National Media Set to Converge Upon Ann Arbor for the
Debate of the Year: Is America Exceptional?

What: A debate on the topic, “What’s So Exceptional About America?”

When: February 3, 6:00 PM EST

Where: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor & LIVE online

The University of Michigan’s chapter of Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) will host a debate between #1 New York Times bestselling author and conservative superstar Dinesh D’Souza and liberal activist Bill Ayers on February 3 at 6:00 p.m. The event will held in the Michigan League Ballroom at 9 11 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. It will also be available live online. The debate will be moderated by Dr. Andrew D Martin, Dean of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts and Professor of Political Science and Statistics.

D’Souza and Ayers will debate the topic, “What’s So Exceptional About America?”

The event is sponsored by the U-M Central Student Government, Young America’s Foundation, University of Michigan American Culture Department, among others.

Many claim that America’s college campuses have are plagued with political correctness, a problem that is preventing critical-thinking on the issues of the day. Michigan YAF’s decision to organize this event, bringing together outspoken figureheads of two sides of the American ideological spectrum for a serious conversation, is fostering an environment of debate, which colleges across the country should adopt.

This event is expected to generate national media coverage and large crowds on campus.

For more information or to interview Grant Strobl, Dinesh D’Souza or Bill Ayers, contact Grant Strobl at [email protected] or (586) 549-6764.

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Students Vow to Hold Event Despite Past Intimidation Campaigns

Oct. 1, 2015, Ann Arbor, Mich. – UM-Ann Arbor will host a screening and panel discussion on Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. of the groundbreaking documentary Honor Diaries, which breaks the silence on “honor” violence against girls and women in Muslim-majority societies around the world. The event will take place in the Pendleton Room of the Michigan Union, 530 S. State St.

The screening and discussion, hosted by the campus’ Young Americans for Freedom, aims to educate students, faculty and others about honor-based violence explored in Honor Diaries, such as honor killings, female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage. The event is also receiving financial sponsorship by the University of Michigan Central Student Government.

In the U.S., more than 500,000 girls and women are at risk of FGM; that figure is more than 3 million worldwide. Michigan is among 26 states lacking laws against FGM. An estimated 25 to 28 honor killings reportedly take place in the United States annually and more than 20,000 worldwide.

The panel discussion will showcase Raheel Raza, a progressive Muslim human rights activist and president of the Council for Muslims Facing Tomorrow. Raheel is featured prominently in Honor Diaries in which nine women who are Muslim or have roots in Muslim cultures delve into honor violence issues in a salon-style setting (see trailer).

In the past, screenings of the award-winning film organized at UM-Dearborn and other universities have been canceled following criticism and intimidation campaigns. Hosts of the upcoming event have vowed not to give in to such tactics.

“This event will raise awareness and encourage action against oppression and violence against women throughout the world,” said UM-Ann Arbor sophomore Grant Strobl, chairman of Young Americans for Freedom. "It is our responsibility as Americans to promote freedom and equality in societies that currently treat women as second-class citizens.”

Said Paula Kweskin, producer and writer of Honor Diaries and a human rights attorney, “It’s time to put an end to gender-based persecution, and we stand with the UM students courageously educating their peers and the community about these ongoing abuses.”

The event is free and open to the public. For more information or to interview Grant Strobl, Paula Kweskin or Raheel Raza, contact [email protected] or (734) 823-7813.

We are excited to announce that our chapter is YAF's 2015 College Chapter of the Year! With this recognition, we are awarded a $5,000 grant to bring in a prominent conservative speaker for a campus lecture during the 2015-2016 academic year!

From YAF.com:

This was YAF's first year back at the University of Michigan, and the chapter quickly became the preeminent group on campus for advancing conservative ideas. The group not only organized Young America's Foundation's flagship projects such as the 9/11: Never Forget Project, Freedom Week, and No More Che Day, but it also brought to campus speakers such as Jonah Goldberg, Deroy Murdock, and George Harbison, drawing hundreds of attendees and national media coverage. 

