face. We must stand up for conservative voices on campus. This edition reports on the important work of our friends, Senators Marsha Blackburn and Tom Cotton, who launched the Senate Campus Free Speech Caucus with YAF. They joined our caucus leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Jim Jordan and Congresswoman Kat Cammack, in the push for free speech. Despite frequent challenges, YAF’s campus lecture program returned in force. Ben Shapiro attracted thousands to his lectures. Massive crowds turned out for our Verdict Live tour featuring Senator Ted Cruz and Michael Knowles. Former Vice President Mike Pence also joined YAF’s campus circuit. You will see photos of many of these events and read testimonials from the YAF chapter leaders who organized them. Please watch for exciting new additions to our lecture program, including Kellyanne Conway. We offer a special thanks to the supporters who help bring leading conservative speakers to campuses nationwide. In many cases, a YAF lecture is the only alternative students have to the radical indoctrination on their campus. In addition to reaching in-person crowds, YAF continued to livestream our lectures online to a much larger audience. The results are outstanding. In 2021, we drew 340.5 million views on our videos (compared to 284.6 million in 2020) and 1.3 billion views and impressions on our social media posts (compared to 1.1 billion in 2020). YAF also gained more than 695,000 followers and subscribers across our digital platforms in 2021, bringing our total to 2.4 million. We are training the next generation of freedom fighters. Thank you for your ongoing support of YAF’s work. We look forward to a great 2022!
Keep fighting for freedom,
Governor Scott Walker President
LIB E RTAS Winter 2021
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Volume 42
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Number 3
10 YAF Hosts Governor Kristi Noem at the Reagan Ranch
By Madison Habersetzer, Conference Co-Director
12 Young America’s Foundation Commemorates the 20th Anniversary of 9/11
By Breana Marsh, Director of YAF Membership
Young America’s Foundation Board Of Directors Governor Scott Walker President Ronald Pearson Vice President Frank Donatelli Secretary and Treasurer Kimberly Begg T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr. Wynton C. Hall Nicole Hoplin Kate Obenshain Keeler Peter Schweizer Thomas L. Phillips Director Emeritus
16 Reagan, Walker, and Schlapp Motivate High School Students in Santa Barbara
Ronald Reagan Presidential Scholar
Vice President Mike Pence
By Madison Habersetzer, Conference Co-Director
Reagan Ranch Board Of Governors
21 YAF’s Breakthrough Campus Lectures Reach Millions
By Patrick X. Coyle, Vice President
32 When the Vice President Comes to Campus
By Hunter Morrow, Chairman, University of Iowa YAF
36 Holding the Largest Conservative Event in Campus History
By Catriona Fee, Chairwoman, The Catholic University of America YAF
On the Cover:
Also in This Issue:
Thirty-third Governor of South Dakota Kristi Noem enjoys visiting the Reagan Ranch prior to her nationally-televised Newsmax town hall at the Reagan Ranch Center, YAF’s “Schoolhouse for Reaganism” in Santa Barbara, California.
4 Road to Freedom Seminar Trains Students to Promote Free
VOL. 42
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NO. 3
WINTER 2021
Inside: Governor Kristi Noem Gains Inspiration at Rancho del Cielo
Markets Over Wokeness 5 YAF Partners with Senators Cotton and Blackburn to Establish
Senate Campus Free Speech Caucus 6 YAF’s Freedom Week Initiative Teaches the Truth about
Communism 7 Forbes and Walker Inspire Students to Become Free Enterprise
Champions 8 YAF Launches American Freedom Podcast with Vice President
Mike Pence 31 Become a Member of Young Americans for Freedom! 39 Join YAF President, Governor Scott Walker, and His Wife,
Tonette, on Our 2022 Alaska Cruise Libertas, the Latin word for liberty, is a publication of Young America’s Foundation which highlights the programs, events, students, alumni, supporters, and staff of the Foundation. You may contact Libertas and Young America’s Foundation by writing to: Young America’s Foundation, National Headquarters, 11480 Commerce Park Drive, Sixth Floor, Reston, Virginia 20191; calling 800-USA-1776; or visiting yaf.org. Editors: Raj Kannappan and Kelleigh Clarke; Publisher: Governor Scott Walker; Publication Design: Jonathan Briggs; Assistant Editors: Patrick X. Coyle, Kyle Ferrebee, Karalee Geis, Madison Habersetzer, Jaime Hahn, Clare Hinshaw, Jessica Jensen, Breana Marsh, Tom Robinson, Kara Zupkus; Washington, D.C., event photographers: David Keith and Bob Updegrove; California event photographer: Jacqueline Pilar. This document and all herein contents, images, stories, graphics, and design, fall unto copyright © 2005 to 2021 Young America’s Foundation, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Any use of Libertas’ content without the written permission of Young America’s Foundation is prohibited.
Frank Donatelli Chairman Edwin Meese Co-Chairman Robert F. Agostinelli Governor George Allen Reagan Ranch Presidential Scholar Candee Arndt Dr. Suzanne Becker Lisa M. Buestrin George & Becky Norton Dunlop Bruce & Kathi Eberle Richard Gaby & Barbara Van Andel-Gaby Robert Giuffra, Jr. Timothy S. Goeglein Michael W. Grebe Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold Eric & Nicole Hoplin Ann Knapheide Mark Larson Rebekah Mercer Al Moore Dennis & Nancy Moore Doug & Pat Perry Thomas L. Phillips Rear Admiral JJ Quinn Ruppert & Cheryl Reinstadler Richard & Jane Schwartz Craig Shirley Owen & Bernadette Casey Smith Barbara S. Waddell Tonette Walker Jay Webber
National Journalism Center Board Of Governors T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr. Chairman Chris Bedford John Gizzi Emily Jashinsky Rich Lowry Alex Marlow The Honorable Alex Mooney Larry O’Connor Gabby Orr Katie Pavlich Ronald Pearson Kirby Wilbur Tom Winter Thomas L. Phillips Chairman Emeritus
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Road to Freedom Seminar Trains Students to Promote Free Markets Over Wokeness At a time when many of America’s government institutions, universities and schools, and even businesses are promoting a culture of political correctness, Young America’s Foundation was pleased to host the Road to Freedom Seminar: How to Promote Free Markets Over Wokeness. Inspired by the influential book, The Road to Serfdom, by Nobel Prize-winning economist Friedrich Hayek, YAF’s annual Road to Freedom Seminar was first launched more than 10 years ago to educate students about the timeless ideas championed by economic thinkers including Hayek, Milton Friedman, Ludwig von Mises, and others. The 2021 program—held at YAF’s national headquarters in Reston, Virginia—drew motivated students from 38 colleges and 19 states and was also streamed live to thousands on YAF’s YouTube channel, YAFTV (YouTube.com/YAFTV). Featuring a faculty of business and policy leaders, the two-day seminar taught students the core principles of free enterprise and equipped them with the resources to effectively persuade their peers on campus and beyond. During the program, YAF campus lecturer Stephen Moore, a senior economic contributor at FreedomWorks, discussed the failed policies of the Biden administration in a presentation titled “Bidenomics.” Andy Puzder, former CEO of CKE Restaurants—the parent company of Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.—shared the lessons he learned by rising from a humble upbringing in Cleveland, Ohio, to leading global restaurant chains. Dr. Andrew Abela, dean and associate professor of marketing at the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America, spoke at his first-ever YAF program. Addressing the importance of “entrepreneurial capitalism,” he discussed the process through which entrepreneurs create
Fox News Contributor Brian Brenberg, who also serves as an associate professor of business at The King’s College, discusses the importance of economic freedom for greater innovation.
