Marquette University - Hilltop Yearbook (Milwaukee, WI)

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Freedom of Political Belief i OUTICA L freedom is often understood to mean the absence of governmental restraint over people who engage in politics, except insofar as those activities actually undermine the existing government. Due to man's social nature, his political freedom is of great importance to him, and the society he creates for himself must 1m? directed towards his best interests. Political freedom places many responsibilities upon each member of society. The greatest responsibility political freedom entails is that the members of that free society work towards preserving and improving it. Marquette plays a large part in preparing people for this responsibility by teaching its students the structure of our society so they will not unconsciously work against it. The students are also inspired to work for freedom and are urged to keep it in the forefront of their thinking. Besides the responsibility of working to preserve political freedom, each member of society must participate in society. It is each member's obligation to use his voice to the extent to which he is entitled and to donate whatever is rightfully expected of him to society. These are the ideas which must be placed in the hearts and minds of men and it is at Marquette that a great deal of it is done. Any freedom requires that its possessors have the knowledge of what is good so they can fulfill the responsibility which comes with that freedom. Marquette University gives the education leading to this knowledge. However, Marquette differs from many institutions in that it goes beyond the limit of scientific truths in its teachings, and stresses the philosophical and theological truths as the backbone of education. We are instructed tliat we have a moral responsibility to society rather than a merely practical one. Here at the University each of us is implanted with the basic principle that actions which arc morally right are also good for us. This principle will serve as our guide throughout our public life. Many people lack the right outlook on their obligation to society simply because they ignore or are ignorant of the fact. As a result they consider onlv material conditions when making a decision as a member of society. They fail to realize what we have been taught, namely, that man exists in a moral order, the very same order in which his rights exist, and only by observing his moral obligations does he fulfill his responsibility to society. Man is in society because he cannot achieve his greatest good by himself, even though he has a great Individual potential. As a social animal, this potential is combined with that of others in society. Here at Marquette we are taught to what acts this potential is to ! e aimed upon graduation. We will then take these lessons we have learned and follow them, thus bringing our potential into l eing. The lessons we will take with us from Marquette have

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vances freedom of expression by giving the opportunity to practice expression. In that sense, the university is a virtual spur to free expression. Especially is Marquette University a boon to free expression. Here at Marquette, we can receive a liberal education. The very essence of a liberal education is freedom—intellectual freedom, freedom from ignorance and narrow mindedness. If our minds are liberally educated, our expressions will also be liberal, for expression is an externalization of ideas. Liberal expression is just another way of saying free expression. Another notion is pertinent here. Marquette is a place of intellectual wholeness. A law student does not learn only about law, nor does a medical student study only medicine. They both acquire a common knowledge in the liberal arts. Hence they have something in common, a fact which is very significant. For this common knowledge gives them a common factor of communication. In this way, Marquette is performing a great service for the community. Marquette assures communication between various fields of endeavor by giving these various specialists something common to discuss. In thus freeing their minds from the limitation of specialty. Marquette is greatly promoting freedom of expression. It is hardly necessary to elaborate upon the other ways in which Marquette quickens freedom of expression. They are so obvious. Even time a Marquette student expresses himself in some University organization, Marquette is fostering this freedom. Class discussions, writing assignments, publications, student government, debate squads, essay contests and many other activities provide opportunities for student expression. Such enumeration is mere repetition of one very sound idea, that the way to ensure freedom of expression is to practice expression, just as the way to ensure freedom of action (virtue) is to practice virtue. Marquette has strongly adhered to this idea and is therefore a strongliold of free expression. Upon leaving Marquette, a sincere graduate cannot help but be somewhat experienced in communicating with his fellowinen. He has had the practice. More than that, be has the one thing indispensable to free expression, a mind free from the ignorance of bias and prejudice and a mind so developed that it properly sees the working proportion of freedom needed to balance the God-given autltority of Church and State. Most of all, the Marquette graduate recognizes the Source of his freedom and realizes that the truest expression, the expression that is most free, is the expression of gratitude for the gift of freedom.

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been formulated by our studies which give us the benefit of what man lias learned before us. From literature we derive the story of man. We see how he has thought. We study his emotions and aspirations. Most important, we learn that his individual character must be considered in our dealings with him. It is from ethics that we learn to apply moral principles to social rights and duties. We see our rights and obligations to domestic society and we are shown tlie nature of civil society along with its origin and forms of authority. History teaches us how man has reacted to many different social structures and how he has developed the cultural, economic and social aspects of his nature which we today must consider in our dealings in society. We discover that we are the benefactors of the many centuries of struggle which have achieved the freedom we now enjoy and must hold. The University offers its students the opportunity to study politics even further with courses offered by the Political Science department. The general principles gathered from our study of man and society, which serve as guides for all, are here applied to government in particular. Fundamental political ideas and structures are studied along with the theories and comparisons of different types of government. The Department also sponsors many interesting speeches and debates by people who are well versed in politics, instructing and preparing students for the responsibility which political freedom requires of them. These practical examples demonstrate the present condition of our society and allow students to be better prepared to enter and improve it with the education gained here. In addition to the instruction offered in the classroom, the University also gives its students a chance to experiment with politics in their own student government. Such functions as the Student Senate, Junior Class elections, Inter-Fraternity and Sorority Councils are encouraged and give all interested parties an adequate chance to practice government with the assisting guidance of the University. Marquette University does not teach that political freedom is freedom from government, but rather, that it is the right of an individual to enter into that government and help guide society to its true aim, man's perfection. It is because of this end that governing must be accompanied by the philosophical and theological principles that are stressed here.