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As we close another academic year at the Center for the Philosophy of Freedom, I’m proud to celebrate the momentum we’ve sustained throughout the spring. The Center’s core faculty has been growing in size —be on the lookout for our very first “Research Digest” in June featuring the important research being conducted by our faculty. This newsletter will provide an update on our non-research outreach.

This year brought many milestones—from welcoming our first ever international European Master in Law and Economics students to Arizona, to educating the next generation of Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Law students at the Undergraduate Summer School, to empowering young women through Invest in Girls, to welcoming the Museum of Democracy to campus in partnership with the Arizona Board of Regents’ Presidential Project. Each endeavor reflects our ongoing commitment to dialogue, discovery, and the enduring pursuit of freedom.

As our reach and impact continue to grow, so too must our reflection—especially on the vital importance of free expression and open inquiry. In a time when public discourse often feels more polarized than productive, we must recommit to the principles that allow open dialogue to thrive—particularly among those who hold differing perspectives.

The English poet and philosopher John Milton wrote in his 1644 treatise Areopagitica, “Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.” His words remain profoundly relevant today. Freedom of speech and free inquiry is more than a legal right—it is the cornerstone of intellectual growth, civic engagement, and moral progress.

Yet we must be honest about the challenges. When social pressures discourage open expression, we risk replacing thoughtful dialogue with silence. And with that silence, we lose the opportunity to build mutual understanding and shared purpose. It is through honest, respectful exchange—even and especially in disagreement—that we find common ground and move forward together.

The Center remains steadfast in creating a space where diverse ideas can be heard and explored. Disagreement should not divide us—it should draw us into deeper conversation and mutual respect. Progress depends not on retreating into ideological corners, but on engaging with one another in the spirit of good faith and shared curiosity.

Thank you for your continued support of the Center throughout the 2024–2025 academic year. As we look toward Fall 2025, I invite you to join us in strengthening a culture of freedom—one grounded in openness, inquiry, and the courage to engage across difference.

Saura Masconale

Associate Director
Assistant Professor of Political Economy and Moral Science, James E. Rogers College of Law Affiliated Faculty

Mary Rigdon

Director
Associate Professor of Political Economy and Moral Science

Launch of the Museum of Democracy Exhibit at the Campus Store

The Arizona Board of Regents’ Presidential Project, in partnership with the Museum of Democracy and the Freedom Center brought the exhibit “You say you want a revolution?: Politics and Protests in the 60’s” for the 2024 – 2025 academic year to campus. This special traveling exhibit showcases real presidential memorabilia from the nation’s largest private collector, the Wright Family. The launch event focused on finding common ground in divisive times and featured Drs. Robert George and Cornel West. The activities included a special meeting with  President Suresh Garimella and remarks from Interim Provost Ronald Marx and Representative Matt Gress.

MORE ABOUT THE MUSEUM

Open Doors, Open Minds: Hospitality, Leadership and Freedom Mixer Connects Communities

An evening of connection and conversation brought together over 150 guests to explore the intersections of freedom, hospitality, and leadership alongside a powerful historical exhibit, the Museum of Democracy. This co-hosted mixer saw people from many backgrounds connecting and engaging in meaningful conversations centered on the shared values of freedom, hospitality and leadership—principles rooted in openness and inclusion. The event highlighted how the values of freedom and hospitality intersect to foster innovation, opportunity, and understanding.
EVENING RECAPS & PHOTOS

Obama and Trump Aides Model Disagreement and Respectful Dialogue

The Freedom Center in collaboration with the National Institute for Civil Discourse (NICD) and the UA Discourse Series hosted a lively dialogue “Bridging America’s Political Divide in an Election Year”, that featured former Obama Press Aide Johanna Maska and Trump Administration Press Secretary Sean Spicer. Moderated by Keith Allred from the NICD, the event drew over 100 participants and demonstrated the power of respectful, bi-partisan conversation.