value by serving their customers and employees. Additional seminar speakers included Governor Scott Walker, president of Young America’s Foundation; Dr. David Azerrad, assistant professor and research fellow at Hillsdale College; Anthony Kim, research manager and editor of the Index of Economic Freedom at the Heritage Foundation; Rachel Bovard, senior director of policy at the Conservative Partnership Institute; Brian Brenberg, Fox News contributor and associate professor of business and economics at The King’s College; and Daniel Di Martino, a Venezuelan freedom activist and economist. The Catholic University of America YAF Chairwoman Catriona Fee (see page 36) expressed her appreciation for all she learned at this seminar: At Catholic University, we are actively pushing back against the Democratic Socialists Club, and what I learned this weekend has better equipped me to promote our values and show my peers why capitalism is the greatest economic system ever created. This timely program was made possible thanks to the generosity of anonymous YAF supporters who believe that America’s conservative and patriotic youth are the greatest hope for our country.
Students representing 38 colleges and universities participate in Young America’s Foundation’s annual Road to Freedom Seminar.
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YAF Partners with Senators Cotton and Blackburn to Establish Senate Campus Free Speech Caucus Following the successful launch of the House Campus Free Speech Caucus in partnership with key allies in the U.S. House of Representatives, Young America’s Foundation joined Senators Marsha Blackburn (TN) and Tom Cotton (AR) to create an officially recognized corresponding caucus in the U.S. Senate. Founding members of the Senate Campus Free Speech Caucus include Senators Mike Braun (IN), Steve Daines (MT), John Boozman (AR), Roger Marshall (KS), and Chuck Grassley (IA). This caucus aims to drive legislation at the national level to support students’ First Amendment rights and educate other legislators about the climate for free speech on campuses across the country. The caucus launch announcement coincided with the introduction of Senator Cotton’s Campus Free Speech Restoration Act and Senator Blackburn’s Campus Free Speech Resolution of 2021 in the U.S. Senate. The two conservative leaders will work alongside Congressman Jim Jordan (OH-04) and Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03), co-chairs of the House caucus—which now boasts nearly 50 members. Participating members of Congress and their staff will meet regularly with YAF leadership and students to learn about the latest campus violations of free speech rights and discuss concrete steps they can take to support young people.
Since his first speech to a YAF student audience in 2015 (above), Senator Tom Cotton has fought for students’ First Amendment rights on campus.
Through bicameral policymaking and robust discussion, this caucus will draw national attention to the issue of free speech rights in education. “Free speech is under attack on college campuses,” said Senator Blackburn. She added, We must fight to ensure that our students are not silenced. The Campus Free Speech Caucus I am leading alongside Senator Cotton, our colleagues, and friends at YAF will champion this essential freedom for students in Tennessee and across the nation.
Senator Cotton remarked, Universities should encourage a variety of viewpoints— but today, colleges and students often silence classmates and faculty who disagree with ideas like Critical Race Theory and the 1619 Project. Senator Blackburn and I started the Campus Free Speech Caucus to return free speech to higher education across the country.
As a bicameral force, the Campus Free Speech Caucus is key to ensuring that America’s leaders are actively involved in protecting the basic rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. For more information, please contact YAF Capitol Hill Outreach Director Karalee Geis at kgeis@yaf.org.
Senator Marsha Blackburn meets with college students attending YAF’s 2020 Freedom Conference in Nashville, continuing her involvement with the Foundation since her time in the U.S. House of Representatives. Young America’s Foundation | Libertas | Winter 2021
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YAF’s Freedom Week Initiative Teaches the Truth about Communism Since its founding more than 60 years ago, Young America’s Foundation has not only trained young people to become bold conservative activists, but it has also educated them on the timeless principles of individual freedom, free enterprise, traditional values, and a strong national defense. From publishing popular books, including The Myth of the Robber Barons and Excuse Me, Professor: Challenging the Myths of Progressivism, to providing students with compelling brochures, posters, and other materials to help them advance these ideas on campus, YAF has ensured that future generations of Americans are informed about the virtues of a free society.
University of Wisconsin-Madison YAF educates students on campus about America’s victory over global communism.
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro YAF chapter participates in Young America’s Foundation’s Freedom Week initiative by building and tearing down a mock Berlin Wall.
Today, too many educators, media personalities, and public leaders seek to sanitize the oppressive history of communism. These same figures often advocate for collectivist policies to be implemented throughout America’s government institutions, schools, and communities. Yet, global communism in the 20th century led to the deaths of hundreds of millions. This is why, each fall semester, student activists on campuses nationwide organize a flagship YAF initiative— Freedom Week—to educate their peers on the true history and evils of communism. Fall 2021 was no exception, with college and high school students commemorating the 32nd anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and America’s victory over communism on November 9. Students built and tore down mock Berlin Walls on their campuses, highlighting President Ronald Reagan’s fight for freedom and his commitment to bringing down the Wall in 1989. Campuses from coast to coast, including the University of Florida, Texas Christian University, Trinity Classical Academy (Valencia, California), and many others participated in this initiative. In addition to offering guidance and support, Young America’s Foundation provided students with Freedom Week activism kits with a range of materials—including pocket U.S. Constitutions, informative brochures and posters, and stickers and buttons—that helped student activists reach broad campus audiences with a pro-freedom message. University of Wisconsin-Madison YAF Chairman Blake Weiner, who led his chapter’s efforts to organize Freedom Week, noted, It’s crucial that we, as conservative students, fight for freedom when our universities won’t. We can help pass the torch of liberty to our classmates and spread the importance of freedom to the next generation.
Members of University of Michigan YAF continue their tradition of organizing YAF’s Freedom Week initiative.
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Another important element of this initiative is the honoring of America’s military veterans on November 11, Veterans Day. Students participating in Freedom Week this year organized numerous demonstrations and fundraisers to display public support for our Armed Forces.
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Forbes and Walker Inspire High School Students to Become Free Enterprise Champions Students from 48 high schools and numerous
homeschool associations convened at Young America’s
Foundation’s national headquarters in Reston, Virginia, for the third annual High School Free Enterprise Leaders Conference. Many more young people participated virtually on YAF’s YouTube channel, YAFTV (YouTube.com/YAFTV). Longtime YAF supporters Jim and Dulce Doss generously sponsored the two-day conference—themed “How to Confront Socialism”—where students learned from renowned professors, economists, and business leaders about the essential role that entrepreneurship and personal liberty, rather than expansive government, have played in America’s prosperity. Brian Brenberg, Fox News contributor and associate professor of business at The King’s College, kicked the program off with a refutation of the “fashionable rise of anticapitalism,” pointing out corporate hypocrisy and wokeness by some of America’s largest businesses. Additional featured speakers throughout the weekend included Nick Adams, executive director of the Foundation for Liberty & American Greatness; Dr. Anne Rathbone Bradley, academic director at The Fund for American Studies; Dr. Antony Davies, associate professor of economics at Duquesne University; and Jared Meyer, director of advocacy and senior fellow at the Cicero Institute. Helen Raleigh, an entrepreneur and senior contributor with the Federalist, addressed a YAF audience for the first
Venezuelan freedom activist Andrés Guilarte tells the story of his country’s collapse due to socialism.
