3rd Annual International SFL Conference

When: Friday, February 12th – Sunday, February 14th, 2010

Where: American University, Washington, DC

Host: American University Students for Liberty

Who: The largest group of pro-liberty students from around the world

Click Here to Register Now

All registrations will close at 11:59pm on January 31st

Download the Flyer (PDF)

We are pleased to invite all students and non-students interested in liberty to attend the 3rd Annual International Students For Liberty Conference!  The International SFL Conference is the premiere event of the year for students dedicated to liberty and advancing freedom on campus.   The largest crowd of pro-liberty students will gather for a weekend of learning about liberty from contemporary leaders in liberty, discussing best practices for promoting liberty on campus, and getting more involved in the larger movement for liberty.

The inaugural Students For Liberty Conference in 2008 drew 100 students from 42 schools in 3 countries.  The 2009 International SFL Conference brought 153 students from 86 schools in 13 countries together.  This year, we expect the 2010 International SFL Conference to unite many more students from even more diverse countries.  Check out the webpages of the 2008 and 2009 International Conferences to see past speakers, workshops, and events.

Highlights of the Upcoming 2010 International SFL Conference

• Activism training featuring workshops such as Marketing Liberty on Campus and How to Dominate YouTube.
• Networking with the leaders of the liberty movement and your fellow pro-liberty students from around the world.
• Social Events featuring free drinks (both hard & soft) and a special event reception at the Cato Institute.
• Meals while at the conference: dinner Friday / breakfast, lunch, & dinner Saturday / breakfast & lunch Sunday plus coffee available throughout the conference.
• Great Speakers such as Ed Crane and Gary Johnson.
• Celebrate Liberty with the largest gathering of pro-liberty students in the world!

A special note of thanks and praise goes out to the American University Students for Liberty for hosting the 3rd Annual International SFL Conference!  The AUSFL is one of the most active and vibrant pro-liberty student organizations in America, and they have proven themselves to be more than capable hosts of such an intricate and prestigious conference.  We are thrilled to join them and students dedicated to liberty from around the world for this exciting and action-packed weekend.

K E Y N O T E    S P E A K E R S

Ed Crane, Founder & President of the Cato Institute

We are honored to have Ed Crane, the Founder & President of the Cato Institute deliver a Keynote Address to the International SFL Conference from the Cato Institute!  As his bio below reflects, Mr. Crane has been an inspirational leader in the cause of liberty.  This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to hear Mr. Crane specifically address students.  After his Address, conference attendees will be able to meet other Cato staff and scholars at a Cato on Campus reception hosted on the first floor of the Cato Institute. (The conference will help transport students from AU to the Cato Institute.)

Bio: Under the leadership of its founder and president Ed Crane, the Cato Institute has grown to become one of the nation’s most prominent public policy research organizations. Crane has been a pioneer in framing the political debate as one, not between liberal and conservative, but rather between civil society (the voluntary sector) and political society (government power). He was at the forefront of promoting personal accounts in lieu of the current Social Security system, and was one of the first national leaders of the term limits movement. Crane is the coeditor of several books, publisher of Regulation magazine, serves on the Board of U.S. Term Limits, and is a member of the Mont Pèlerin Society. He is a chartered financial analyst and former vice president at Alliance Capital Management Corp. Crane’s writing has been published in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the New York Times and Forbes. He has been interviewed on NPR’s Morning Edition and Talk of the Nation, C-SPAN’s Washington Journal, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, and other media. Crane holds an MBA from the University of Southern California.

Gary Johnson, Former Governor of New Mexico

Gary Johnson is the former Governor of New Mexico and a long-time advocate of liberty.  He has been called a libertarian-republican and recently he formed Our America Initiative to advocate for limited government and more freedom.  He has been an outspoken advocate for efficient government, lower taxes, protection of civil liberties, revitalization of the economy and promoting entrepreneurship and privatization.

Johnson attended the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque from 1971 to 1975, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. While in college, Gary Johnson earned money as a door-to-door handyman. His success in this area prompted him to start his own construction business, Big J Enterprises, which was founded in 1976. Johnson grew the company into a multi-million dollar corporation that employed over 1000 people in 1994. When he sold Big J in 1999, no employee lost his job and the company remains very successful to this day.

