Students for Liberty Conference an Enormous Success

By Joey Coon

On February 22nd Columbia University saw some of the sharpest minds and most dedicated students from across the country and around the world gather for the first annual Students for Liberty Conference. Over one hundred students from as far west as California and as far east as the Ukraine gathered for a weekend packed with lectures and workshops from some of the libertarian movement’s most prominent scholars and activists. My colleague Nicole Kurokawa and I represented the Cato Institute. We were impressed not only by the high level of discussion and debate, but also by the energy and dedication of the young people in attendance. The organizers and participants are an impressive group of committed libertarians and it was a pleasure to be among them.

The event organizers put together an all-star lineup of libertarian thinkers who addressed issues ranging from speech codes on campuses to film making for liberty. Workshop breakout sessions taught students how to create successful student groups, ensure organizational continuity, navigate college bureaucracy, convince their peers of the benefits of freedom and limited government, and bring high profile speakers to campus, among other topics. Cato’s own executive vice president, David Boaz, delivered the opening speech. David was wildly applauded for his dream that “one day the taxman will be treated with the same contempt as the slave holder.” After his speech, David was mobbed by participants and signed copies of his new book, The Politics of Freedom. The next day Dr. Tom G. Palmer, Cato’s vice president of international programs, also received an enthusiastic response to his talk, “Making the Case for Freedom of Trade and Travel with Passion, Logic, and Evidence,” in which he showed how to make the case for a basic human right.

It was great to see so many young people in one place who are passionate about the ideas of liberty. All were eager to improve their abilities to promote and defend those ideas on their college campuses. Throughout the weekend participants discussed their thoughts about freedom and their plans for the future. It was evident that the conference, organized by student for students, is going to have a lasting impact beyond what anyone had envisioned. I heard many students ask, “When is the next conference and how can I help?”

Another highlight of the weekend was the evening receptions. Students gathered together with peers and distinguished speakers over beer and soft drinks to talk about the day’s activities and how they could effect change on campus. The discussions went late into the night as new friendships and synergies were forged.

To continue the momentum generated by the conference Alexander McCobin, a senior at the University of Pennsylvania and one of the lead organizers of the event, announced at the closing ceremonies Sunday that Students for Liberty will become a national organization.  That announcement generated cheers and a standing ovation from students.  Sloane Frost, an organizer and senior at Cornell University, explained that Students for Liberty will provide “year-round resources to students and student organizations in the cause of liberty.”  We at the Cato Institute offer our congratulations to Students for Liberty and to the young people on college campuses across the country who will now have an opportunity to transform their passion for freedom into action.