Balanced Inclusion: Creating a Space for Conservative Perspectives

Join Pitt Business for a 10-week series where we discuss the writings of William F. Buckley, Jr., Milton Friedman, Jonathan Haidt and others. We will look at the liberal-conservative dichotomy through a business lens. Participants can share writings that support or disagree with the week’s topic. It’s not simply opinions; it’s a discussion based on scholarly writings. This topic has a profound impact on society, and we invite everyone on campus to attend.

Paul T. Harper, Associate Dean for Inclusion, Engagement, and International Affairs at Pitt Business, will lead the sessions. He previously received the University’s 2021 Provost Award for Diversity in Curriculum.

Students, staff, faculty, alumni, and members of the Pittsburgh community are invited to join this virtual program. Engaging with the provided texts beforehand will enhance conversations, counterarguments supported by evidence are welcome. Please maintain respect for others and their views to ensure a productive dialogue.

You are encouraged to watch the Youtube videos Dr. Harper has created:

• Goals & Objectives for the Series
• Episodes and Format
• You are the audience

Register for one or all of the sessions!

Session Dates and Topics:

• January 22 | Series Introduction Becoming Right: How Campuses Shape Young Conservatives (2013) – Amy Binder and Kate Wood.
  • Here is the reading for this session.
• January 28 | God & Men at Yale (1951) – William F. Buckley Jr.
  • Here is the reading and a worksheet for this session.
• February 4 | The Conscience of a Conservative (1960) – Barry Goldwater
  • Here is the reading for this session.
• February 11 | Reflections on Little Rock (1959) – Hannah Arendt
  • Here is the reading for this session.
• February 18 | Why I am Not a Conservative from The Constitution of Liberty (1960) – F.A. Hayek
  • Here is the reading for this session.
• February 25 | The Moynihan Report (1965) – Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan POSTPONED
  • Here is the reading for this session.
• March 18 | “A Friedman Doctrine: The social responsibility of business is to increase its profits.” (1970) – Milton Friedman
  • There are two readings for this session. The first reading. The second reading.
• March 25 | Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism (1976) – Daniel Bell
  • Here is the reading for this session.
• April 1 | Closing of the American Mind (1987) – Allan Bloom
  • Here is the reading for this session.
• April 8 | The Coddling of the American Mind (2018) – Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt
  • Here is the reading for this session.