Intercollegiate Studies Institute

We teach the principles of liberty that colleges won't. Follow to learn the true meaning of freedom and equality.

[Intercollegiate Studies Institute @ISI]

Is Liberalism Finished?

@McGillPatterson and Jacob Imam debate whether post-liberalism offers a path toward Christian virtue and stronger communities, or whether its political ambitions threaten religious liberty and individual rights.

Moderated by @sarahhgustafson.

Watch the full "Fault Lines" debate 👇

Timestamps:

(0:00) Intro
(1:01) The Debate: Has Post-Liberalism Failed?
(1:40) James Patterson: The Failure of Post-Liberalism
(4:16) Jacob Imam: The Case for Post-Liberalism
(9:18) Are All Post-Liberals Integralists?
(10:36) Can Christian Tradition Be Revived?
(21:04) Why Liberals Struggle to Govern
(25:27) How the Modern State Replaced Tradition
(35:31) Has Liberalism Lost Its Legitimacy?
(58:46) Can the State Make Us Virtuous?
(1:20:20) Does America Have a Future?
(1:27:22) Closing Statements

[Intercollegiate Studies Institute @ISI]

“I am so grateful I decided to apply. It has been such a great opportunity for me to learn about journalism and actually do journalism.”

For Christina Lewis, a Hillsdale College graduate and ISI Collegiate Network Fellow at The Daily Wire, the fellowship has turned an interest in journalism into hands-on professional experience.

Working alongside Michael Knowles, Christina has gained firsthand insight into the daily work of journalism, from researching stories and developing ideas to refining her writing under the guidance of an experienced media professional.

“Christina is terrific,” says Knowles. “She wants to grow in her work and in her writing, and I adore that.”

Ready to take the next step in your journalism career? Learn more and apply for the Collegiate Network Fellowship!

https://t.co/vk6k3IRlpg

[Intercollegiate Studies Institute @ISI]

A warm welcome to @CFrancisFisher, the new President of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute!

Our team gathered last week to celebrate Chris's arrival, with a "Welcome Chris" cake and plenty of conversation. Chris comes to ISI from the Archdiocese of San Francisco, where he served as Superintendent of Catholic Schools.

We are grateful for his leadership and excited for the work ahead as we continue to educate for liberty and bring the enduring ideas of the Western tradition to students across the country.

Welcome to ISI, Chris!

[Intercollegiate Studies Institute @ISI]

Do Conservatives Want More or Less Politics?

[Intercollegiate Studies Institute @ISI]

James Patterson: The Problem with Integralists

[Intercollegiate Studies Institute @ISI]

Applications for the ISI Weaver Fellowship are now open!

The ISI Weaver Fellowship supports promising graduate students who are committed to preserving and advancing the Western intellectual tradition through teaching and research.

More than financial assistance, the fellowship is an investment in the next generation of scholars who will carry forward the enduring wisdom of the past.

Take the next step in your academic journey. Apply for the ISI Weaver Fellowship today!

https://t.co/0JhMT7u8Xs

[Intercollegiate Studies Institute @ISI]

Jacob Imam: No Such Thing as a Kind State

[Intercollegiate Studies Institute @ISI]

Students from across the Pacific Northwest gathered at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, for ISI's Intercollegiate Retreat to explore this question through the writings of Alexis de Tocqueville, Frederick Douglass, and James Davison Hunter.

The weekend featured seminar-style discussions and an excursion to downtown Portland.

Through retreats like these, ISI brings students together to wrestle with enduring questions, and build lasting intellectual friendships.

[Intercollegiate Studies Institute @ISI]

Tonight at midnight, ISI releases the season 1 finale of Fault Lines.

The topic: Has Postliberalism Failed?

@McGillPatterson and Jacob Imam Debate.
Moderated by @sarahhgustafson

As we plan season 2: who would you like to see debate, and on what question?

[Intercollegiate Studies Institute @ISI]

On Tuesday, students and professors at Georgetown University gathered for an ISI-sponsored lecture with Dr. Patrick Deneen titled "America at 250: The Future of the Past."

Author of "American Odyssey," Deneen explored America's relationship with its history, challenging students to consider how our founding principles and traditions can guide us through the challenges of the present.

A special thank you to Shae McInnis, student leader of the Walsh Society, an ISI chapter at Georgetown, for organizing this well-attended event!

[Intercollegiate Studies Institute @ISI]

Last night we welcomed Jonathan Turley to F.M. Kirby Hall for an evening co-hosted with the Brandywine Women’s Coalition.

