AEI: JBU’s Executive Council best in nation

The American Enterprise Institute ranked John Brown University’s Executive Council, a bipartisan group of student leaders who promote meaningful discussions about today’s issues within JBU’s community, the best in the nation. The University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Baylor University and Azusa Pacific University rounded out AEI’s top 5 listing.

“I am thrilled with our students receiving this recognition,” said Jay Bruce, associate professor of philosophy. “JBU students are a pleasure to teach, and this acknowledgement shows how industrious they can be.”

The JBU Executive Council, in its inaugural year, mirrors AEI’s goal to facilitate a campus environment that welcomes students of all majors and political affiliations in addressing controversial topics or divisive ideologies and is part of AEI’s Executive Council program that includes over 80 colleges and universities across the nation with over 300 student leaders.

The JBU Executive Council is comprised of JBU student leaders Bailey Payne, junior philosophy major; Matt Logan, junior business administration major; Michael Schultz, senior international business major; Cooper Richardson, junior management major; Payton Hubbard, senior management major; Nick Le, senior accounting major; Phillip Todd, senior international business major; and Caleb Maine, senior international business major.

The team, who focused this year’s discussions on topics on economic policy, global development, and Christianity and politics, held events such as the movie screening of Poverty Inc., a debate series between the College Republicans and College Democrats, a book club over foreign policy and culture, and hosting Michael Hendrix, the senior director at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, to speak to the JBU community.

“The excitement and passion of the students on the council about the free market, competition of ideas, and informing the student body on the importance of Christian involvement in the political process played a key role in the success of our chapter,” Todd, JBU Executive Council member, said.