YAF President Governor Scott Walker meets with Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media, during the high school program.
time, telling the powerful story of her family’s escape from Communist China. Similarly, Andrés Guilarte, a Venezuelan freedom activist, spoke about the rise of dictator Hugo Chavez in his home country and the collapse of Latin America’s strongest economy. A highlight of the program was a dinner banquet featuring Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media. Forbes addressed YAF students, alumni, and local supporters, describing how society’s greatest innovations that many rely on for survival, comfort, and enjoyment would have never come to fruition under a socialist regime. YAF President Governor Scott Walker concluded the program on an optimistic note, highlighting the direct relationship between the global rise of economic freedom and the fall of abject poverty. Students left the program with the knowledge and tools to effectively persuade their peers about the merits of free enterprise over socialism. Conference participant Daniela Kotenkoff remarked following the conclusion of the program, This weekend was absolutely life-changing for me! I am proud and blessed to live in this country after my parents immigrated from Latvia and Moldova. Hearing the stories of two other immigrants at this YAF conference brought me to tears. Thank you for being so generous in blessing me with this opportunity.
Students from 19 states and 48 schools participate in YAF’s annual High School Free Enterprise Leaders Conference at the Foundation’s national headquarters in Reston, Virginia. Young America’s Foundation | Libertas | Winter 2021
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YAF Launches American Freedom Podcast with Vice President Mike Pence
Vice President Mike Pence interviews Claudia Szurkowski on the first episode of his YAF-sponsored podcast, American Freedom.
Named Young America’s Foundation’s Ronald Reagan Presidential Scholar in early 2020, Vice President Mike Pence has since worked closely with YAF to boldly advance conservative principles among youth audiences nationwide. A longtime ally of YAF—since his time in the U.S. House of Representatives—the Vice President first visited the Reagan Ranch in 2005 with his family and has spoken to countless Foundation student audiences during his two decades in public office. In his current role with the Foundation, Vice President Pence addresses students through YAF’s The 24th Chief of U.S. Border Police Rodney Scott joins Vice President Pence on premier campus lecture program (see page 21), most American Freedom. recently at the University of Iowa (see page 32) and Texas A&M University; publishes a regular op-ed on issues The first episode of American Freedom, titled “20 Years relevant to the next generation; and speaks at YAF’s student Later, We Will Never Forget,” features interviews with conferences. four young Americans at the forefront of the movement In the face of government health mandates and Critical to remember the lives lost from the terrorist attacks on Race Theory in the classroom, students are eager to hear September 11, 2001. an optimistic pro-freedom message. This is why the Vice Sharing their personal stories were Claudia Szurkowski President—who hosted a conservative talk radio show earlier and Brandi Anderson, who lost their fathers in the wake of in his career in his home state of Indiana—has also launched a 9/11; and YAF activists Grant Wolf and Alisa Giannelli, who podcast titled American Freedom in partnership with YAF. faced pushback from their schools, Southern Methodist Sharing his vision for the podcast, Vice President Pence University and Lake Forest High School in Lake Forest, remarked, Illinois, for organizing YAF’s 9/11: Never Forget Project American Freedom serves as an opportunity to highlight American flag display. the unique and remarkable ways in which the next In subsequent episodes of American Freedom, Vice generation of conservative leaders are stepping up to President Pence discusses key national issues, including promote traditional conservative values and reject the the importance of securing America’s borders, supporting destructive ideals of the radical Left that threaten America’s our military and honoring our veterans, and advancing the standing as the greatest country in the world. pro-life movement. Featuring guests such as Congressman Dan Crenshaw (TX-02) and President of the Susan B. Anthony List Marjorie Dannenfelser, these episodes offer articulate conservative perspectives to young people. American Freedom is available on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts. Vice President Pence meets with the Young America’s Foundation team prior to recording his first podcast episode in YAF’s national headquarters media studio.
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Connect with Young America’s Foundation online!
Young America’s Foundation offers a wealth of online resources that you can use to sharpen your conservative principles Youtube.com/YAFTV Through exclusive content— including full-length lectures and bite-sized videos featuring your favorite conservative speakers—YAF’s YouTube channel provides you with live and ondemand access to conservative ideas and leaders.
Facebook.com/YoungAmericasFoundation YAF’s Facebook page offers campus content, videos, and other timely information. Don’t miss the chance to interact with the nation’s leading conservatives, activists, and thought leaders through Facebook Live events!
@YAF_ YAF’s official Instagram platform offers memes, IGTV videos, and the opportunity to engage with thousands of like-minded peers. Keep up to date with what students nationwide are doing to advance freedom.
Podcasts By subscribing to YAF’s free podcasts— American Freedom with Vice President Mike Pence, Books with Burt, and The Top Leaders of the Conservative Movement—listeners can learn from YAF’s speakers on a wide range of topics overlooked by educators, including the right to life, the U.S. Constitution, and more.
@YAF Twitter is the #1 platform for breaking news,
YAF.org/polling As the authority on young
and YAF’s Twitter page is the #1 place to hear about young conservatives’ efforts to combat leftist bias on campus.
Americans, YAF regularly conducts surveys and polls of students nationwide. Visit our polling platform to view our exclusive findings now.
@YAFGaming YAF’s Twitch channel is the newest
The New Guard The largest network of on-the-
platform for young conservatives to engage in online culture. Join YAF staff as they livestream today’s most popular video games, discuss the news of the day, and host question-and-answer sessions.
ground student activists makes YAF the best source for breaking campus news. Visit the New Guard, YAF’s historic magazine-turned online news platform, at YAF.org/tips for timely information about campus issues.
Tik Tok One of YAF’s fastest-growing social media platforms, Tik Tok reaches middle school, high school, and college students with 30-second clips of the Foundation’s signature conservative lectures and videos.
VISIT YAF.ORG, the hub of information for young conservatives. Learn about the many opportunities available for you to advance freedom at your school. Reagan Ranch, 217 State Street, Santa Barbara, California 93101, 888-USA-1776 Reagan Boyhood Home, 810 South Hennepin Avenue, Dixon, Illinois 61021, 815-288-5176 National Headquarters, 11480 Commerce Park Drive, Sixth Floor, Reston, Virginia 20191, 800-USA-1776
www.yaf.org
YAF Hosts Governor Kristi Noem
S
ince stepping forward in 1998 to save the Reagan Ranch, President Ronald Reagan’s Western White House, Young America’s Foundation has advanced the Conservative Movement by educating young people and inspiring the public leaders of the day through this premier Presidential property. Notable visitors to Rancho del Cielo, the humble 688acre private residence of President Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan, have included Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence; Speaker Newt Gingrich and Ambassador Callista Gingrich; Secretary Betsy DeVos; Attorney General John Ashcroft and his wife, Janet; Governor Sarah Palin; Governor Rick Perry and his wife, Anita; philanthropists Richard and Helen DeVos; Senator Ted Cruz; and many others. Today, YAF continues to build on this rich history of inspiring conservative leaders by providing them with the opportunity to walk in Ronald Reagan’s footsteps. YAF recently welcomed South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to the Reagan Ranch and Reagan Ranch Center, YAF’s “Schoolhouse for Reaganism” in downtown Santa Barbara, for a tour and nationally-televised town hall produced by Newsmax.
