Every summer, Justice Clarence Thomas takes time away from his demanding schedule to meet with our students. Late June is a difficult time for him to do so because the Supreme Court is in the process of handing down its final decisions for the term. But Justice Thomas never fails.
During the meetings, he talks with the students for hours about anything the students desire. Most importantly, he reminds them that the Supreme Court is not intended to be a legislative body, but one that judges cases on the basis of what the Constitution says.
This evening, the junior class sat in the Washington studios of MSNBC as one of the Iran hostages was interviewed on “Hardball”. In addition to spending some time with Chris Matthews off the set, the students had a chance to talk with the guest and hear about the sacrifices that brave men and women make on a regular basis to protect our freedom and secure the freedom of others.
After completing their internships for the day, the seniors went to the Heritage Foundation to begin a four-session writing workshop. John McConnell, one of President Bush’s top speechwriters, was there for session one to teach our students and a dozen Heritage interns about speechwriting. In the coming weeks, they will hear from other writing professionals about various aspects of writing.
Local professional Keith Robertson introduced the Institute’s seniors to the basics of golf. The students will spend four Sunday evenings learning putting, chipping and driving, and will conclude the sessions by playing a round of golf at the Golf Course in Olney, Maryland.
On this Saturday afternoon, after a two-hour Government seminar, the junior class was treated to a private tour of the West Wing of the White House. They entered the White House by walking by the Situation Room, where so many important decisions have been made in country’s history.They visited the Cabinet Room, the Roosevelt Room, and the Oval Office.In the Press Briefing Room, the guys had a chance to take pictures in front of that famous blue sign that lets the world know that the speaker is at The White House. Before leaving, the guys took a group picture on the North Lawn.
One day after meeting President Bush, the students went to Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington to see the hometown Nationals take on the Toronto Blue Jays. To their delight, President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice showed up and sat not too far away.In the photo, Senior Terrell Frazier, a journalism major at Michigan State University, chats with Ray Walker, opinions editor at Knight Ridder Tribune. Terrell interned at KRT last summer and wrote articles that were published in newspapers all over the United States.
This morning, the students boarded a bus at the main gate at Georgetown University. When they arrived at a high school in suburban Maryland, they were escorted to seats on the stage. Not long after that, they leapt to their feet when they heard the announcer say, “Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States.” The 20 young men who are participating in the Institute for Responsible Citizenship sat behind President George W. Bush as he made a speech on Social Security reform. After the speech, each of them had a chance to speak to the President and shake his hand. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/06/20050623.html
Statistics show that boys are at greater risk than girls for dropping out of school, for violence and juvenile arrest. The National Association of Street Schools is developing the High Risk, High Achievement Initiative, a 3 ½ year effort beginning in four Denver-area schools, to serve 125 at-risk minority boys. The initiative will guide the boys away from destructive activities and toward positive life change. It will supplement school-day activities with after-school, summer and mentorship programs provided by Denver area partner non-profit organizations; a cohesive new year-around effort to help students catch a vision for their future, develop a moral code and achieve academically. NASS member schools have a successful 20-year track record of delivering intervention programs that get at-risk boys off the streets, into the classroom and on their way to self-sufficiency. T he Street School Model has been recognized by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as the only faith-based model of six models deemed “replicable” in the Gates Alternative High Schools Initiative.This evening, Wendy Piersee, Vice-President of Development and Operations, and Denise Lechtenberger, Director of Development, met with the Institute’s students on the Georgetown campus. They discussed the components of the new initiative and solicited the students’ continuing counsel.
 Paul J. Adams III |
 Jeanette DiBella |
This afternoon, members of the Senior class visited to Federal Courthouse for a meeting with the Honorable Douglas Ginsburg, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Chief Judge Ginsburg talked with the students about the workings of the federal judiciary and especially the types of cases that are brought in the D.C. Circuit.
Judge Ginsburg has served on the Court since 1986. He was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on September 23 of that year and confirmed by the Senate on October 8. He has served as Chief Judge since 2001.
Few judges would have been more well-suited to talk to the students. Among the entries on his resume: Professor (1975-1983) and Lecturer (1988-1989) at Harvard Law School; Visiting Professor of Law at Columbia University (1987-1988); Visiting Senior Lecturer and Charles J. Merriam Scholar at the University of Chicago Law School (1990, 1992, 1994); and Distinguished Professor of Law at George Mason University Law School (1988-1993).
He has also served as Law Clerk for the Honorable Carl McGowan in the District of Columbia Circuit (1973-1974) and the Honorable Thurgood Marshall, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court (1974-1975).
He later served as Deputy Assistant U.S. Attorney General (1983-1984) and Assistant Attorney General (1985-1986). Both appointments were in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.