Conservative. Arrogant. Pretentious. These words may come to mind when characterizing the Jefferson Society.
This year, however, officers are promoting diversity in preparation for membership interviews next week.
Third-year Law student and Jefferson Society Vice President Jeff Lynn said there was a time when members were viewed as "southern and good ol' boys, [but] there has been a shift to a new generation of leadership." He said he wants members to be viewed as a collection of bright kids who like to get together to talk, think and learn. "We are only elitist in the sense that we want bright and smart people who can contribute to our conversations," Lynn said.
In the past, Jefferson Society members generally have come from the same social circles because many people learned of the organization through friends. Now, however, the society is making a stronger effort to spark interest among different groups of people.
"We have talked a long time about pushing for diversity, but now we really have the motivation to work on it," he said.
Anticipating admission interviews Jan. 20-24, Jefferson Society members have been speaking to on-Grounds groups and e-mailing organization leaders. They also have left letters in student mailboxes and made the traditional postings around Grounds.
In the past, 105 to 110 students have come out to interviews, and society officers are hoping to increase the number to 160. Lasting 35 to 45 minutes, interviews involve discussions about topics of interest to the candidates.
"We are looking for someone who is intellectually curious and generally enjoys literature, history and any intellectual topic," Lynn said. "We are a very social group, but we are held together by intellectual curiosity."
To maintain its intellectual prestige, the society is looking for diversity in terms of ethnicity. But more importantly, the society is searching for a diversity of ideas and opinions. "The only way we can have strong conversations is to have people who have different experiences and viewpoints informed by those experiences," Lynn said. "Sometimes you feel like you are in a salon in Paris in the 19th century, and sometimes you feel like you are at a bar."
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