Prior to filming, YAF President Governor Scott Walker and Vice President and Director of the Reagan Ranch Andrew Coffin hosted Governor Noem for a private visit at Rancho del Cielo. A rancher like Ronald Reagan, Governor Noem instinctively understood why the Ranch was a special place for the President. She noted the humility evident in the property, observing, “Working with your hands does something for your soul.” Following her tour of Rancho del Cielo, Governor Noem participated in an interview at the Ranch—in front of President and Mrs. Reagan’s beloved Lake Lucky—with Newsmax host Rob Schmitt. The program aired on Schmitt’s primetime show and featured shots of Governor Noem visiting the Ranch adobe home; Tax Cut table, where President Reagan signed the 1981 Economic Recovery Tax Act; entryway to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, so named by the U.S. Secret Service; and the property’s tack barn. YAF also welcomed nearly 200 guests to the Reagan Ranch Center for the Newsmax town hall special, hosted by Schmitt. Part of YAF’s Wendy P. McCaw Reagan Ranch Roundtable series, the program reached millions of American households and allowed the Foundation’s loyal supporters and friends to hear from one of today’s top conservative leaders.
Governor Noem engages with YAF supporters and friends during a Newsmax town hall held at the Reagan Ranch Center.
YAF President Governor Scott Walker hosts South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem for a tour of the Reagan Ranch.
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During her visit to Rancho del Cielo, Governor Noem enjoys touring the tack barn, maintained as it was when President and Mrs. Reagan owned the 688acre property.
at the Reagan Ranch During the town hall, which included questions from the live audience, Governor Noem addressed a range of public policy issues, including the dangers of COVID-19 government mandates, the Biden administration’s failed border security policies, and the path forward for greater economic prosperity, among others. She also shared her admiration for Reagan’s optimistic outlook with the YAF audience: There’s a lot of Ronald Reagan that I can relate to...I just appreciate the fact that he cast a vision for this country because I do believe that, without a vision, people perish— that we need to have leaders [who] remember where we’re going, not just what’s happening in this day and age. Reflecting on her memorable Reagan Ranch experience, Governor Noem remarked, I have admired the President and wanted to see the Ranch in person since I was a little girl—[it] truly was a dream come true for me personally…such an honor for a ranch kid from South Dakota.
By Madison Habersetzer, Conference Co-Director
Rely on a Debt-Ridden Federal Government to Take Care of Us,” she wrote, Ronald Reagan led our country through challenging times on the world stage, yet embraced the humble simplicity of the daily life of an average citizen in America. Recently, I was honored to spend some time at the Reagan Ranch in California. It is maintained by the Young America’s Foundation and preserved for the next generation in order that we may look to the past to create an even better future. I was struck by the life that Ronald Reagan and his family lived at the ranch. It was not remarkable, fancy or reflective of the position of power he held as leader of the free world. It was average, simple and a step back from the grandeur of Washington, D.C. To him, it was heaven. Young America’s Foundation is honored to preserve the Reagan Ranch as a unique venue to pass on President Reagan’s freedom philosophy to future generations and inspire our current leaders to boldly advance conservative principles.
Additionally, in a FoxNews.com column titled, “We Can’t
Newsmax host Rob Schmitt interviews Governor Noem at the Reagan Ranch.
(From left) Andrew Coffin, YAF vice president and director of the Reagan Ranch; Newsmax host Rob Schmitt; Governor Kristi Noem; and Governor Scott Walker, YAF president, tour the adobe home at the Reagan Ranch.
In a handwritten note following her visit, Governor Noem calls it “a dream come true” to experience Rancho del Cielo in person. Young America’s Foundation | Libertas | Winter 2021
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9/11: Ne ver Forget Project
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September 11, 2021
On the anniversary of 9/11, American flags dot the front yard of the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home—YAF’s newest site—in Dixon, Illinois.
Young America’s Foundation Commemorates the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 By Breana Marsh, Director of YAF Membership
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wo decades after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Young America’s Foundation’s student activists at more than 200 campuses nationwide marked this important anniversary by organizing YAF’s annual 9/11: Never Forget Project. YAF President Governor Scott Walker remarked, Our country was forever changed after the events of 9/11. Every student younger than 20 years old in this country was born after 9/11. As
9/11: Ne ver Forget Project
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September 11, 2021
YAF’s flag display on the National Mall commemorates the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
Continuing a longstanding tradition, Young America’s Foundation staff, students, and community members set up a beautiful flag display on West Beach in Santa Barbara, California.
YAF student activists at Ave Maria University remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001.
Stanford University students honor the victims of 9/11 by organizing a moving flag memorial on campus.
schools and public officials across the country attempt to sanitize the tragic attacks, we need to remind the next generation of what happened, who did it, and why they did it. Since the Foundation launched this initiative in 2003, thousands of colleges, schools, and communities have organized Never Forget displays, resulting in more than 12 million flags displayed in remembrance of the individuals murdered by radical Islamists on 9/11. This initiative has grown into the largest nationwide student activism project and
become a patriotic tradition from coast to coast. In virtually all cases, the displays are created by students, not by administrators or faculty members. Indeed, if not for the work of patriotic students, many of whom are too young to remember the attacks, most educational institutions would ignore this anniversary. The iconic Never Forget displays, composed of 2,977 American flags— one for each innocent life taken—bring schools, communities, and individuals together to pay tribute and keep America’s promise to “never forget.” Sadly, it has become commonplace
for school administrators, educators, and radical leftists to restrict students’ ability to organize this project. The year 2021 was no exception, with vandals destroying 9/11: Never Forget displays at several schools. In one incident, a student senator at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) ripped American flags from the ground—destroying the Never Forget display organized by the campus conservative club—and threw them in trash bags. The student was caught on video by a vigilant member of the club, and the university, which faced
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9/11: Ne ver Forget Project
YAF activists at the University of Michigan participate in Young America’s Foundation’s 9/11: Never Forget Project by planting 2,977 American flags.
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The YAF chapter at Portland High School in Tennessee welcomes members of the law enforcement and first responder communities to mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
immediate public pressure to punish the vandal, condemned his actions and announced the opening of an investigation. Following YAF’s media campaign, Americans nationwide pressured WUSTL to hold the student senator accountable. Yet, members of the WUSTL community—including more than 50 faculty members—and some student organizations signed a letter in defense of his actions, calling them a “protest” against “the symbol of American imperialism.” WUSTL has since taken punitive action against the student senator,
including requiring him to complete probation and an essay assignment, as well as pay a $500 restitution for the damaged American flags. Additionally, he was removed from his resident assistant position on campus. At Michigan State University (MSU), vandals covered the word “Never” with black spray paint, making the YAF chapter’s display read “Forget” instead of “Never Forget.” MSU YAF Chairman Charlie Jones responded,
A student at Simi Valley High School in California helps organize YAF’s 9/11 project.
A flag display at Texas Christian University commemorates the anniversary of 9/11.
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It’s stunning that someone would vandalize a memorial to the victims of the September 11th
attacks, but it also underscores why we do this every year—to ensure that the innocent lives taken that day are never forgotten. Despite similar challenges on many campuses, the 9/11: Never Forget Project reached millions of young people nationwide. Alexander Munguia, chairman of the YAF chapter at the University of Florida, noted the special significance of students’ involvement in organizing this memorial: The importance of this year’s anniversary cannot
Boston University YAF joins hundreds of student organizations nationwide in setting up Young America’s Foundation’s annual flag memorial.
9/11: Ne ver Forget Project
Community members from the town of Dixon, Illinois, help commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11 near the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home.
be overstated—this year’s freshman class was not even born when 9/11 happened. I, as a sophomore, was born six months after the attacks had happened, only knowing the horror stories from my parents of that tragic day in American history.