The chapter was truly on the frontlines, fighting campus leftists on news media outlets across the country and leading the charge against biased professors and liberal activists. Doing so, the chapter had various national and local television appearances, dozens of radio interviews, and  print and online media articles. The three things that they have pioneered that have gained the most traction were their opposition of professor Susan Douglas, their event with Jonah Goldberg, and their successful efforts defending 'American Sniper' on campus.

The chapter's first major fight was its opposition of Susan Douglas, a University of Michigan department chair who wrote an article criticizing the intelligence of conservatives and arguing that others should "hate" conservatives. University of Michigan YAF exposed this professor by sending out a statement to its press list and taking the story across the state and country. The chapter's efforts leading the charge on this was featured in all local media outlets and several national ones including The Washington Times and Fox & Friends, where Chairman Grant Strobl was a guest.

The second large controversy stemmed from the chapter's event featuring Jonah Goldberg where, ironically, 'the liberal thought police' stole the group's advertisement warning of 'the liberal thought police.' This irony was featured online and helped to draw a crowd of over 150 attendees. Following the event, Goldberg wrote a column discussing the event titled "The University of Michigan's Tolerance Problem." This column was featured in the LA Times, New York Post, and National Review,  among others.

The chapter's final fight emerged from the cancellation of a screening of the film American Sniper by the university due to a petition circulated by the Muslim Student Association claiming that Chris Kyle, the film's protagonist and a military hero, was a racist. The chapter coordinated the release of the story, published a statement, and immediately created a petition to bring the film back. Within a day, the chapter was able to turn this into a national issue, garnering the support of over 650 students and alumni. Ultimately, the chapter's efforts brought the screening back, capitalized by the proud support of University of Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh. The chapter's efforts were featured in the New York Post, Daily Mail, Fox News, Breitbart, Daily Caller, Time, and other outlets. Additionally, two of the chapter's officers appeared on Fox & Friends to discuss this controversy. In the end, over 150 students came to watch the film screening.

University of Michigan YAF is influencing debate on an overwhelmingly liberal campus by boldly advancing conservative principles and ideas, and it is making headlines by doing so. The chapter's leaders and members are excited and primed to top their efforts thus far during the upcoming academic year.

U of M Brings Back American Sniper Screening: Statement from YAF

ANN ARBOR, MI - Today in a statement from E. Royster Harper, University of Michigan vice president for student life, it was announced that the movie American Sniper will be screened on Friday at UMix in the original location at the original time (http://publicaffairs.vpcomm.umich.edu/statement-regarding-american-sniper-movie/). Grant Strobl, Chairman of the University of Michigan Young Americans for Freedom chapter is excited to hear of the result. Grant also sits on the National Board of Governors of Young Americans for Freedom.

“Thank you to all of the students and alumni that signed our petition and Coach Harbaugh for showing support for the movie screening. The movie is is now being played: democracy, free expression, and common sense have prevailed,” Grant Strobl.

Petition: https://csg.umich.edu/upetition/p/americansniper

Young Americans for Freedom is a student group at the University of Michigan that advocates for the conservative ideas of free enterprise, limited government and a strong national defense.

For more information:

Grant Strobl, (586) 549-6764, [email protected]

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U of M Cancels American Sniper Screening: Statement from YAF

ANN ARBOR, MI - On Tuesday, the University of Michigan Center for Campus Involvement canceled a screening of American Sniper set for this Friday after petitions from the Muslim Student Association (MSA) on campus (http://www.thecollegefix.com/post/21937/). Today, Derek Draplin, Editor in Chief of the Michigan Review, who broke this story and Grant Strobl, Chairman of Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) at the University of Michigan, are issuing a statement regarding this decision.

“The only place the MSA is getting their presuppositions from is propaganda, rather than the content of this film. This film is about the grime face of war that has sent so many veterans home with mental damage that their families must deal with,” says Derek Draplin, Editor in Chief of the Michigan Review. “It is about an American Hero who gave everything to serve his country and protect our freedoms. The MSA is subverting reality by claiming otherwise.”

