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    • Southmayd Center for American Ideals

    Promoting free speech, civil dialogue and intellectual diversity

    The Southmayd Center for American Ideals is dedicated to promoting free speech, civil dialogue, and intellectual diversity throughout Washington & Lee University. Our vision is to nurture a campus environment where ideas collide and diverse viewpoints contend, making Washington & Lee the most exciting university in the country to learn, teach, and grow.

    Guy Benson Speaks at W&L

    People standing in front of the American flag

    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.

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    17th Annual Freedom Conference & Festival 2025

    August 22, 2025

    The Southmayd Center is sponsoring 7 W&L student leaders to attend The Steamboat Institute’s annual Freedom Conference a chance to hear from engaging speakers, network with like-minded individuals, and spend a weekend in beautiful Beaver Creek, Colorado!

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    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.

    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.

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    Youtube Video Thumbnail

    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.

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    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.

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    Futch Forum

    The Spectator would like to recognize Jeffrey Southmayd and J Bruce Whelihan for their generous gifts as friends of the Futch Forum.


    https://www.wluspectator.com/futch-forum

    Six Days of War

    To Jeff,


    Six Days of War, June 1967 and the making of the Modern Middle East. Great defender of freedom.


    -Best wishes Michael B. Oren

    Rawhide Award

    Jeff Southmayd received the Rawhide Award for his generous support of programs at the Reagan Ranch.

    Generals Redoubt Purchases Fancy Hill

    The Southmayd Center for American Ideals provided the funds to The Generals Redoubt for the purchase of Fancy Hill. Jeffrey Duke Southmayd was directly involved in negotiating with Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Vaughn for the acquisition on behalf of The Generals Redoubt.


    Historical Site To Be Used As Headquarters





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    The Generals Redoubt – Colonnade print Donation

    Dear Mr. Southmayd,


    Thank you for your kind support of The Generals Redoubt in May 2025! We are very excited to have received your Colonnade print. It will make an excellent addition to Fany Hill’s growing collection of university memorabilia and in doing so, help us champion Washington and Lee’s exceptional history and traditions.


    -Kamron M. Spivey, ’24 | Campus & Research Fellow

    Young America’s Foundation & Reagan Ranch

    On Behalf of the students we serve, thank you for your generous support of our work at Young America’s Foundation – at the Reagan Ranch and across the country. We are very grateful for your help.

    The W&L Spectator

    Thank you again for all you have done for The W&L Spectator and on campus over the past year. The speakers you funded mean W&L’s student population is undoubtedly far better exposed to key conservative perspectives than their counterparts at other elite institutions.

    Young America

    Thank you for your generous support of Young America’s Foundation.


    -Governor Scott Walker, President

    Ambassador Michael Oren at The Steamboat Institute’s Freedom Conference

    This interview was made possible by the Southmayd Center for American Ideals. The Spectator thanks them for their support.

    I just wanted to thank you for your generous sponsorship of our event. Your generosity helped us make a good event even better for our community.  I just want to be sure you knew how very much we appreciate your support of our efforts.


    -Jennifer Tingley

    Contributor for the W&L Spectator

    Jeffery Duke Southmayd is a contributor and is on the editorial advisory board for the W&L Spectator.

    Washington & Lee Spectator

    W&L alumnus Jeffery Duke Southmayd recently founded a non-profit, the Souhtmayd Center for American Ideals.


    -W&L Spectator

    Mock Convention 2024

    Thank you for your generosity, enthusiasm, and commitment to Mock Convention.


    -Gabreil Stulce, Fundraising Chairman

    Steamboat Contribution

    Dear Jeffrey & Nancy, Thank you very much for your generous investment in the Steamboat Institute. We are in a huge flight to preserve our freedom, and we intend to win!


    -Haley Supergan, Vice President of Development

    Generals Redoubt

    Jeff, for all you have done for TGR and all you are doing for the future of Washington and Lee University


    Thank you! You will make a difference.


    – Elizabeth Barry Brown

    Lime Kiln Theater

    Mr. Southmayd , Thank you for hosting a fantastic evening here at Lime Kiln Theater – It was a blast!


    -Chuck Smith, Lime Kiln Board

    Jennings Letter

    Dear Mr. Southmayd, Thank you again for these impactful gifts that help prepare Washington and Lee graduates for lives of personal, professional, and civic success.


    -Tom Jennings, Vice President for University Advancement

    George Washington Forum

    Dear Jeff, thank you so much for your support of the George Washington Forum and we look forward to working with you in the future!


    -Jordan Kach, Patrick France, Owen Murray, Drew Thompson