George recognized for outstanding contributions

By Jennifer Greenstein Altmann on Dec. 29, 2006, midnight

Robert George, the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence, has been awarded the 2006 Sidney Hook Memorial Award by the National Association of Scholars in recognition of outstanding contributions to academic freedom and excellence.

The award recognized George for his achievements in founding and directing the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions, established in 2000 in the politics department. The Madison program has fostered scholarly discussion of issues of American constitutional law and Western political thought and embodies "the ideals of free inquiry, open debate and civilized discourse among scholars and students of substantially differing views," according to the association.

The award was conferred Nov. 17 at the annual conference of the association, which is composed of professors, graduate students, college administrators and trustees, and independent scholars committed to rational discourse as the foundation of academic life in a free and democratic society. The award is named for Sidney Hook, a major figure in American philosophy who taught at New York University. 

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