College takes big steps to start new Center for the Constitution
Liz Essley
Issue date: 9/11/08 Section: News
On Tuesday Hillsdale College closed a deal to purchase a downtown Washington, D.C., building for approximately $8.6 million.
The 15,000-square-foot historic building, a few minutes' walk from the Capitol, will house the new Center for the Constitution, an institution designed to educate citizens and statesmen about constitutional principles.
Though Hillsdale faculty and staff will not occupy the building until 2010, the Center for the Constitution is already in "the formal launch period," according to David Bobb, director of the new organization. It recently hired Virginia Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, as Associate Vice President of Washington Operations.
"Ginni [Thomas] has worked in Washington for over 20 years now and knows a lot about how to get things done there," said Douglas Jeffrey, vice president for external affairs. "She'll be helping us have a wider influence in D.C. That's her role."
Thomas, who currently serves as Director of Executive Branch Relations for the Heritage Foundation, will start on Oct. 1, joining two other Center employees: Director David Bobb and Research Associate Jeff Brewer '08.
The Center for the Constitution "is trying to frame the way issues are debated," Bobb said.
"Rarely, if ever is this question asked: 'Is this law constitutional?'" he said. "[The Center's] purpose is to restore a place to that question."
The Center will target four audiences: students, general citizens, scholars and statesmen.
"[The Center] is always going to be focused on educating Hillsdale students," Bobb said. "It builds upon the success of [the Washington Hillsdale Internship Program]."
The new building will boast offices and classrooms for students in WHIP, giving them a physical location owned by the college in which to work and study.
Bobb expects WHIP enrollment to expand to 20 students per semester, starting in Fall 2009. This semester, nine students work in D.C. through WHIP.
The 15,000-square-foot historic building, a few minutes' walk from the Capitol, will house the new Center for the Constitution, an institution designed to educate citizens and statesmen about constitutional principles.
Though Hillsdale faculty and staff will not occupy the building until 2010, the Center for the Constitution is already in "the formal launch period," according to David Bobb, director of the new organization. It recently hired Virginia Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, as Associate Vice President of Washington Operations.
"Ginni [Thomas] has worked in Washington for over 20 years now and knows a lot about how to get things done there," said Douglas Jeffrey, vice president for external affairs. "She'll be helping us have a wider influence in D.C. That's her role."
Thomas, who currently serves as Director of Executive Branch Relations for the Heritage Foundation, will start on Oct. 1, joining two other Center employees: Director David Bobb and Research Associate Jeff Brewer '08.
The Center for the Constitution "is trying to frame the way issues are debated," Bobb said.
"Rarely, if ever is this question asked: 'Is this law constitutional?'" he said. "[The Center's] purpose is to restore a place to that question."
The Center will target four audiences: students, general citizens, scholars and statesmen.
"[The Center] is always going to be focused on educating Hillsdale students," Bobb said. "It builds upon the success of [the Washington Hillsdale Internship Program]."
The new building will boast offices and classrooms for students in WHIP, giving them a physical location owned by the college in which to work and study.
Bobb expects WHIP enrollment to expand to 20 students per semester, starting in Fall 2009. This semester, nine students work in D.C. through WHIP.
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