@JonathanTurley, a constitutional scholar and author of the New York Times bestseller "Rage and the Republic", offered a timely look at the state of American politics ahead of the midterms. He talked about the direction of both parties, economic pressures on families, and the challenges AI and robotics pose for a self-governing people.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the reception, lecture, Q&A, and book signing, and to the Brandywine Women’s Coalition for partnering with us.

Want to be part of conversations like this? Learn more about ISI and get involved at https://t.co/oL9X5WgEOO.

[Intercollegiate Studies Institute @ISI]

That’s a wrap on the 2026 Collegiate Network Editors Conference!

Student editors from across the country spent the weekend on ISI’s campus in Wilmington learning from working journalists. Sessions covered photojournalism, website design, managing writers, finding the stories that matter on campus, news writing, and the SPJ Code of Ethics.

Thank you to our speakers and to every editor who joined us. We’re proud of the work these students do to report the truth on their campuses, and we can’t wait to see what they publish this year.

[New Guard Press @newguardpress]

New Guard Press Wins Student Journalism Award for Best Editorial & Opinion

WILMINGTON, Del. – New Guard Press is proud to announce that it is the recipient of the 2026 Student Journalism Award for Best Editorial & Opinion bestowed by ISI’s Collegiate Network. New Guard Press is an online magazine founded in 2023 that publishes commentary from young conservatives.

“I am very grateful to ISI and the Collegiate Network for this award,” New Guard Press founder Bradley Haley said. “Our contributors and editors are some of the most thoughtful young conservatives in the country, and I am proud of the work they have produced over the past year.”

From “The Reason America Needs Route 66” to “Beyond Friedman?” our team of young writers are dedicated to articulating a positive vision for the future of conservatism, and we congratulate all of our contributors, editors, and support staff on this award.

“Each year, Collegiate Network recognizes student publications whose work demonstrates exceptional quality and originality. New Guard Press has consistently distinguished itself through thoughtful, incisive editorial writing and commentary that reflects a serious engagement with the ideas and issues shaping our culture,” Collegiate Network Executive Director Marlo Slayback said in a statement.

In 2024 New Guard Press joined the Intercollegiate Studies Institute’s Collegiate Network and later that year was awarded their New Publication of the Year Award.

More about New Guard Press: Founded in 2023, New Guard Press is an online magazine by and for the young Right. New Guard Press publishes cultural and political commentary from college students and young professionals all across the nation, and New Guard Press’s mission is to chart a course for American renewal. New Guard Press’s flagship program is the Chesterton Media Fellowship, which pays college students and recent grads over a six-month period to produce commentary and journalism featured in well-known conservative outlets. In October 2026, New Guard Press launched its first podcast: The Long March hosted by Breccan Thies. This series features conversations with conservative leaders about how the Right can reclaim institutional power.

[Intercollegiate Studies Institute @ISI]

Apply by Feb. 1:
https://t.co/l9RBuCyNG2

[Intercollegiate Studies Institute @ISI]

Want a career in journalism?

@By_Christina (Hillsdale '26) is a Collegiate Network Fellow at @realDailyWire, where she meets with @michaeljknowles every day.

A year in a real newsroom for seniors and recent grads. $75,000 stipend.

[Intercollegiate Studies Institute @ISI]

Last night we kicked off the 2026 Collegiate Network Editors Conference on ISI’s campus in Wilmington with the annual Campus Journalism Awards Ceremony.

Student editors from across the country came together to celebrate the year’s best campus journalism, with honors for investigative reporting, commentary, criticism, features writing, photography, design, and multimedia. The evening also included the presentation of the William F. Buckley Jr. Award for Outstanding Campus Reporting, which goes to the paper whose work best shows fearless, rigorous journalism.

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners. Thank you to our awards committee, Daniel McCarthy, Christopher Caldwell, Gabby Orr, and Brandon McGinley, for reviewing this year’s entries.

This weekend, editors are in hands-on sessions with working journalists on photojournalism, design, managing writers, news writing, and the SPJ Code of Ethics. More to come.

[Intercollegiate Studies Institute @ISI]

Did the New Deal Create America’s Debt Problem?

[Intercollegiate Studies Institute @ISI]

Julius Krein: The Hidden Cost of Neoliberal Economics

[Collegiate Network @collegiatenet]

Applications for our internships and fellowships are now up on our site.

Apply now ➜

[Collegiate Network @collegiatenet]

@ThinkerChicago posted a clip of Sen. Elissa Slotkin calling for the prosecution of young Republican staffers as a way to dissuade them from pursuing careers in government and conservative work.

Her remarks likely would have gone unnoticed without The Thinker’s reporting.

Since the clip went up, multiple senators and members of Congress have condemned the comments as abhorrent.