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Videos by Samantha Schroeder

As one of the most consequential decisions in the history of the Supreme Court, Roe v. Wade artic... more As one of the most consequential decisions in the history of the Supreme Court, Roe v. Wade articulated the right to abortion as a fundamental right. Though it is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, the concept of a fundamental right to privacy played a key role in the arguments. Where did this landmark case originate, why was the opinion framed the way it was, and how did the Supreme Court advance from the right to privacy to the right to abortion?

In this documentary, six law professors discuss how and why Roe v. Wade made it to the Supreme Court, the legal foundations for the case, and its impact on the American legal system.

What advice does Alexis de Tocqueville offer to Americans on questions of liberty and equality? J... more What advice does Alexis de Tocqueville offer to Americans on questions of liberty and equality? James Poulos explains what Americans can learn about themselves from Tocqueville's "Democracy in America" and how the rootedness of our hearts can secure our own liberty in a changing democratic society.

In "The Art of Being Free: How Alexis de Tocqueville Can Save Us from Ourselves" (2017), journalist and scholar James Poulos translates Tocqueville’s advice for a contemporary audience, illuminating us on how Tocqueville views the relationship friendship between friendship and freedom in today's society.

Thirty years after the decision in Morrison v. Olson, questions raised in Justice Antonin Scalia’... more Thirty years after the decision in Morrison v. Olson, questions raised in Justice Antonin Scalia’s lone dissent continue to inform legal debate on the separation of powers and the unitary executive. Some scholars consider Justice Scalia’s dissent to be his finest opinion. What can today’s law school students learn from Scalia’s dissent? Did Justice Scalia err in his reasoning? How do the issues still resonate in American politics today?

Professor Gary Lawson of Boston University School of Law, Professor Richard Pildes of New York University School of Law, and Theodore Olson of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher discuss Morrison v. Olson and the lasting impact of Justice Scalia’s lone dissent.

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One hundred years ago today, women gained the right to vote via the Nineteenth Amendment. Why did... more One hundred years ago today, women gained the right to vote via the Nineteenth Amendment. Why didn’t the Constitution grant women suffrage? And how did the suffragists obtain the right to vote? Heather Higgins, Chairman of the Independent Women’s Forum and CEO of Independent Women’s Voice, explores the history of the Nineteenth Amendment.

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When King John signed Magna Carta in 1215, he was responding to the demands of rebellious barons.... more When King John signed Magna Carta in 1215, he was responding to the demands of rebellious barons. Over the centuries, however, Magna Carta has become a cornerstone of Western legal thought.

What is Magna Carta, and how has it influenced the US Constitution and American law? Charles Eskridge of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP considers this seminal legal document and its storied history.

The American founders considered Magna Carta to be their most important inheritance because it en... more The American founders considered Magna Carta to be their most important inheritance because it enshrined the basic rights of Englishmen. In particular, the founders were committed to the idea of “due process of law” and the right to a trial by jury. Although these principles were actually quite limited in England, America’s founders augmented these rights and enshrined them in the Constitution. In this No. 86 video, Professor Renée Lettow Lerner explains the relationship between Magna Carta and the right to trial by jury in the U.S. Constitution.

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Upon the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865, many Americans thought that slavery ha... more Upon the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865, many Americans thought that slavery had been abolished once and for all. Frederick Douglass, however, argued that “slavery is not abolished until the black man has the ballot.” His fight to secure the vote transformed not only the Constitution, but what it meant to be an American.

Where did the founding ideas of Washington, Madison, and Jefferson find their origins? How did Am... more Where did the founding ideas of Washington, Madison, and Jefferson find their origins? How did America come to be the preeminent example of the sovereignty of the people? Four professors discuss how the foundational ideas behind this unique political experiment can be traced back to two extraordinary thinkers: John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu.

What can a nineteenth-century Frenchman teach us about modern America? Author James Poulos presen... more What can a nineteenth-century Frenchman teach us about modern America? Author James Poulos presents his case for reading Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America."

