Why Policy Studies?

I love economics. My training as an economist allows me to deal with a large number of variables, reduce them to some primary principles, and bring an acceptable degree of order to the world in which I operate. In short, economics provides a process of modeling and simplification, a classic example of vertical thinking. The benefits of vertical thinking are
unassailable; the world can surely benefit from skilled model builders. Then, why policy studies? What does a trans-disciplinary program have to offer that is distinct from a discipline-based degree program, such as economics or physics or art?

Lafayette’s policy studies program exists to encourage lateral thinking. Lateral thinking needs to
reach across disciplines to look for solutions and plans of action under complex and uncertain
conditions, when new and nontraditional alternatives are needed. The mission of the policy
studies program is to accommodate students and faculty who want to exercise and improve their lateral cognitive ability. This report catalogs activities and accomplishments during 2007 and illustrates our efforts to encourage lateral thinking.

Highlights include:

Former President of El Salvador Francisco Flores spent two days at Lafayette and attracted an audience of over 400 for his lecture, “Making Small Nations Great through the Principles of Freedom.”

Our “Visions of the Energy Future” conference, co-sponsored with the IEEE’s Power Engineering Society, featured experts representing major energy sources as well as renewable energy sources.

Nicholas Kristof, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and New York Times columnist, spoke on the tragedy in Darfur.

The “Facing the Chinese Century” conference brought to Lafayette five panels of worldrenowned
experts on Chinese affairs, covering topics ranging from East Asian security to China’s demographic shifts.

The lecture by Washington Post reporter and author Juliet Eilperin addressed one of the most challenging technical issues facing today’s policy makers: climate change and environmental quality.

Finally, students enrolled in the Introduction to Policy Studies course traveled to Washington,
D.C., to hear 10 prominent governmental affairs professionals address topics ranging from the Patent Reform Act, to the politics of the broadcast industry, to diplomacy markets.

These activities were made possible by a generous gift from J. Peter Simon ’75; his moral support and good counsel meant as much. Members of our alumni Steering Committee, chaired by Fred Benson ’59, continue to give their time and talent selflessly to our academic enterprise. Chris Caine ’78, Bill Rutledge ’63, and Steve Pryor ’71 contributed to the life of our program beyond any reasonable expectation. Lafayette’s success in upholding its core values is most fully realized through such alumni support and participation.