Liberty University and Hampton University students meet in symposium at the Library of Congress

Liberty University and Hampton University students rallied together April 2 in the Library of Congress to exchange ideas and learn about the social impact of modern American politics. 

“This will make you a better citizen,” Robert Hurt, former congressman and executive director for Liberty’s Center of Law and Government, said. 

Hurt and Dr. Jarris Louis Taylor Jr., the director of Hampton’s William R. Harvey Leadership Institute, led the event from the stage. 

The purpose of the meeting was to get Liberty and Hampton students together to meet one another and build lifelong relationships. Leadership from Liberty and Hampton orchestrated an event in which political leaders spoke about their lives and careers and gave advice to students. 

One of those speakers was the special assistant to the president for domestic policy, Ja’Ron K. Smith. The Howard University School of Business graduate said he grew up a Democrat but changed political parties after meeting with a mentor from an internship after the Bush versus Gore election in 2000. 

“I learned a lot about what it meant to be a conservative. I had these biases; conservatives are more like the rich, and they’re racists and I was like, ‘I don’t know if that’s for me,’” Smith said, laughing. 

But Smith’s internship with Rep. J.C. Watts (OK-4) was a pivotal part of his life and journey into American politics. 

“I quickly found working for an African-American congressman, who happened to be a Republican, and was a great football player, that actually there (are) a lot of Republicans that agree with me about changing the country and individual liberty,” Smith said.

Smith worked as a stock broker in his early 20s after his internship with Watts. Then, he became a staff assistant, working various jobs in Washington, D.C. He worked as an advocate for millennials and those disenfranchised by the criminal justice system. 

Smith created the concept called Opportunity Zones, which empowers entrepreneurship in low-income communities by encouraging investment in those areas. Smith said this project fed his passion for figuring out new ways to serve individuals who can’t speak for themselves. 

“It’s been truly magical, I can tell you. I’ve some crazy experiences in the White House,” Smith said.

One of those magical moments occurred when Kanye West visited the White House. Because Smith was working on the policy discussed at the meeting, Smith coincidentally ended up in the background of photos with West. Smith laughed at how his family and friends called him and were so amazed that they saw him on TV with the Chicago-born rapper.  

“At the end of the day, I got into this business to serve. It’s been a blessing to serve and actually make change,” Smith said.    

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy also spoke at the symposium. McCarthy wore an autism awareness pin and talked to students about being a small business owner, his stance on the pro-life movement, his faith and his love for paintings.  

“What America will give is what makes America great,” McCarthy said. “When we lead, the world is safer.” 

The symposium followed the fall symposium, which was the first of its kind. Through these meetings, the two Virginian universities how to build a partnership between the two schools.