Discover the story of James Madison, the Founding Father who gave us the Constitution and the Bil... more Discover the story of James Madison, the Founding Father who gave us the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. In this new FedSoc Films documentary, learn how he wrote a new nation into existence and unified the people behind ideals that would change the course of history.

Essays by Samantha Schroeder

Dietrich von Hildebrand’s memoir of resistance against the Nazis compels us to wonder how we woul... more Dietrich von Hildebrand’s memoir of resistance against the Nazis compels us to wonder how we would have responded in the face of similar evils. Would we have the courage to speak the truth in love? Or would we sit back silently in fear?

Last week was Fashion Week in New York, and beyond the stories of designers and celebrities a per... more Last week was Fashion Week in New York, and beyond the stories of designers and celebrities a persistent question arose: Are smartphones and social media killing the spectacle of the fashion runway show?

Millennials are bombarded with the message that casual sex brings fulfillment while chastity is s... more Millennials are bombarded with the message that casual sex brings fulfillment while chastity is shameful, but a closer look reveals the profound loneliness and psychological pain motivating sexual libertinism’s most outspoken advocates. Millennials would choose differently if they realized the positive benefits of chastity.

Today's #TechStyle looks a lot like Fritz Lang's "Metropolis"

By dropping our digital masks and, in the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, letting ourselves be... more By dropping our digital masks and, in the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, letting ourselves be “tamed,” we become “unique in all the world.” Truly loving another person draws us beyond ourselves.

If it weren’t for the angelic medical school student sitting behind me on my flight, I might neve... more If it weren’t for the angelic medical school student sitting behind me on my flight, I might never have made it out of the airport.

In this age of relativism, events like the Olympics are among the last bastions of aesthetic stan... more In this age of relativism, events like the Olympics are among the last bastions of aesthetic standards in professional performance.

Any American woman looking to criticize Melania for her minor role in the politics of Donald Trum... more Any American woman looking to criticize Melania for her minor role in the politics of Donald Trump’s campaign should look back in time to another decidedly “retro” First Lady who nevertheless had an outsize impact on American political culture: Jackie Kennedy.

We should not rule out the potential of a significant encounter merely because the origin of its ... more We should not rule out the potential of a significant encounter merely because the origin of its occasion is behind a screen.

Lewis H. Lapham of Hearst Magazine fame is a man on a mission. Recently at an event in Washington... more Lewis H. Lapham of Hearst Magazine fame is a man on a mission. Recently at an event in Washington, D.C. sponsored by the Hirshhorn Museum, called “Days of Endless Time,” Mr. Lapham plumbed the depths of time in lighthearted, humorous banter with two writers. The conversation gave a peek into the rich literary world of Mr. Lapham’s New York-based magazine, Lapham’s Quarterly.

In this documentary, six law professors discuss how and why Roe v. Wade made it to the Supreme Court, the legal foundations for the case, and its impact on the American legal system.

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Today's #TechStyle looks a lot like Fritz Lang's "Metropolis"

For those unaware of #ThisCatholicGirl-gate, Chase Padusniak, like many a social media-savvy Cath... more For those unaware of #ThisCatholicGirl-gate, Chase Padusniak, like many a social media-savvy Catholic, developed a “Twitter-Relationship”, as it were, with (who he thought was) a cute Catholic college student who broadcast her Catholicism across various social media platforms. Speaking in Christian platitudes and hitting all the Catholic buzzwords, #ThisCatholicGirl drew Chase into her idealistic Catholic fantasy until he was stung by the venom of her deception upon discovering her ruse. One devout Catholic was catfishing another.

One of the more interesting questions left unanswered by the Democratic National Convention last ... more One of the more interesting questions left unanswered by the Democratic National Convention last week is an aesthetic one: Why did Hillary Clinton wear an all-white pantsuit?

In the early morning hours in Cleveland, Ohio—the day before the start of the Republican National... more In the early morning hours in Cleveland, Ohio—the day before the start of the Republican National Convention this week—100 women gathered for a photography session/political protest. Unlike most protestors at the convention, however, these women were completely naked.

