University of Dallas

Department Events

"E Pluribus Unum: Friends, Citizens, and Free Thinkers in the Ancient City"
On Friday, March 22, 2013, the Politics Department hosted Dr. Susan Collins of the Universities of Houston and Notre Dame for this lecture, followed by a reception. The event was sponsored by the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation. For a video of the talk, please go here.

"Thoughts on the State of Our Union"
On Thursday, November 8, 2012, the Politics Department hosted a roundtable discussion reflecting on the results and significance of the 2012 elections. The event was held in Gorman B from 5-7pm. For a video of the talk, please go here.

"NFIB v. Sebelius and the Liberal Arts Education"
On Friday, October 19, from 12-2pm, the Politics Department will host Professor Eric Claeys, a professor of law at the School of Law at George Mason University. Mr. Claeys' scholarship focuses on American property and constitutional law, and particularly on the influence of American natural-law/natural-rights theory on the law.
This lecture is sponsored by the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation.

Constitution Day 2012
On Sunday, September 16, 2012,  the Politics Department will host its annual Constitution Day celebration with a BBQ dinner, a talk by Professor Leo Paul de Alvarez entitled, "What Constitution Have We?", and some well- and lesser-known patriotic songs.
(Please click for video or audio).

"Three Visions of Excellence: Louise Cowan, Leo Strauss, and Jacob Klein on Liberal Education"
This lecture by Professor Christopher Lynch was given on March 22, 2012. For more information, and a video recording of the lectures, please click here.
This lecture is sponsored by the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation.

"Rhetoric in America: Liberty, Anarchy, and Statesmanship"
A faculty roundtable including Professors Leo Paul de Alvarez, Richard Dougherty, Tiffany Miller, David Upham, and Jonathan Culp. The roundtable was held Thursday, December 1, 2011, at 5pm in Gorman B, with a reception following in the Gorman Faculty Lounge.
This roundtable is sponsored by the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation.

"'Through the Keyhole': Leo Strauss' Rediscovery of Classical Political Philosophy in Xenophon's Constitution of the Spartans"
On Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 7pm, the Politics Department sponsored this presentation by Professor Richard Ruderman in the Gorman Faculty Lounge. It is part of the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation Lecture Series.

"Roe's Crumbling Castle"
On Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at 7:30pm, the University of Dallas Department of Politics and S.P.U.D. sponsored a presentation by Mr. Ramesh Ponnuru entitled, "Roe's Crumbling Castle." Ponnuru is a senior editor at National Review and is author of The Party of Death: The Democrats, the Media, the Courts, and the Disregard for Human Life (2006).

Constitution Day 2011
On September 18th, 2011, starting at 6pm, the Politics Department hosted its annual BBQ dinner in celebration of the Constitution. Professor Tiffany Jones Miller will be giving an address entitled, "America in Crisis: What Ails Our Body Politic?" after which there will be singing of patriotic songs. All are invited.

Ancients and Moderns: Did Leo Strauss Exaggerate the Break?
A Faculty Roundtable, Featuring Leo Paul de Alvarez, Jonathan Culp, Richard Dougherty, Tiffany Jones Miller, David Upham, and Thomas G. West. Friday, April 1st, 2011 - 3:30 PM - Gorman B
Sponsored by the BGSA and Koch Charitable Foundation

The End of Marriage
Chris Wolfe, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of Political Science Marquette University
Wednesday, March 30th, 20113:30 PM - Gorman Faculty Lounge

Aristophanes' Critique of the Gods
Dr. Wayne Ambler
Herbst Program of Humanities for Engineers at the University of Colorado at Boulder
Friday, March 18th, 2011 - 3:30 PM - Gorman B
Aristophanes' famous comedy Clouds presents a rollicking and raunchy but also profound critique of Socrates, a critique to which Plato had his Socrates respond in the Apology. But while the Clouds takes Socrates to task especially for his apparent atheism, Aristophanes' plays are themselves hardly reflective of conventional piety toward Zeus and his Olympian colleagues; and three of Aristophanes' eleven surviving plays—Peace, Wealth, and especially Birds—feature mortal heroes who find fault with Zeus, challenge his authority, and even prove victorious over him. Dr. Ambler will explore Aristophanes' hilariously radical, but yet not atheistic, critique of the gods in these three comedies.

Progressivism and the Rise of the Western: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Come watch John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance this Wednesday, December 1st, 2010 at 7pm in Lynch Auditorium. There will be a few introductory remarks, with the movie being followed by remarks and a Q&A session with Dr. Thomas West on the connection between the Progressive movement and the rise of the Western as a movie genre.

"Is Man the Measure of All Things? Plato's Analysis of Relativism"
A Lecture by Dr. Matthew K. Davis, of St. John's College, Santa Fe
November 19, 2010: Friday, 4:00 pm
This is the first Annual Braniff Graduate Student Association Lecture 

2010 Midterm Elections: What Do the Results Mean for America?
A post-election roundtable with panelists Dr. Jonathan Culp, Dr. Richard Dougherty Dr. Tiffany Miller, Dr. David Upham & Dr. Thomas West. Friday, November 5th, 2010 - 4:30 PM

Alexis de Tocqueville's Ancient Modern Liberty
Dr. Steven Forde
Professor of Political Science - University of North Texas
Friday, October 29th, 2010 - 4:00 PM

Constitution Day 2010
The festive evening features dinner and the singing of patriotic songs. Dr. Richard Dougherty will deliver an address entitled "The Constitution Goes to War: Or Does It?"
Sunday, September 19, 2010 - 6:00 PM

Tocqueville on the Ground of Freedom: Nature or History?
Dr. John Marini
Professor of Political Science - University Of Nevada, Reno
Friday, April 23, 2010 – 7:30 PM

Founding Liberalism, Progressive Liberalism, and the Meaning of Rights: The Conservatives Fascination with Teddy Roosevelt
Dr. R. J. Pestritto
Charles & Lucia Shipley Chair in the American Constitution at Hillsdale College
Friday, March 19, 2010 - 8:00 PM

Politics on the Precipice: Current Concerns in American Public Life
A panel discussion with Dr. Leo Paul De Alvarez, Dr. Richard Dougherty, Dr. John Grant, and Dr. David Upham.
Friday, Feb. 19, 2010 – 4:00 PM

The Legacy of Willmoore Kendall
Leading Conservative Political Theorist and Founder of the UD Politics Program. A panel discussion with Dr. Leo Paul de Alvarez, Dr. John Alvis, and Dr. Louise Cowan. Special guest: Nellie Kendall.
Friday, Oct. 30, 2009 – 4:00 PM

Constitution Day 2009
The festive evening features dinner and the singing of patriotic songs. Dr. R. J. Pestritto, Charles & Lucia Shipley Chair in the American Constitution, Hillsdale College (and former UD Politics professor), will deliver an address entitled "Our Constitutional Crisis: The Legacy of Lincoln, the Progressives, or Both?"
Sunday, September 20, 2009, 6:00 PM