In 1994, Johnson was elected Governor of New Mexico despite having little experience in politics. He defeated the incumbent Democratic Governor Bruce King in the general election by 50% to 40% as well as a former Republican Governor in the Republican primary election. In 1998, Johnson was re-elected as governor, defeating Democratic Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez by a 55% to 45% margin. As Governor of New Mexico, Johnson was known for his common-sense and pro-liberty approach to governing. He eliminated New Mexico’s budget deficit, cut the rate of growth in state government in half and privatized half of the state prisons. Johnson also shifted state Medicaid to managed care (which led to better healthcare by creating a statewide healthcare network that previously did not exist and which saved money) and reduced state employees by over 1000, with no firings. During his term, New Mexico experienced the longest period without a tax increase in the state’s history. While in office, Governor Johnson vetoed 750 bills (which was more than all the vetoes of the other 49 Governors in the country at the time). He has also advocated the decriminalization of drug use and possession calling the war on drugs and “expensive bust”.

Gary Johnson was term limited and could not run for a third consecutive term as Governor in 2002. He currently lives in New Mexico and has remained very active, competing in numerous athletic competitions. He is an avid skier, adventurer, and bicyclist who abstains from alcohol. In 2003, he climbed Mount Everest.

Russ Roberts

Russell Roberts is Professor of Economics at George Mason University and the J. Fish and Lillian F. Smith Distinguished Scholar at the Mercatus Center, and a research fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.

His latest book is The Price of Everything: A Parable of Possibility and Prosperity (Princeton University Press, 2008). Told in the form of a novel, it’s the story of how prosperity is created and sustained, and the unseen order and harmony that shape our daily lives.

He is also the author of The Invisible Heart: An Economic Romance (MIT Press, 2001) a novel which discusses an array of public policy issues including corporate responsibility, consumer safety, and welfare. His first novel, The Choice: A Fable of Free Trade and Protectionism (Prentice Hall, 3rd ed., 2006) was named one of the top ten books of the year by Business Week and one of the best books of the year by the Financial Times when it was first published in 1994.

He is the host of the weekly podcast series EconTalk, an award-winning weekly talk show about economics in daily life, where he uses his wit and humor to communicate economic principles to a wide audience.  He might currently be most famous as the economic mastermind behind EconStories.tv and “Fear the Boom and Bust” a Hayek vs. Keynes Rap Anthem:

R E G IS T R A T I O N

Registration for the International Students For Liberty Conference is now closed.  If you have already filled out the registration form, but have not yet paid the fee, you can do so below.  If you have any questions or changes to make to your registration please email Clark Ruper at cruper@studentsforliberty.org.

Registration Fees

Student Fee: Late Student Registration Fee ($25 affiliate, $50 non-affiliate)

Non-Student Fee: Late Non-Student Regisration Fee ($150)

S C H E D U L E

For travel planning purposes, attendees should plan to arrive at the conference site between 3:00pm and 5:00pm on Friday, February 12th and to depart no sooner than 2:00pm on Sunday, February 14th. Out of respect to the closing Keynote Speaker, please do not make any arrangements to leave until after 2:00pm. Last year, the Closing Keynote Speaker was one of the most popular speakers of the conference, so you also don’t want to miss out on this great opportunity.  Out of respect to those who have spent so much time organizing the conference, the speakers taking the time to come present at the conference, and the support of donors who are providing the opportunity for students to participate in this event, students are required to attend all portions of the conference.

A full schedule for the conference will be released soon.  We are proud to announce several major events at this year’s International Students For Liberty Conference:

Screening of 2081

We are incredibly proud to announce that the ISFLC will feature the first public screening of 2081 since its premiere one year ago.  A short film adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron, 2081 depicts a dystopian future in which, thanks to the 212th Amendment to the Constitution and the unceasing vigilance of the United States Handicapper General, everyone is “finally equal….” The strong wear weights, the beautiful wear masks and the intelligent wear earpieces that fire off loud noises to keep them from taking unfair advantage of their brains. It is a poetic tale of triumph and tragedy about a broken family, a brutal government, and an act of defiance that changes everything.  After the screening, the film’s producer, Thor Halvorssen, will comment on the meaning of the film and the importance of doing film for liberty.  Visit http://finallyequal.com and check out the film’s trailer to learn more.

