Lee University’s Center for Responsible Citizenship (CRC) hosted its 10th annual Symposium, exploring the theme of “Statesmanship and Tyranny,” on Friday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 11.
 
The event examined the challenges and opportunities of leadership within political communities.
 
The symposium featured a series of Socratic-style discussion seminars, including Lee undergraduates, alumni, faculty, and members of the local community. Drawing on readings from authors such as Aristotle, Alexis de Tocqueville, and George Washington, attendees reflected on how statesmen ought to conduct themselves and how citizens should respond to political authority.
 
Guests from four different colleges and universities joined the discussions, contributing diverse perspectives on the challenges of leadership and civic virtue. The keynote lecture, delivered Friday evening by Dr. Flagg Taylor, inaugural director of the Center for Civics, Culture, and Society at Miami University, examined the relationship between revolution and tyranny—specifically contrasting the American Revolution with the French and Bolshevik Revolutions.
 
The Symposium brought together more than 65 participants for readings, lectures, and conversations aimed at fostering ongoing reflection on the meaning of responsible Christian citizenship in a complex world. The CRC is grateful for the continued support of Lee University, its alumni, the Jack Miller Center, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, the Institute for Humane Studies, and members of the broader Cleveland community.
 
The CRC will host a guest lecture in spring 2026 and continues its weekly reading group to discuss questions of statesmanship in an informal and thoughtful setting.
 
For more information about the Center for Responsible Citizenship and its upcoming events, visit leeucrc.com or contact [email protected].