Conservatism is in good hands

What could possibly draw over 400 students back to a college campus during their summer break? Free food? Pre-season football? Jason DeRulo? 

The last thing on your mind was probably, “lectures on public policy and government” but that’s actually the correct answer. 

{mosads}Last week, over 400 conservative college students flocked to Washington D.C. for the 37^th Annual National Conservative Student Conference where they sat through dozens of lectures on everything from economics to immigration to foreign policy. 

It takes a lot for college students to trade a week at the pool for a week in the classroom.  

Certainly, the high-profile speaker lineup helped lure them to the District: Sens. Tom Cotton (R-ASrk.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), Mark Levin, Dinesh D’Souza and 35 other leaders of the conservative movement addressed attendees. 

Where else would they have an opportunity to mingle with some of the greatest minds of our time? 

But even more than the big names, the students were attracted to big ideas. 

In the midst of the current competition for leadership among high-profile conservatives, it’s easy to be distracted from substance and focus on strategy. Remarkably, however, these students voluntarily inserted themselves into the tough conversations conservative leaders need to be having.   

After coming of age during the startlingly ineffective Obama administration, students are returning to the well of moral thought. They’re seeking authenticity and truth. 

That couldn’t have been any clearer during the conference. 

Each lecture, whether by Gingrich or Cotton, concluded with a question and answer session for students. 

After r Gingrich finished his remarks, for instance, Justus Hanson, a student from Nebraska, asked Gingrich how the church can restore its status as the moral compass in American society. 

After answering Justus’ question by encouraging him to fight for religious liberty, the Speaker paused and told students, “Your generation has a chance to be the greatest generation since the Founding Fathers—and I am confident you will rise to the occasion.” 

Why is it that Gingrich feels that way? 

While the media and Beltway insiders will be preoccupied with strategy from now until November 2016, one group of Americans will be returning to the roots of their beliefs and seeking answers to the tough questions future leaders will face. 

Conservative students are studying—and it looks like the Founding Fathers might have some new competition. 

Jashinsky is the program officer at Young America’s Foundation, the principal outreach organization of the conservative movement committed to America’s youth.