Last weekend at the Cannes film festival, actress Julia Roberts caused a stir when she ascended t... more Last weekend at the Cannes film festival, actress Julia Roberts caused a stir when she ascended the red carpet stairs without her shoes on.

One year ago this month, I wrote a long letter to a person I’ve never met who I happened to disco... more One year ago this month, I wrote a long letter to a person I’ve never met who I happened to discover on Instagram. I don’t recall when or how I first encountered his profile, or what post initially prompted me to follow him. What I do remember is scrolling through his digital album of photographs and being impressed. His Instagram is a montage of beauty: architecture from Brazil, Portugal and Rome; statues, paintings, and books—each paired with an inspiring quote or prayer and hashtag.

Two weeks ago while walking the streets of Rome in my platform cork wedges, my right shoe hit the... more Two weeks ago while walking the streets of Rome in my platform cork wedges, my right shoe hit the cobblestones at just the wrong angle and I broke my foot. A thirteen-dollar pair of Franco Sarto platform wedges I scored in Georgetown ruined my first trip to Rome, all so my short-ish self (5’2”) could stand a little taller as I walked the streets of Italy after midnight. Was it worth it? I think not.

As wedding season looms, it’s worth reconsidering some of our more materialistic marriage rituals... more As wedding season looms, it’s worth reconsidering some of our more materialistic marriage rituals, especially the expectation that a woman should receive an enormous engagement ring. In an age that prioritizes weddings over marriages and has no qualms about the idea of a “starter marriage,” it should come as no surprise that we’ve embraced the idea of super-size engagement rings. Celebrities frequently post pictures of their gargantuan rings, and social media has made comparing rings a kind of competitive sport among some recently-engaged women. Some people have even (defensively) referred to their rings as “starter rings,” clearly intent on upgrading the ring as soon as possible.

In Croatia there is a warehouse of discarded objects masquerading as artifacts called the Museum ... more In Croatia there is a warehouse of discarded objects masquerading as artifacts called the Museum of Broken Relationships. The conceit of the museum is this: Disgruntled lovers around the world share objects from past love affairs along with details about how the objects tell the story behind the demise of the relationship. The museum, which contrasts itself with “destructive self-help instructions for recovery from failed loves,” claims to offer “a chance to overcome an emotional collapse through creation: by contributing to the Museum’s collection.” It’s evidently popular; the museum recently won the Kenneth Hudson Award for the Most Innovative Museum in Europe. And it’s traveling to Los Angeles this spring.

The cover of a special edition of Vogue this month features a twenty-year-old old Kardashian sist... more The cover of a special edition of Vogue this month features a twenty-year-old old Kardashian sister named Kendall. Ms. Jenner has been dubbed the “it” girl of Instagram, or the superstar of “the Instagirl era” by the fashion magazine.

Many married people I know have advised me that choosing whom I will eventually marry is the most... more Many married people I know have advised me that choosing whom I will eventually marry is the most important decision I’ll ever make in my life. But how to go about making that choice? In a world of online dating sites and apps like Tinder, which emphasize quantity over quality and speed over thoughtfulness, where can we find examples of a less frenetic style of courtship? The Oscar-nominated film Brooklyn explores this question in one of the most honest, accurate portrayals of the complexities of falling in love I’ve seen on a screen.

Fashion is a three trillion dollar a year industry with a 100% participation rate. So how do comp... more Fashion is a three trillion dollar a year industry with a 100% participation rate. So how do companies like Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, and Christian Louboutin promote their brands globally while still protecting their designs?

To what extent are creators, from individual fashion designers to million-dollar brands, protected under intellectual property law? How do you balance protecting IP with fostering innovation? Lawyers, law professors, and industry experts discuss the role of intellectual property in the fashion industry, explaining three recent cases that continue to spark debate on design protection in the United States.

Can the design features of a useful article of clothing be copyrighted? Sandra Aistars, Clinical ... more Can the design features of a useful article of clothing be copyrighted? Sandra Aistars, Clinical Professor at George Mason University School of Law, explains the dispute between Star Athletica and Varsity Brands over the graphic design elements of cheerleading uniforms. The Supreme Court will hear the oral argument on October 31, 2016.