"It is deplorable that the University of Michigan would even consider the complaint submitted to them by the MSA let alone cave to their demands, due to its abhorrently offensive attitude towards a war hero who they label as a ‘murderer.’ I speak for many students when I say that having an organization that would say such things on our campus is what fosters a hostile campus environment, not a film featuring the story of a decorated war hero," Grant Strobl said.

He continued, “We are calling on the University of Michigan to act quickly to overturn this decision and proudly show the film American Sniper. This is not a political issue, or an issue of racism and bigotry as claimed so ridiculously by the MSA and legitimized by the University's actions. This is about doing what is right, respecting our men and women in uniform, and honoring our heroes who fight to protect our freedoms and secure them for people around the world.”

Young Americans for Freedom is a student group at the University of Michigan that advocates for the conservative ideas of free enterprise, limited government and a strong national defense.

For more information: http://www.yafumich.com/press 

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February 4, 2015 - Ann Arbor, MI – A paid billboard at the University of Michigan was stolen, advertising for an event headlined by conservative political commentator and New York Times best-selling author Jonah Goldberg next week. Ironically the stolen sign had with the words “Warning, Liberal Thought Police” (Click here to view sign). The conservative student group Young Americans for Freedom is sponsoring the event. 

Grant Strobl, Chairman of the Young Americans for Freedom at the University of Michigan says, “It is ironic a sign warning of the liberal thought police, was potentially stolen by the liberal thought police. We have filed a report with the real police, and when we find out who did this, we will be pursuing action to the fullest extent of the law.” 

The 4’x6’ canvas billboard was placed in front of the University of Michigan Union. The canvas itself was valued at $50, and the advertising space purchased from the University of Michigan was valued at $30. 

Jonah Goldberg’s upcoming address will take place February 12th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Rackham Amphitheater. The campus police will monitor the replacement signs until the event to ensure that they remain intact. Young Americans for Freedom hopes that the University will remain a campus in which a wide arrange of viewpoints are tolerated, and where constructive dialogue is encouraged, rather than stifled. 

This past semester was YAF’s first semester back on campus, and we have accomplished quite a few things!

1. 2,977 flag memorial to commemorate the lives lost on 9/11/2001, featured on every media outlet in Detroit
2. No More Che Day tabling that was featured on a Cuban-American US Congressperson’s twitter
3. World Freedom Day building and tearing down of a mock Berlin Wall, fortunate enough to receive the attention from a few communist protesters
4. Sending four members to Santa Barbara California to Ronald Reagan’s Ranch, and four members to the YAF Headquarters near D.C. to our training seminar
5. Bringing BP Executive and UM alum Howard Beatty to speak
6. Getting coverage on the Fox News Channel, the Washington Times, and nearly all Detroit Media outlets regarding the Communications Chair and University of Michigan Professor that made hateful remarks toward conservatives.

Not bad for our first semester right? Next semester will be even bigger for our group!

1. Jonah Goldberg, Contributing Editor of the National Review, will be speaking on February 12th at 7:00 PM in the Rackham Amphitheatre on his book: Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left
2. We will be making a trip to CPAC in Washington DC (Click here to singup: http://goo.gl/b7WX5N). CPAC will take place February 26 to 28, 2015 at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. By volunteering for YAF for three 3-hour shifts over the course of CPAC, you will receive room for THREE nights (February 26, 27, and 28) at the Westin Washington National Harbor (really nice). You will also attend a Young Americans for Freedom dinner banquet (at the Westin Washington National Harbor hotel) on the night of Thursday, February 26 and participate in YAF group photos at a time and on a date to be decided.
3. Activism Training Seminar at YAF’s new headquarters Feb 6-7 (Click here to sign up: http://goo.gl/a4deJF)
4. George Harbison, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Trident University will be speaking on the Failures of the Buffett Rule
5. Tabling at Winterfest at UMich (Tuesday, January 14th from 4pm - 8pm)
6. A regional conference in Wisconsin TBA
7. MORE SPEAKERS TBA!

Let’s continue to build our group, and make an even larger impact on campus!

Happy New Year!

-The YAF Officer Team