Bolton, Ramaswamy At VMI Next Month

Two Will Debate National Security

Virginia Military Institute’s Center for Leadership and Ethics (CLE) will host a Steamboat Institute Campus Liberty Tour Debate on national security Thursday, Oct. 3, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Gillis Theater, Marshall Hall.

Since 2018, Steamboat Institute has brought debates on controversial topics of the day to college campuses, engaging conservatives, liberals and centrists. “Our focus is on teaching students — and all who attend —how to think, not what to think,” said Daniel Wagner, Campus Liberty Tour coordinator for The Steamboat Institute.

The debate resolution is: “Be it resolved, the U.S. should use its diplomatic and military power around the globe to ensure America’s national security.”

Arguing the affirmative will be John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and former U.S. National Security Adviser.

Arguing the negative will be Vivek Ramaswamy, former 2024 Republican U.S. presidential candidate and New York Times bestselling author.

Guests will have the opportunity to record their stance on the debate topic in the pre- and postdebate polls.

The moderator will be Tom Rogan, a foreign policy/national security writer for the Washington Examiner, and a Tony Blankley Senior Fellow at Steamboat Institute.

Col. David R. Gray, executive director of the CLE, stated, “The CLE is proud to host this debate as part of our 2024-25 programming where we are, in part, examining paradigm shifts in the global world order.”

Lt. Col. Kim Connolly, assistant director for conferences and programs, added, “Since 2017, we’ve incorporated a civil discourse/ debate emphasis into CLE programming.”

The debate is free and open to the public with an informal reception following. Registration is required to attend. For more information or to register, visit the event website.