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September 11, 2021
A member of the Texas A&M University YAF chapter helps set up a 9/11 display on campus.
In addition to students’ efforts nationwide, Young America’s Foundation staff organized Never Forget displays on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.; in Santa Barbara, California; and at the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home in Dixon, Illinois.
Just steps from the U.S. Capitol, YAF’s 9/11 display on the National Mall allowed thousands of residents, visitors, and students to honor the victims of the terrorist attacks. Similarly, YAF staff organized a moving memorial on West Beach in Santa Barbara, continuing a longstanding tradition of promoting patriotism among young people on the West Coast. At the Reagan Boyhood Home— now preserved by YAF—Foundation staff led more than 100 local students and community members in organizing a solemn memorial service.
The program featured a color guard from the local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts; the national anthem performed by the Dixon High School Honors Choir; and remarks from members of the local fire department, a Ground Zero first responder, and Dixon Mayor Liandro Arellano. It is thanks to the work of thousands of patriotic Young America’s Foundation students nationwide that the next generation of Americans learn and understand our country’s history.
A student at Dallas Baptist University plants flags on campus.
The Southern Methodist University YAF chapter marks the 20th anniversary of 9/11 with a patriotic flag display in the heart of the Dallas campus.
YAF students at Wheaton Academy in Illinois, the alma mater of 9/11 hero Todd Beamer, organize Young America’s Foundation’s flag display.
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Reagan, Walker, and Schlapp Motivate High School Students in Santa Barbara By Madison Habersetzer, Conference Co-Director Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, delivers an inspiring address during the Wendy P. McCaw Reagan Ranch Roundtable, held in conjunction with YAF’s student conference.
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hank you for giving us, the next generation, an opportunity to gain knowledge and support in our venture to preserve and improve America,” remarked American Heritage Academy student Isaak Spencer following his participation in Young America’s Foundation’s October High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch. This sentiment was representative of the thoughtful reflections offered by the future leaders who traveled to this program from as far away as Virginia. YAF welcomed students from 15 states and 60 schools for this weeklong gathering of young conservatives.
“Thank you for giving us, the next generation, an opportunity to gain knowledge and support in our venture to preserve and improve America.”
YAF alumna and National Review Staff Writer Alexandra DeSanctis Marr speaks at her first-ever Young America’s Foundation conference.
— Isaak Spencer, Las Vegas, Nevada Made possible by a leadership gift from the Richard and Barbara Gaby Foundation, the conference began with a fitting dinner banquet featuring Michael Reagan, who inspired students with stories of his father, President Ronald Reagan. “He had a message that people could embrace and get behind, and people could trust him,” remarked the younger Reagan. During the program, students heard from YAF’s longestserving faculty member, historian, and author Dr. Burt Folsom, who enlightened the audience with an engaging history lesson about the early entrepreneurs who helped build America. British rapper Zuby, speaking at his first-ever YAF conference in Santa Barbara, reflected on the “20 Things I Learned About (Continued on page 18) 16
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Michael Reagan, son of President Ronald Reagan, meets with student Rebecca Phillips following his remarks.
YAF Vice President and Director of the Reagan Ranch Andrew Coffin introduces a special conference session—held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library due to the Alisal Fire, which precluded a student tour of the Reagan Ranch.
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(Continued from page 16) Humanity During the Pandemic.” Encouraging students to stand strong for their personal freedoms, Zuby warned, “When sufficiently frightened, most people will not only accept authoritarianism, but demand it.” Visiting the Reagan Ranch during a YAF conference and walking in President Reagan’s footsteps is a rite of passage for young conservatives nationwide. While attendees at this particular program were not able to participate in this experience due to the recent Alisal Fire, the leadership of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum in Simi Valley welcomed YAF’s students for a memorable visit. This unique excursion included tours of the museum and Air Force One Pavilion, as well as a visit to President Reagan’s gravesite and Gold Star Memorial. While in Simi Valley, students enjoyed hearing an insightful interview—conducted by YAF Vice President and Director of the Reagan Ranch Andrew Coffin—with Rear Admiral JJ Quinn, who served as Naval Aide to President Reagan and currently serves as a member of the Reagan Ranch Board of Governors.
After returning from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum, students attended a dinner banquet featuring YAF President Governor Scott Walker, who discussed the influence Ronald Reagan had on his personal growth and career in the Conservative Movement. Conference attendees also heard from The King’s College Executive Vice President and Fox News Contributor Brian Brenberg. In a lively session, Brenberg discussed the power of economic liberty to afford greater prosperity for all Americans. On the heels of Brenberg’s motivational remarks, American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Ian Rowe participated in an interview with YAF Conference CoDirector Madison Habersetzer. Titled “School Choice, Personal Responsibility, and the American Dream,” this session offered students a framework, FREE—which stands for family, religion, education, and entrepreneurship— developed by Rowe for young people to achieve success in life. The October High School Conference also featured the Wendy P. McCaw Reagan Ranch Roundtable, held at the
YAF President Governor Scott Walker meets with students (from left) David Jones, Parker Ahlander, Lance Pendleton, Brooklyn Wirig, Samuel Blonquist, and Josie Ballard.
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Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. Joining hundreds of YAF students and supporters, American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp delivered the keynote address. Schlapp, who also serves as chairman of the Conservative Political Action Conference—co-founded by YAF— underscored the importance of promoting objective truths and challenging the Left’s attempts to redefine language and science. He urged students, Speak up. God gave you a voice. He gave it to you for a reason. You’ve got to use it…If we stand up for this country, we can save this country…You’ve got to be this warrior generation.
to protect the unborn; financial executive George Harbison, who delivered a moving presentation about the victims of socialism; and Director of Jihad Watch Robert Spencer, who offered an analysis of the foreign policy crisis in Afghanistan. The program concluded with a crash course on campus activism, teaching students how to boldly advance the ideas they learned at the conference in their schools and communities. Selah Graham, a homeschool student from Elyria, Ohio, stated about her experience at the conference, I feel better prepared to fight for this freedom that I hold so dearly. I also feel better equipped to fight for my principles, conservative values, and rights.
Students also enjoyed the opportunity to hear from podcast host Liz Wheeler, who offered ten reasons why students should reject transgender ideology; educator Dr. Jake Jacobs, who reminded students that they are the “keepers of the flame of liberty”; YAF alumna and National Review Staff Writer Alexandra DeSanctis Marr, who urged students
Like Graham, her fellow students who attended the October High School Conference departed Santa Barbara with a greater appreciation for conservative principles and the values upon which America was founded.
Conference attendees receive a copy of Dr. Jake Jacobs’ book—Mother, Should I Trust the Government?—following his remarks during the program.
Students Alexandra Wong and Olivia Conlee visit the Berlin Wall exhibit, displaying an original piece of the Berlin Wall, at the Reagan Ranch Center.
Conference attendee Kainoa Mark meets with American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Ian Rowe during the program.
Melany Wallace (right) enjoys meeting podcast host Liz Wheeler following Wheeler’s speech.
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"YAF "YAF has has provided provided me me with with opportunities opportunities II would would not not get get anywhere anywhere else." else." Diana Soriano Diana BostonSoriano University Boston University
CHANGE THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH CHANGE THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH A LEGACY GIFT TO YOUNG AMERICA’S FOUNDATION. A LEGACY GIFT TO YOUNG AMERICA’S FOUNDATION.
