American Experiment Launches Groundbreaking IntellectualTakeout.com WebsiteSeptember 13, 2005St. Paul – Center of the American Experiment today launched the groundbreaking IntellectualTakeout.com website, which will bring intellectual diversity to Minnesota college campuses by exposing students to conservative free-market ideas that are not always readily available in the classroom. “IntellectualTakeout.com is about the free exchange of ideas and giving college students the tools they need to decide for themselves where they stand on the issues,” said Center of the American Experiment CEO Annette Meeks. “Our goal is not to indoctrinate students but to instead spur thoughtful debate and discussion of ideas on campus.” IntellectualTakeout.com (http://www.intellectualtakeout.com), which is a project of American Experiment’s FACT program, provides students with quick access to a menu of conservative ideas and perspectives on a number of topics, including Cultural Studies, Economics, Education, Environmental Studies, Foundations of Liberty, History, Political Science, and Hot Topics. The information on IntellectualTakeout.com, which has been compiled by American Experiment policy experts and university professors, comes from a number of distinguished and credible sources. The “Ideas to Go” section of the website provides quick one-page issue summaries that students can take to class or use as a quick reference for other school work. The summaries provide students with both liberal and conservative perspectives on a number of issues. The “Ask the Professor” feature on the website allows students to submit questions directly to policy experts on a wide variety of issues and topics. The website, which is available at no cost, also connects students with other like-minded students and alumni, and assists them in job searches. Meeks highlighted the need for IntellectualTakeout.com by citing a recent study, funded by the Randolph Foundation, which found that a startling 72 percent of those teaching at American universities and colleges identify themselves as being liberal. In sharp contrast, only 15 percent identified themselves as being conservative. She also cited incidents at Minnesota college campuses, such as St. Olaf College’s decision this year to require incoming students to read a one-sided essay on the environment. “Evidence clearly shows that the liberal ideological perspective dominates the ivory towers on our campuses,” said Meeks. “Not only are students shortchanged, but the intellectual health of colleges and universities suffers when only one ideological point of view dominates campus discourse and stifles dissent.” American Experiment will be promoting IntellectualTakeout.com during a number of visits to Minnesota college campuses this fall. Those visits will be part of a larger media and promotional campaign to make Minnesota college students aware of the website. Center of the American Experiment is a nonpartisan, tax-exempt, public policy and educational institution which brings conservative and free market ideas to bear on the most difficult issues facing Minnesota and the nation. For more information, please contact us at: 1024 Plymouth Building, 12 S. 6th St., Minneapolis, MN 55402, 612-338-3605, www.americanexperiment.org |