On Thursday, September 30, 2010, the Wabash Conservative Union, in association with the Wabash Newman Center, will host Robert P. George, professor of jurisprudence at Princeton University.  He will be presenting a talk about abortion politics at 8:00 p.m. in Baxter 101.

Professor George is at the forefront of the Pro-Life movement in the United States, and is a co-author of the Manhattan Declaration, a petition signed by many Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christians defending the causes of life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty.  He was formerly a member of the President’s Council on Bioethics and was a presidential appointee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights.  He is the author of Making Men Moral: Civil Liberties and Public Morality, In Defense of Natural Law, and The Clash of Orthodoxies.

It is the beginning of a new school year, and as we welcome the semester, we also welcome the next group of Wabash men, the Class of 2014.  This issue of The Phoenix, while specifically aimed at the freshmen, will be of interest to all of our reading audience. Zach Rohrbach ’12 has produced a well-researched article on our chapel’s organ, which has dazzled audiences for many years now. Michael Nossett ’11, the Student Body Vice President and longtime Phoenix staff writer, has written an insightful article providing advice to our freshmen. We also have been blessed in this issue with two articles from faculty contributors. William Turner of the Math Department has written a pertinent reflection on the importance and nature of friendships, and David Blix ’70 gives his perspective on what being a freshman and student at Wabash is about.

Also inside, Andrew Forrester ‘11 and Ben Williams ‘11 discuss the merits of independent and Greek living, and Steve Henke ‘12 reminds all students how to get the most out of their Wabash education in the form of extracurricular activities.  Andrew Forrester ‘11 also points out the multitude of opportunities to further one’s faith on campus, while Adam Brasich ‘11 discusses the importance of theology in self-discovery.  Finally, Adam Current ‘11 rounds out the issue by taking a look at Wabash’s history of respecting objectivity.

In The Phoenix’s last issue for the 2009-10 academic year, we take a look back into some of our college’s history.  In the Cover Feature, Kevin Stevens explores the meaning and development of Lilly Library’s Goodrich Room.  Austin Rovenstine also comments on former Wabash president Lewes MacKintosh, while Nolan Eller discusses the little-known story of Wabash’s statue of Abraham Lincoln.

Also inside, we interview former Dean of Students Thomas Bambrey ’68 in order to gain insight into the debate surrounding recent curricular changes.  Former Phoenix editor Austin Rovenstine also gives his perspective as a graduating senior on the issue.  Adam Current discusses the future of the GPA, and this final issue is rounded off with a list of summer reading books suggested for your enjoyment and intellectual stimulation by The Phoenix staff.

Now that the Cultures & Traditions course is gone, there has been much debate over what the future holds for Wabash.  In this issue, Adam Brasich discusses what the changes in curriculum mean for the college.  Also, Bob Cassady reflects on the pre-med program at Wabash, and Curtis Peterson highlights the importance of the Teacher Education program in light of the Wabash mission statement.

Also inside, Adam Current critiques political correctness, Robby Dixon discusses the lessons we can gain from Snow White, Austin Rovenstine reflects on the Industrial Workers of the World, and Jake Nettnay talks about the danger of drugs on campus.  Alex Robbins also discusses Republican Scott Brown’s miracle campaign and victory in the Massachusetts special election, while Ted Plummer investigates the future of the GOP.

The Wabash Conservative Union is pleased to announce that we will host Professor E. Christian Kopff on Thursday, April 22 to speak on the merits of the classics in education.  His lecture is entitled “Why America Needs the Classical Tradition.”

Dr. Kopff is professor and Associate Director of the Honors Program at University of Colorado.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Haverford College and a PhD in Classics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  He also works in Italy with the University of Urbino.  He has been a great asset to the Classics community, writing more than a hundred scholarly papers and reviews in addition to the book on which he will lecture: The Devil Knows Latin: Why America Needs the Classical Tradition.

Dr. Kopff will lecture on April 22 at 12:00 PM in Center Hall 216 at Wabash College.  The event is free and open to the public.