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Lots of good things go unnoticed during election weeks. Here is one good thing that should not go without notice: Last week, Hillsdale College established the Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship, and acquired a 16,000 foot building on Massachusetts Ave. NE, right near the Heritage Foundation. In temporary quarters right now, the Center will move into its new building (after renovations) in September of 2010.

Allow me to be lazy and quote from the press release, which really does cover the subject well:

"This represents an extension of Hillsdale’s historic commitment to liberal arts education and to civil and religious liberty. The primary work of the Center will be teaching Hillsdale College students who are in Washington as interns or on fellowships.  It will also offer seminars on American history and political thought, economics, literature, and other topics to interested citizens in the Washington area.... Hillsdale College President Larry P. Arnn stated:  'Hillsdale College was founded 164 years ago on the idea that learning is the surest support of liberty.  Our College has a long history of serving the nation on the basis of this idea.  So while opening a Washington campus is something new, our mission remains unchanged.'

"Unlike other colleges or universities with campuses in Washington, Hillsdale College operates independent of either federal or state taxpayer support, even indirectly in the form of student grants and loans.

"Virginia Thomas, formerly the director of executive branch relations at the Heritage Foundation, joined Hillsdale College as associate vice president of Washington operations effective October 1.  Together with David J. Bobb, director of the newly-established Center, Thomas will oversee the development and operation of Hillsdale’s Washington campus."

(Quin writing again:) Before her job at Heritage, Thomas did a superb job on the staff of then-House Majority Leader Dick Armey. Her roots in the conservative movement are deep. And, of course, she also happens to be the wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, which means that by sheer osmosis alone she is well versed in the deep regard for constitutionalism that the new Hillsdale Center will promote.

As the conservative movement struggles to claw its way out of the doldrums, look for Hillsdale's new center to provide intellectual heft and, through its interns, youthful energy to the effort. This is great stuff, and I know other conservatives join me in applauding.