Young America’s Foundation is the largest youth outreach organization in the Young America’s Foundation is the largest outreach organization in theof Conservative Movement introducing millionsyouth of young Americans to the ideas Conservative Movement introducing millionsfree of young Americans to the ideas of individual freedom, a strong national defense, enterprise, and traditional values. individual freedom, strong national defense, free enterprise, and traditional values. The Foundation is a the exclusive owner and operator of the Reagan Ranch, having The Foundation is the exclusive owner and operator of the Reagan Ranch,freedom. having worked with Ronald Reagan and the Reagan family since 1962 to advance worked with Ronald Reagan and the provides Reagan family 1962 to advance freedom. Today, Young America’s Foundation youngsince people across the country with Today, Young America’s Foundation provides young people across the country with unparalleled experiences through conferences and seminars at the Reagan Ranch unparalleled experiences through conferences andinternships; seminars at and the Reagan Ranch and across the country; educational materials; speakers. and across the country; educational materials; internships; and speakers. To receive a free Estate Planning Guide or to learn about the exciting benefits of membership in ToYoung receive a free Estate PlanningRanch GuideIn orThe to learn about the exciting benefits of membership America's Foundation's Sky Legacy Society, please call Legacy Society &in Young America's Foundation's Ranch In The Sky Legacy Society, please call Legacy Society & Development Relations Director Clare Hinshaw at 1-800-USA-1776 or visit www.yaf.org/legacy. Development Relations Director Clare Hinshaw at 1-800-USA-1776 or visit www.yaf.org/legacy.
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NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 11480 COMMERCE PARK DRIVE | SIXTH FLOOR | RESTON, VIRGINIA 20191 REAGAN BOYHOOD11480 HOME 810 SOUTHPARK HENNEPIN | DIXON, ILLINOIS VIRGINIA 61021 20191 NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS COMMERCE DRIVE AVENUE | SIXTH FLOOR | RESTON, Young America’s Foundation Libertas Winter 2021 CENTER REAGAN RANCH STREET | SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA REAGAN BOYHOOD HOME217 810STATE SOUTH HENNEPIN AVENUE | DIXON, ILLINOIS93101 61021
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YAF’s Breakthrough Campus Lectures Reach Millions By Patrick X. Coyle, Vice President The nation’s #1 requested campus speaker, Ben Shapiro, delivers a Young America’s Foundation lecture titled “Stop Begging to Be Coddled” at the University of Central Florida.
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f young people want to change their campus culture, hosting a prominent conservative speaker is how they can make that change. Young America’s Foundation is the only organization that specializes in sending the biggest names in the Conservative Movement to colleges and high schools across the country. These lectures are often the only time students hear a conservative viewpoint during their time on campus.
Foundation speakers are on the front lines, pushing back against many of the politically correct efforts at our nation’s schools. This is why Time magazine noted that YAF’s campus lecture program is sponsoring hundreds of lectures by conservative leaders each year and that “these speeches have become the biggest event of the semester.” These events have also drawn recognition from the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and even the New York Times. Young America’s Foundation | Libertas | Winter 2021
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At Texas A&M University, 750 students and tens of thousands of online viewers hear Senator Ted Cruz and Michael Knowles broadcast a live, YAF-sponsored episode of their Verdict with Ted Cruz podcast.
The Foundation was the first conservative youth organization to introduce the idea of using speakers with a national reputation as a means to ensure a large audience. These are speakers whom students, the local community, and even faculty members want to hear. Students want to hear from policymakers, celebrities, newsmakers, and renowned professors. The large audiences these speakers generate show campus communities that students are eager to hear conservative ideas. They give our cause a sense of excitement. During the fall 2021 semester, YAF’s campus lecture program brought conservative ideas to millions of young people—many for the first time—in person and online. For instance, over the course of six days, Young America’s Foundation reached thousands of students—at University of Wisconsin-Madison, Texas A&M University, and The Catholic University of America (see page 36)—through three live broadcasts of Senator Ted Cruz and Daily Wire host Michael Knowles’ popular Verdict with Ted Cruz podcast. Made possible by YAF’s Logan Family Lecture Series, the Foundation’s livestream of these events reached more than 400,000 additional viewers online. During their tour, Senator Cruz and Knowles presented a conservative perspective on a range of important national (Continued on page 26) 22
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Senator Cruz encourages followers on Twitter to attend his Verdict Live podcast recording at The Catholic University of America, part of YAF’s Logan Family Lecture Series.
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Podcast host Liz Wheeler speaks to a University of Michigan audience during her Young America’s Foundation lecture. Young America’s Foundation | Libertas | Winter 2021
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Steps to Host a Breakthrough YAF Lecture on Your Campus! Visit YAF.org or call YAF at 1-800-USA-1776 to get started today. Young America’s Foundation’s dedicated team is ready to walk you through each step of the process. #1 Learn How Your School’s Bureaucracy Works #2 Select an Appropriate Speaker #3 Solicit Your School for Funds
#4 Invite Your Speaker #5 Plan Your Event #6 Host Your Speaker #7 Maximize Your Impact
Vice President Mike Pence addresses 1,500 students at Texas A&M University during one of his stops on YAF’s Preserving American Liberty & Freedom Lecture Series.
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Through YAF’s Logan Family Lecture Series, Daily Wire host Michael Knowles delivers an address titled “The Right to Tell the Truth” at the University of Miami to a packed room of students.
YAF Spokeswoman Kara Zupkus moderates a Young America’s Foundation event featuring National Review Editor Rich Lowry (left) and Congressman Chip Roy (right) at their alma mater, the University of Virginia.
(Continued from page 22) issues, including COVID-19 government mandates, gender-neutral restrooms, the Left’s attacks on Christopher Columbus, and the Biden administration’s failed border security policies. YAF’s most-requested speaker, Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro, made appearances at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and Florida State University (FSU) through the Foundation’s Fred and Lynda Allen Lecture Series. At UCF, Shapiro addressed more than 1,000 students and community members—many of whom lined up more than five hours in advance to hear his speech. Similarly, he took the stage in 26
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front of 1,500 students at FSU, speaking on the topic, “How Wokeness is Destroying America.” These events combined to draw more than five million online views. Vice President Mike Pence, YAF’s Ronald Reagan Presidential Scholar, kicked off his YAF campus lecture tour at the University of Iowa (see page 32) and Texas A&M University. Part of YAF’s Preserving American Liberty & Freedom Lecture Series, these events also drew thousands of students on campus and attracted national attention for the Vice President’s remarks on promoting American exceptionalism, preserving the Trump administration’s (Continued on page 30)
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Commentator Ben Shapiro takes a selfie with a student audience prior to one of his campus lectures, part of YAF’s Fred and Lynda Allen Lecture Series. Young America’s Foundation | Libertas | Winter 2021
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University of Miami students meet with Daily Wire host Michael Knowles (back row, fourth from left) following his lecture on campus.
Michael Knowles signs a copy of his book, Speechless, for a student following a Young America’s Foundation campus speech.
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YAF’s Logan Family Lecture Series brings Senator Ted Cruz to campuses nationwide.
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YAF’s Fred and Lynda Allen Lecture Series brings commentator Ben Shapiro to speak to a standing-room-only audience of 1,500 students at Florida State University.
