Mock Convention 2024
Special Thanks to Jeff Southmayd, Center for American Ideals, for your steadfast financial commitment to our organization and long-term desire to support students and free speech on campus.
Improving The Conversation
For too long, America has been riven by divisive public discourse creating fault-lines that can feel impossible to cross. The Southmayd Center seeks to address the discord by creating a place students, faculty, and community can go to share their thoughts and get support for initiatives that make our community stronger.
Gerard Baker of the Wall Street Journal
January 27, 2025 @ 6:30 pm
Gerard Baker of the Wall Street Journal on January 25, 2025 in Lee Chapel. Gerard Baker is a British writer and columnist. He was Dow Jones’ Managing Editor, and The Wall Street Journal’s Editor-in-Chief from March 2013 until June 2018. Baker stepped down as WSJ Editor-in-Chief and has transitioned into the role of Editor-at-Large of the Wall Street Journal. Baker describes himself as a “right-wing curmudgeon
Featured PAST Event
The conservative commentator will discuss traditional values during his on-campus speech.
The W&L Spectator, Southmayd Center for American Ideals and College Republicans are proud to present conservative commentator Michael Knowles in Evans Hall at 7:00 PM on September 16, 2024.
Building Bridges
All successful free societies champion the ideal of unity in diversity. At the Southmayd Center for American Ideals, we seek to highlight our commonalities and facilitate respectful dialogue and open debates between diverse points of view.
We’re creating an environment that respects the achievements of our founders while continuing to learn and grow into the future. But we’re not all talk. We actively build bridges between students, faculty and community at Washington & Lee University by supporting service-oriented student groups and community initiatives that benefit us all.
Past Events
The Southmayd Center for American Ideals works to ensure the accurate preservation of President Lee’s legacy, while providing student groups with funds needed for their activities and events that are otherwise not available.