DETAILS ABOUT THE DEBATE

EMLE Program Welcomes First Cohort in April 2025

The University of Arizona has joined the European Masters in Law and Economics (EMLE) Consortium, a prestigious international program established in 1990 accredited by the European Commission. The U of A is not only the newest consortium member of EMLE. it is the first institute in North America to join. Students in this one-year program study in three unique global locations, earning a degree at each. There are three concentrations to select from, located at nine universities in three continents.
EMLE NEWS RELEASE

The FC Research Digest: Coming this June

Showcasing extraordinary intellectual talent, the Freedom Center’s FC Research Digest is set to launch in June 2025. This annual digest will highlight scholarly productions including journal articles, books, significant conference presentations, and other noteworthy accomplishments from its most valuable asset, it’s faculty and affiliated schoalrs.
SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES

Local Schools Enhance Civic Education with Free Tours

It has been a very exciting year of community engagement at the exhibit which has brought schools and organizations around the state to campus to learn more about politics and protest and their role in building a thriving, free society—as well as what it’s like to be a Wildcat. Special programs like Campus Store Storytime, Invest in Girls and the U of A Museum Day allowed more than 1,000 visitors to engage with real presidential memorabilia firsthand. Now that the lower level of the Campus Store is the first stop for the U of A Campus Tours, even more visitors experience the exhibit daily!  Interested in a guided tour or including this in your curriculum? Learn more here.

A new exhibit, including a replica Press Briefing area for fun photo-ops and an AI-driven, interactive simulation of past presidents arrives in August!

MORE ABOUT THEMUSEUM OF DEMOCRACY EXHIBIT & TOURS

Freedom Center & Sphere Host Teachers at “Foundations of Civic Culture” Event

At the start of this year, the Freedom Center played a leading role in the third annual Foundations of Civic Culture summit, co-hosted with the Cato Institute’s Sphere Education Initiatives in Phoenix, Arizona. This year’s summit included a Salute to Teachers dinner and keynote address by Professor Bryan Caplan of George Mason University. The summit’s professional education workshops included a panel with nationally renowned scholars and educators including Professor John E. Schwarz.

The Foundations of Civic Culture summit continues as an annual event. Keep an eye out for announcements about the next summit in Jan. 2026!

LEARN MORE

Take Charge Today Reaches New Heights

The FC’s full time financial literacy arm, Take Charge Today, works around the clock providing teachers and students alike with new, free content to facilitate any financial learning goal. This school year TCT impacted over 3,000 students and teachers with hands-on career and entrepreneurship lessons, hosted a “Teaching Taxes” webinar with Intuit, and presented at multiple conferences.

MORE IMPACTS
VIEW THE WINNERS
2025 GRADUATION

The Center for the Philosophy of Freedom is proud to celebrate the graduating students of the 2024 – 2025 academic year. Featured here are a few of the students obtaining either their PhD in Philosophy or their Master in Legal Studies with support from the Freedom Center. Congratulations Graduates!

Read More About Our Graduating Students

Over the year FC Talks hosted a number of leading scholars in a variety of fields related to philosophy, political science, moral science, law, and economics. These talks allow scholars from around the country the opportunity to present their latest research and engage the audience for lively discussion and debate. A special thank you to David Clark, assist. prof. of philosophy, for coordinating and overseeing the exciting talks for the 2024 – 2025 academic year.

Featured FC Talks

“We have Never been Woke: the Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite”
Stony Brook University
Communication & Journalism
“State Capacity and the Fate of Justice”
 University of Arizona & Duke University
Law & Philosophy
“Social Entrepreneurship”
West Virginia University
Moral Science & Philosophy
“Sour Grapes Bias: A Case for Bitcoin”
Northern Illinois University
Philosophy
“Who Gives and Why? The Power of Ownership in Dictator Games”
 University of Alabama
Economics
“The Morality of Market Activism”
University of Arizona
Philosophy & Law

C. Mónica Capra

May 4 – 15

Claremont Graduate University
Economics
About Capra

Jennifer Pate

May 16 – 20

Loyola Marymount University
Economics
About Pate
Razzolini _Laura

Laura Razzolini

May 19 – May 23

University of Alabama
Economics
About Razzolini

More Upcoming Visiting Fellow Dates

Jennifer Pate Oct. 6 – 10 Laura Razzolini Nov. 10 – 14
Laura Razzolini Oct. 6 – 10 Connie Rosati Jan. 11 – 31
Utteeyo Dasgupta Oct. 8 – 16 James Konow Feb. 8 – 28
Jennifer Pate Nov. 10 – 14 Jennifer Pate Mar. 2 – 6