Despite the Saint Louis University (SLU) administration’s efforts to block Matt Walsh from speaking, the popular author addresses a standing-room audience of SLU students during his Robert & Patricia Herbold Lecture. Young America’s Foundation | Libertas | Winter 2021
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A Palm Beach Atlantic University student asks a question of economist Dr. Arthur Laffer following his campus speech, part of YAF’s Thomas W. Smith Foundation Lecture Series.
(Continued from page 26) policy successes, and the importance of abiding by the U.S. Constitution. Additional YAF campus speakers this semester included Congressman Chip Roy (TX-21); Daily Wire host Matt Walsh, sponsored by the Robert & Patricia Herbold Lecture Series; economist Dr. Arthur Laffer, sponsored by the Thomas W. Smith Foundation Lecture Series; commentator Elisha Krauss; National Review Editor Rich Lowry; and many more. The photo series depicted in these pages showcases a 30
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selection of the students, speakers, and campus audiences who helped to make YAF’s campus lecture program a success during the fall 2021 semester. These and other YAF campus lectures can be viewed in full length on the Foundation’s YouTube channel, YAFTV (YouTube.com/YAFTV). Young America’s Foundation stands ready to assist young people across the country who wish to host a YAF speaker on their campus and make an immediate impact. Students should visit YAF.org or call YAF at 800-USA-1776 to speak with a Young America’s Foundation team member and get started today!
Become a Member of Young Americans for Freedom! Whether you have been in a Young Americans for Freedom chapter for years, are just getting involved in one, or are new to the Conservative Movement, you can now become an official member of Young Americans for Freedom! Students who are 13 and older and enrolled full-time in school are welcome to join YAF. Once you become a YAFer, you will receive: • A welcome packet that includes a t-shirt and other YAF swag • Your own membership card • A free copy of 11 Principles of a Reagan Conservative by Dr. Paul Kengor • Opportunities to attend unique, members-only events at YAF conferences and retreats • First opportunities and discounts to register for key YAF conferences and other programs
This is to certify that
William F. Buckley, Jr. is a member in good standing since
1960
Membership Number: 000001
YOUNG AMERICANS FOR FREEDOM Young Americans for Freedom is a project of Young America’s Foundation
Becoming a member is free and easy, and once you sign up you do not need to renew—ever! You will receive a confirmation email once we have reviewed your application, and, if approved, you will receive your very own membership card and welcome packet. For more information, please call our national headquarters at 800-USA-1776 or visit yaf.org. Reagan Ranch, 217 State Street, Santa Barbara, California 93101, 888-USA-1776 Reagan Boyhood Home, 810 South Hennepin Avenue, Dixon, Illinois 61021, 815-288-5176 National Headquarters, 11480 Commerce Park Drive, Sixth Floor, Reston, Virginia 20191, 800-USA-1776
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When the Vice President Comes to Campus By Hunter Morrow, Chairman, University of Iowa YAF
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hen I founded my Young Americans for Freedom chapter three years ago at the University of Iowa (UI), I never imagined that we would host a Vice President of the United States. As a freshman at UI, I encountered many liberal professors, even one who was a self-professed communist. He and I constantly debated issues, including freedom of speech, Second Amendment rights, and government welfare, but the already-liberal students in the class would side with him before I had a chance to change their minds. Then I discovered Young America’s Foundation, the parent organization of Young Americans for Freedom, after watching a YAF campus lecture by Ben Shapiro on YouTube. When I learned that a YAF chapter didn’t exist at UI, I elected to start one myself to bring a conservative voice to our campus, which had scarcely been present before. Our chapter’s first two years of operation were successful, as we organized in favor of a border wall—
Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the University of Iowa as part of YAF’s Preserving American Liberty & Freedom Lecture Series.
Students and community members gather at the Iowa Memorial Union for the University of Iowa YAF chapter’s lecture featuring Vice President Pence, titled “How to Save America from the Woke Left.”
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drawing pushback from liberal groups on campus—and hosted conservative lectures featuring commentator Elisha Krauss and 37th Treasurer of the United States Bay Buchanan. But when COVID-19 restrictions came to campus, our chapter was hit hard. Therefore, in 2021, we wanted to return to campus activism in full force. That is why we jumped at the exciting opportunity to bring Vice President Mike Pence to campus through YAF. Vice President Pence is a strong voice for conservative principles, especially those that we hold dear in our YAF chapter—individual freedom, a strong national defense, free enterprise,
“When I founded my Young Americans for Freedom chapter, I never imagined that we would host a Vice President of the United States.” — HUNTER MORROW
and traditional values. We felt that his presence would energize apathetic conservatives on campus, and that is exactly what happened. Early on in the planning process, our chapter, like many YAF chapters, met pushback from both our student government and liberal students on campus. While university administrators were willing to work with us, the student government denied our budget request for the event—based on a “precedent” that was not stated in any written policy or practiced within the last two years. We gathered recent examples that contradicted the student government’s
About Vice President Mike Pence Young America’s Foundation has worked closely with Vice President Mike Pence for two decades to inspire countless young people with the ideas of individual freedom, free enterprise, a strong national defense, and traditional values. The Vice President has addressed Foundation audiences at student conferences nationwide, educating America’s future leaders on a broad range of important topics, including American exceptionalism, U.S. foreign policy, national security, the right to life, and many others. He and his wife, Second Lady Karen Pence, have visited the Reagan Ranch multiple times along with their family. Today, as YAF’s Ronald Reagan Presidential Scholar, Vice President Pence hosts a video podcast, American Freedom (see page eight), to communicate conservative values through one of today’s most popular mediums; publishes a regular op-ed on issues
relevant to the next generation; and continues to address audiences at the Foundation’s life-changing student conferences. He also delivers his pro-freedom message directly to young people nationwide through YAF’s unrivaled campus lecture program (see page 21). He joins a long line of distinguished leaders—including Lady Margaret Thatcher, Attorneys General Ed Meese and John Ashcroft, Ben Shapiro, William F. Buckley, Jr., Speaker Newt Gingrich, and Michael Reagan, among others—who have given YAF campus lectures and understood the importance of educating and inspiring young people with our nation’s founding principles. ————————————————————————— To learn more about YAF’s campus lecture tour featuring Vice President Mike Pence, please contact YAF Vice President Patrick X. Coyle at pcoyle@yaf.org or 1-800-USA-1776.
Vice President Mike Pence addresses YAF’s 41st annual National Conservative Student Conference in 2019.
Vice President Pence, Second Lady Karen Pence, along with their daughter, Charlotte Pence Bond, and son-in-law, Henry Bond, visit the Reagan Ranch in 2021.
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The executive board members of the University of Iowa YAF chapter meet with Vice President Pence backstage prior to his speech to a packed campus audience.
The University of Iowa YAF chapter thanks Vice President Pence on Twitter for speaking to the campus audience.
claims, forcing them to change their stance. Our YAF chapter even invited liberal student groups on campus to attend our lecture and ask questions of Vice President Pence during the questionand-answer portion of the event. However, they opted to vainly protest the lecture and tear down our flyers rather than participate in a dialogue. After months of planning with Young America’s Foundation, the big day finally arrived. UI students lined up 34
University of Iowa YAF leader Mary Weston takes a selfie with Vice President Pence.
in droves outside of the Iowa Memorial Union to hear Vice President Pence speak, as a small group of protestors tried to deter attendees from entering the venue. Our UI YAF vice chairman, Garrison Allen, maintained our respectful approach, speaking with some of these protestors and again inviting them inside. In response, he was met with vulgar language and middle fingers, and one protestor called him a “subhuman insect” for promoting conservative thought.