A philosophical study of love is highly relevant today, since the sciences have not adequately an... more A philosophical study of love is highly relevant today, since the sciences have not adequately answered the perennial question: What is love? Since the time of Socrates, the idea of love and the conception of the human heart have been devalued by thinkers who, by definition, are known as "lovers of wisdom." Considered pejoratively as "the passions, " the subject of emotion was deemed inferior to thought centered upon the human faculty of reason. Many studies in the sciences, from biology to psychology, claim to have pointed us to the source of the human experience of love--but do they help us to understand love properly? In order to provide a full consideration of love in my philosophical research, I will focus my analysis on love under the philosophical lens of phenomenology. Known as the study of firsthand human experience, phenomenology became the influential school of thought for many German philosophers in the early twentieth century. My research will closely examine the writings of Max Scheler, Dietrich von Hildebrand, and Jean-Luc Marion within the context of this tradition. Moving from a justification of love in philosophy to the topic of self-love, I hope to define effectively what it means to love another. I shall also attempt to disambiguate the common assumptions regarding the nature of love. Is there a fundamental difference between the phenomenon of "falling in love" and of love itself? I question whether love, in its essence, is defined by the element of choice--of a willful emotional giving of oneself to another--and whether it can be distinguished from a passive feeling and an active loving will. I aim to bring the human affective sphere into the full light of philosophical inquiry, considering whether love is a moral act of the will that involves a total participation of the self--in mind, body, and spirit. Love is arguably the most powerful of the human emotions, one that elevates the human sphere of emotions and the ethical existence beyond simple desire.

Every summer I revisit Eric Rohmer's collection of short stories, Six Moral Tales, and the six fi... more Every summer I revisit Eric Rohmer's collection of short stories, Six Moral Tales, and the six films adapted from his works of fiction. Two of the stories and films are my quintessential summer tales-Claire's Knee (Le Genou du Claire) and La Collectioneuse. The cinematography by Nestor Almendros features the French Cote d'Azure and the Alps like you've never seen them before. The stories are all centered on relationships between the sexes. Claire's Knee presents a soon-to-be-married bachelor with wandering eyes and the two young women he fancies; La Collectioneuse presents two men vying for the attention of the coquettish temptress Haydee who seems plucked from Byron's poem, Don Juan, and dropped on a beach in Saint-Tropez.

Despite the many social media interactions that comprise many of our everyday encounters with men... more Despite the many social media interactions that comprise many of our everyday encounters with men, you can cultivate an intentional approach to dating in the digital age. Here are four tips to keeping up a good old-fashioned courtship online.

It's the peak of summer, and you find yourself utterly single. You've maximized your season of so... more It's the peak of summer, and you find yourself utterly single. You've maximized your season of solitude and you're ready to emerge from your chamber for a date with a stranger. Since most millennial men have forsaken the in-person art of picking up women, many of us have taken to online dating apps, such as Tinder and Coffee Meets Bagel. Men have started asking you out for coffee, drinks, even dinner. If you prefer double or group dates to the solo outing, this can be quite the stressful situation. How are you to prepare for a journey into the center of the online dating world? Here are my 5 tips for venturing out into that ambigous ether of the online date.

The history of the Catholic Church is notable for its litany of penitent saints who have taken th... more The history of the Catholic Church is notable for its litany of penitent saints who have taken their fasts- locusts, honey, Ezekiel bread- as seriously as they have taken their feasts. When I informed my family of my decision to convert to Catholicism after five years on the edge, their response was that of reluctant resignation as they wondered why I would sign up for a faith so strict in its manners and morals.

Millennials are bombarded with the message that casual sex brings fulfillment while chastity is s... more Millennials are bombarded with the message that casual sex brings fulfillment while chastity is shameful, but a closer look reveals the profound loneliness and psychological pain motivating sexual libertinism's most outspoken advocates. Millennials would choose differently if they realized the positive benefits of chastity.