On Campus
campus visitors
(top and above) Students talk with Cornel West and Robert George at Upper School Assembly (top right and right) Students learn from visiting authors at the Literary Festival
Cornel West and Robert George In a world of increasingly polarized viewpoints, two world-renowned professors are on a mission to promote civil discourse. Cornel West of Columbia University and Robert George of Princeton University consider each other close friends and respected colleagues, even as they identify on opposite sides of the political spectrum. The pair returned to St. Mark’s and presented a special Upper School Assembly titled “TruthSeeking, Democracy, and Freedom of Thought and Expression.” In their talk, the duo discussed the importance of respecting others and learning to listen. As Professor George told the students, “Let’s get back to fundamentals here: virtues like openness of mind, willingness to acknowledge one’s own fallibility, and the recognition that one could be wrong, even about deep, important things.” In addition to their Upper School Assembly, the pair also had lunch with members of the Senior Class and visited Lower School classrooms.
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On Campus | THE PRIDE
Literary Festival St. Mark’s hosted five incredible writers at the 15th annual Literary Festival: •
Journalist Josh Harkinson ’95
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Bestselling science writer Sam Kean
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Novelist Christopher Boucher
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Slam poet Sherrie Zantea
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Bestselling memoirist Rhoda Janzen (2022 Brent P. Johnson ’89 Guest Writer)
The writers spent two days visiting with classes across campus, from Journalism to Environmental Science. During a special Upper School Assembly, the five writers also delved deeper into their inspirations, writing processes, and the steps that led each down their career paths. The broader Dallas community also had the chance to hear from these special guests at the evening Writers’ Forum.
St. Mark’s School of Texas