H O U S I N G

We have arranged a number of housing options, ranging from free to moderately priced, for students attending the 2010 International Students For Liberty Conference.

Hosteling International – $30 per person, per night - If you have not experienced it before, hosteling is one of the best ways to travel and see the world affordably.  Hosteling International DC is conveniently located downtown near the Red Metro Line and the Cato Institute (where our Saturday Social will be held).  The hostel offers great flexibility and will host many SFL groups during the conference.  All male, all female, and coed rooms are available.  To make a reservation there visit http://www.hiwashingtondc.org/reservations.shtml.

Days Inn – $89 per night for 2 queen beds – Students For Liberty has arranged a special group rate with the Days Inn Washington DC, which is located just blocks away from American University.  Conference attendees can reserve a room with 2 queen size beds (sleep up to 4 people) for just $89 per night.  To take advantage of this group offer call 1-800-316-5766 and mention Students For Liberty to get the special group rate.

If you have any questions about housing for the ISFLC please contact Clark Ruper at cruper@studentsforliberty.org

SCHOLARSHIPS & DISCOUNTS

This year many individuals and groups will be sponsoring scholarships and discounts for the 2010 International Students For Liberty Conference.  Make sure to check back here often for more opportunities as they become available.

• Students For Liberty Affiliate Discount
• International Student Discount and Assistance
• The Pete Eyre Voluntaryist Scholarship
• Michigan Students for a Free Economy
• Commonwealth Foundation Scholarship for Pennsylvania Students

NEW: John David Fernandez Annual Scholarship

The 2010 STUDENTS FOR LIBERTY AWARDS

One of the highlights of the International Students For Liberty Conference is the Annual Awards Presentation.  Each year Students For Liberty recognizes outstanding students and student groups who have distinguished themselves in the battle for liberty on campus.  This year Students For Liberty will be presenting awards for the Event of the Year, Student of the Year, and Student Group of the Year.

The nominees for the 2010 Students For Liberty Awards have been announced.  Click here to learn about these fantastic leaders of the student movement for liberty.

FACEBOOK

One you have registered make sure to RSVP for the Facebook Event here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=154020216799.  Use Facebook to invite your friends, group mates, and fellow advocates of liberty.

S P O N S O R S H I P

SFL offers a variety of sponsorship opportunities for both individuals and organizations who wish to support the International SFL Conference.  If you would like make a contribution to support the conference and help SFL advance the cause of liberty, you can do by clicking the button directly below.

If you would like to make a more formal sponsorship can such as the donations of books/publications for students to receive at registration, scholarships from state-based think tanks to support students from your state to attend the conference (check out the February 2009 State Policy Network Newsletter for a detailed description), sponsoring of meals or socials where you will get to speak about your organization to conference attendees, and more.  For complete information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Alexander McCobin at amccobin@studentsforliberty.org.  Benefits of formal sponsorship include:

• Prime opportunities for advertising to students dedicated to liberty, including features in the conference program and tables in the main auditorium of the conference
• Discounts on attendee registrations and Liberty Fair tables
• And more!

F O R    M E D I A

If you are from the media and would like to cover the International SFL Conference either before or during the conference, please contact Alexander McCobin at amccobin@studentsforliberty.org to receive a Media Pass.  Note: This includes bloggers who wish to attend and cover the conference.

L I B E R T Y    F A I R

The Liberty Fair is one of the highlights of the International SFL Conference.  Analogous to a career fair, but designed only for organizations dedicated to advancing liberty, students will spend 2-3 hours after lunch perusing many tables of pro-liberty organizatons. This is your opportunity to find out what organizations exist that are dedicated to promoting liberty, gain their materials, and find out about summer internships and job opportunities.  If you would like your organization to have a table at the 2010 International SFL Conference’s Liberty Fair, please complete the registration form below and pay the registration fee of $250. Note: Sponsorship of the 3rd Annual International SFL Conference covers the Liberty Fair Registration fee.

Step 1: Regular Liberty Fair Registration Form

Step 2: Regular Liberty Fair Registration Fee ($250)