YAF - Young Americans For Freedom

Young Americans for Freedom

PS-YAF logo V o i c e s o f f r e e d o m L e c t u r e s e r i e s

Each year, Penn State Young Americans for Freedom continues its tradition of sponsoring conservative and libertarian speakers at the Penn State University Park Campus. Last year, PS-YAF sponsored three widely-known speakers who delivered pro-freedom speeches to large audiences. This year, PS-YAF will once again sponsor speakers with a message contrary to the liberalism of America's college campuses.

Ann Coulter delivered her speech, “Liberal Lies about the American Right” Thursday April 15, 2004 to a crowd of over 1500 people.

Reginald Jones delivered his speech, " Betrayal: Sold Out by the Civil Rights Movement," February 27,2004 in 101 Thomas. Using the success of African Americans in the music industry as his primary example, Mr. Jones explained how government meddling is not necessary for anyone, even disadvantaged groups, to succeed in America. He Further criticized supposed black leaders, such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, for exploiting their community for personal gains.

Suzanne Fields touched on a wide range of topics in her speech, Gore and Bush: The Politics of M-M-M-Manhood, when she came to Penn State's University Park campus on April 18, 2000. As she explained, the title of her speech poked fun at the stuttering of actor and effeminate male, Hugh Grant. Dr. Fields focused her lecture on the changing image of manhood in America due to influences such as politics, homosexual culture, and feminism. She further pointed out how this cultural shift has affected the way the current presidential candidates portray themselves.

Robert D. Novak spoke about the politics of Washington, D.C. and the 2000 presidential election during his speech, Washington: An Overview, on January 25, 2001. Commenting on the difference in principles between Al Gore and George W. Bush he stated, "One vision is of a government guiding our lives. The other vision is of us guiding ourselves." Mr. Novak, perhaps the most widely seen conservative commentator in the United States, is a commentator for Cable News Network, where he co-hosts the "Evans and Novak" interview program, appears on and serves as co-executive producer of CNN’s political roundtable "Capital Gang" and regularly co-hosts "Crossfire."

Reginald Jones delivered his speech, "How Hip-Hop Beat the Welfare State," February 24th in Alumni Hall of the HUB/Paul Robeson Cultural Center. Using the success of African Americans in the music industry as his primary example, Mr. Jones explained how government meddling is not necessary for anyone, even disadvantaged groups, to succeed in America. He further criticized supposed black leaders, such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, for exploiting their community for personal gains.

Oliver North, nationally syndicated radio talk show host, spoke in a packed Schwab Auditorium on October 29, 1997. Col. North spoke on the origin of individual rights and the current political climate in Washington D.C.

John Lott, professor and author, gave a convincing account of his research into the effects of gun ownership in America. Lott presented an audience of students, faculty, and local residents with hard data showing an inverse relationship between private gun ownership (through right to carry laws) and crime rates.

G. Gordon Liddy, empowered an audience of 2,500 with a look at what it takes to achieve true success in his speech titled, "Survive or Prevail," in the Fall of 1996.

Ward Connerly, President of the American Civil Rights Institute and chairman of California's Proposition 209, spoke in Schwab Auditorium on April 8th, 1998. Despite shouting and name-calling from supporters of affirmative action throughout the speech, Mr. Connerly succeeded in delivering his message.

Phyllis Schlafly presented her opinion of the the misguided goals of feminism on Tuesday, October 26 to a diverse and lively crowd. Mrs. Schlafly, a law school graduate and mother, gave herself as an example that women can accomplish all their goals, but to expect to be able to do everything at once is not in the best interests of her family.

M. Stanton Evans, author, syndicated columnist, and former editor of the Indianapolis News, spoke on topics related to his book, "The Theme Is Freedom: Religion, Politics, and the American Tradition" in the spring of 1997.

Alan Kors, University of Pennsylvania Professor of History, spoke November 5 in the HUB Ballroom. The name of Dr. Kors' speech was "The Assault on Liberty and Dignity on America's Campuses." Most recently, Dr. Kors authored the book "The Shadow University: The Betrayal of Liberty on America's Campuses." Penn State President Graham Spanier is mentioned multiple times in the book.

Star Parker, a former welfare queen and the president and founder of the Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education (CURE), spoke to a confrontational crowd on December 3. Despite a juvenile protest by liberal campus groups that interrupted the speech, she successfully spread a message in favor of ending government dependence.

Kennedy, MTV veejay, spoke on her libertarian beliefs. She cited Ayn Rand and P.J. O'Rourke as influences during her speech in the spring of 1996.

Larry Elder, Los Angeles talkshow host on KABC Radio, debated the issue of affirmative action with the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania American Civil Liberties Union, Larry Frankel, on February 18. Unlike the Star Parker speech, the crowd was well-behaved as they listened to Mr. Elder's message. More information about Larry Elder is available on his website, www.larryelder.com.

Charlton Heston, Oscar winning actor and president of the NRA, spoke to a large audience at the University Park campus of The Pennsylvania State University. The title of Mr. Heston's Lecture was "Freshmen, Fads, and Freedom" and it was well received by the audience of students, faculty, and local residents. The inspirational text of his speech is available online via the PS-YAF website.

Dinesh D'Souza gave his speech, The End of Racism, on Wednesday, December 1 to a near capacity audience in Heritage Hall of Penn State's Paul Robeson Cultral Center. Mr. D'Souza's views sparked strong reactions from a diverse crowd of students and community members. Mr. D'Souza presented the general success of immigrants, such as himself, as an example of the insignificance of racism in stopping the success of individuals in America. His view is that cultural differences have been exasperated by current "civil rights" leadership, who want to blame everything on racism, and not look at problems like fatherless households, crime, and poor public schooling.