Noel Brockett speaks to the Caritas Society

Noel Brockett, a graduating senior from St. John's College, was asked to speak at the Caritas Society April luncheon. This group of Friends of St. John's College “seeks to provide supplemental help to St. John's students who encounter unanticipated financial hardships and to bring the college and the local community together through programs of mutual interest.”

Brockett, who also serves as the President of OLEG (Organization for Liberal Education in Georgia) Inc., was asked to reflect on his experience at St. John's College and talk about his future plans. "I remember when I first entered seminar. I was so amazed to find people who talked seriously and honestly. The students and tutors were able to consider questions such as 'What is knowledge?' without the fear of being looked at as wasting their time." Brockett went on to say that the cornerstone of St. John's is precisely the reoccurance of the question "What is liberal education and what are its effects?"

Furthermore, Brockett shared about OLEG, its genesis and commitment to New Gelati Academy in Tbilisi. "In the fall of 2007, I got inspired by a fellow student, Nini Aduashvili, about New Gelati Academy, how it models itself on St. John's College and its goals.Together we found a group of students to participate on an organized a trip to demonstrate the St. John's curriculum with potential students and faculty of New Gelati. I went for three weeks and fell in love with the country and the liberal arts again. A few months later, I found myself the President of a soon to be nonprofit organization and devoting the coming years of my life to a small country which I had only heard of a year before." Brockett explained how the mission has spread to more students and OLEG plans to take 15 students for an intense study of Georgian philosophy and art in the summer of 2009 .

Concluding his talk, Brockett raised questions about the role of students and the college with similar liberal arts programs. "Now we see the conversation arising: What is the role for the college in outside projects that work with their style of liberal arts? The primary concern of the college is to create an environment of learning, of true leisure in which its students can thrive. Would such outside projects endanger the leisure afforded to the college community? What can the college, a place of leisure, do ? What ought we do?" Brockett, remained hopeful that this conversation would be fruitful at St. John's, "Here[at St. John's] we recognize that ideas are communicable and have the unique existence only in their exchange between human beings. We commune through the 'back and forth' of our speech and it is conversation in its fullest sense that is the gift of St. John's."

OLEG Completes "Georgia on My Mind" jazz concert

The "Georgia On My Mind" jazz benefit concert was successfully held by OLEG (Organization for Liberal Education in Georgia) student group on March 28th, 2009 at FSK Auditorium at St. John's College. The music by Luke Russell and Hod O'brien was fantastic and we want to thank them both for being there with us. There was delicious food and ice cream (donated by Kilwins) on sale during the event, which was enjoyed by all. We want to thank all of you who came to support the music and the students working with OLEG. Together we raised about $1,200 for OLEG, Inc.! Of course we have to thank the students that helped make the event possible, one in particular, Charmaine Benham. Pictures and videos from the event will be posted here soon.

Thank you again and we look forward to sharing more with you.

Sincerely the OLEG team

(Pictured Hod O'brien. Photo is courtesy of Ryan Meadows)