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Vice President Pence’s speech—part of YAF’s Preserving American Liberty & Freedom Lecture Series—was titled “How to Save America from the Woke Left.” The Vice President boldly delivered a message of freedom, optimism, and respect for the U.S. Constitution to a crowd of 600 students and community members, as well as tens of thousands of online viewers. Chants of “USA” rang out when he took the stage and again when a protestor tried to shout him down. UI
Hunter Morrow, chairman of the University of Iowa YAF chapter, introduces Vice President Mike Pence to the campus audience and online viewers.
A student asks a question of Vice President Pence following his speech.
YAF members and other students left inspired and encouraged to fight for conservative values. For me, the highlight of the night was meeting Vice President Pence backstage with a small group of our YAF chapter’s leaders and members. He was extremely personable, sharing his thoughts on the conservative wave in Virginia and taking the time to learn about UI YAF’s work on campus and about each of us personally. He told me he was proud of the work our YAF
YAF leader Hunter Morrow meets with Vice President Pence, a highlight of Morrow’s experience at the University of Iowa.
chapter was doing, something that will always stick with me. We would not have been able to achieve such an ambitious goal without the unwavering support of Young America’s Foundation. YAF helped us advertise our event and work with university administrators throughout the entire process. The YAF staff provided us with the resources and tools necessary to overcome obstacles. There is no better organization within the Conservative Movement for
students to be involved with. The success of this event has given University of Iowa YAF a more prominent platform on campus. With Young America’s Foundation’s help, we are excited to continue challenging the status quo on campus by hosting more conservative speakers, facilitating discussion and debate, and fighting our university’s anti-free speech policies in the process!
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Holding the Largest Conservative Event in Campus History By Catriona Fee, Chairwoman, The Catholic University of America YAF
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ringing the biggest names in the Conservative Movement to campus is truly a once-ina-lifetime experience for any YAF student. That is why my Young Americans for Freedom chapter at The Catholic University of America (CUA) was honored to host Verdict with Ted Cruz, the popular podcast featuring Senator Ted Cruz and Daily Wire commentator Michael Knowles, on our campus. Founded in 2019 to promote conservative ideas on campus, our YAF chapter grew from 15 students meeting in a dorm room to a group of bold activists who hosted the largest conservative event in CUA history—all in just two
years, despite the COVID-19 pandemic and repeated roadblocks from our university. These obstacles began long before our Verdict Live with Catriona Fee, chairwoman of The Catholic University of Ted Cruz event, as our club was America YAF chapter, introduces YAF’s Verdict with Ted Cruz denied approval by our Office event on stage. of Campus Activities not once, describe themselves as pro-life. However, not twice, but three times before getting these students motivated to being officially recognized in 2020. participate in activism or attend YAF CUA is a relatively small campus meetings is a different story. located in Washington, D.C., with just more than 3,000 undergraduates. One of When Young America’s Foundation the greatest difficulties with growing our announced the opportunity for YAF chapters nationwide to apply to host YAF chapter has been the apathy of our student body. Many students on campus Verdict Live with Ted Cruz—a live broadcast of the podcast—we thought are practicing Catholics who are fairly the odds of CUA YAF being chosen to conservative in their values. Most would
About YAF’s Verdict Live with Ted Cruz Tour Young America’s Foundation’s Verdict Live with Ted Cruz campus tour is the first-ever program of its kind, bringing a live recording of the popular video podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz, to student audiences nationwide. Immediately following its launch in 2020, Verdict with Ted Cruz shot up the charts to become the #1 podcast in the nation. Featuring Senator Ted Cruz and Daily Wire host Michael Knowles, the podcast provides the next generation of leaders with an insider perspective on the key debates
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taking place in America, including COVID-19 government mandates, Critical Race Theory in the classroom, and reckless government spending, among others. Sponsored by YAF’s Logan Family Lecture Series, Verdict Live with Ted Cruz has appeared thus far at The Catholic University of America, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Texas A&M University, with more campuses to come. ———————————————— To learn more about Verdict Live with Ted Cruz, please visit YAF.org/ VerdictLive or call 800-USA-1776.
During their podcast episode, (from left) Michael Knowles, Liz Wheeler, and Senator Ted Cruz participte in a lively discussion about the most pressing national issues.
A standing-room-only audience of The Catholic University of America students attend YAF’s event, part of the Logan Family Lecture Series.
host such a prominent event were small. Nevertheless, we submitted an application and, a month later, learned that CUA YAF had been selected to be one of only three YAF chapters nationwide to host the event. This prompted us to organize an all-handson-deck effort to plan a successful program. Limited venues at CUA and the logistics of hosting such a prominent event on a small campus made planning
challenging, but we pulled off a memorable evening with the invaluable support of Young America’s Foundation. Between the hard work of our chapter members to publicize the event and the popularity of Senator Cruz and Michael Knowles, word of the event spread quickly. Our efforts paid off, as the line to enter our event, held in the student center, spanned the length of the
building and wrapped through the first floor. More than 500 students filled every seat in the venue, and thousands more watched the livestream online. In fact, ours was the largest conservative event in the history of our university, which was founded in 1887. The opportunity to bring Senator Ted Cruz and Michael Knowles, along with surprise guests Governor Scott Walker, Young America’s Foundation’s president,
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Attendees line up to enter the student center well in advance of the Verdict Live with Ted Cruz event, part of YAF’s Logan Family Lecture Series, at The Catholic University of America.
“Bringing the biggest names in the Conservative Movement to campus is truly a once-in-alifetime experience for The Catholic University of America YAF Chairwoman Catriona Fee (second from right) meets backstage with Liz Wheeler, Michael Knowles, and Senator Ted Cruz.
and podcast host Liz Wheeler—who joined a portion of the event on stage— was the highlight of my six years of involvement with YAF. During the podcast, Senator Cruz, Knowles, and Wheeler had a lively discussion and question-and-answer session about the dangerous COVID-19 government mandates, failed border policies of the Biden administration, and much more. Our YAF chapter found that hosting a prominent event changes everything. 38
Verdict Live with Ted Cruz allowed us to reach hundreds of CUA students who were previously unfamiliar with YAF. Many of those who attended our event would normally spend their time on other activities. Yet, in this case, they were motivated to hear about conservative ideas—because they admired Senator Cruz, were familiar with Knowles, or all of their friends were going to the event. The feeling of seeing the largest venue at CUA filled with my peers listening to Senator Cruz, Knowles, and Wheeler
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any YAF student.” — CATRIONA FEE
present a conservative perspective on stage truly made all of our chapter’s efforts worth it. I am grateful to the Young America’s Foundation staff, the executive board and members of our YAF chapter, and particularly the Logan family, whose generous support of Young America’s Foundation made this memorable experience possible.
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Young America’s Foundation | Libertas magazine | www.yaf.org
NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID HERNDON, VA PERMIT NO 6551
Winter 2021 Volume 42 • Number 3
National Headquarters 11480 Commerce Park Drive Sixth Floor Reston, Virginia 20191 800-USA-1776
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CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
hawna Weber, chairwoman of the Young Americans for Freedom chapter at the College of Lake County, leads her club in organizing YAF’s 9/11: Never Forget Project memorial on campus. In 2021, YAF student activists at more than 200 schools nationwide commemorated the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks by planting 2,977 American flags, each representing an individual murdered by radical Islamists on that tragic day.
