The Liberal Arts and the Arts of Liberty

The idea of the liberal arts is oft-misunderstood and oft-abused in contemporary society. In this panel talk, Susan McWilliams (professor of politics at Pomona College) and Linfield College student Pedro Graterol explain why the liberal arts matter to them. Graterol argues academia exists "to defeat the shadows of the world and lead the way for society." McWilliams discusses why liberal arts colleges are special and how to convey their importance in a cultural climate that pushes against the idea of liberal arts education.