Ike’s Anvil: Eisenhower Institute Calls for Student Voices on Public Policy and Leadership
Outside of the Eisenhower Institute and Public Policy House (Photo Mary Frasier/The Gettysburgian)
By Sarah Laud, Staff Writer
An “anvil” resembles strength and unity, two qualities that Gettysburg’s Eisenhower Institute is inspired to restore in the people of the United States.
Vanessa Igras ’24, managing editor of Ike’s Anvil on campus, gives insight on what the EI’s new platform is and how students can get involved.
“The Anvil is inspired by the legacy of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and its name comes from his last name, which in German means ‘iron miner.’ As president, Eisenhower was known for his pragmatic and moderate approach to solving problems. In a time of political polarization, we hope this blog will help perpetuate Eisenhower’s legacy in civil discourse today. For some contributors, the Anvil may be a place to hammer out political consensus; for others, it may be a space to forge their own identity as leaders and engaged citizens,” said Igras.
After much waiting, the Eisenhower Institute’s Ike’s Anvil has returned. This time, the “anvil” has a new look. Igras explained that, in the past, the Anvil was not so much a priority as it is today in the Eisenhower Institute. Indeed, students today are more motivated than ever to have a voice, and thus the anvil is becoming a popular platform for students to use their voice and exercise their political responsibilities. Therefore, a more interactive website was published a few years ago to aid students’ political creativity.
“In the simplest terms, it is an Eisenhower Institute blog,” said Igras.
It is a website through which students, not just those affiliated with the Eisenhower Institute, can submit an essay they wrote about a topic they are passionate about. More specifically, it is meant for undergraduate students to offer their perspective on public policy and leadership at all levels. Students are invited to write about any issue whether local, domestic, or international.
“My leadership has been focused around raising awareness and creating more of a presence for Ike’s Anvil,” said Igras. “It’s so much more than a blog.”
Ike’s Anvil is a way to expand the legacy of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and emphasize the importance of bipartisanship. The Eisenhower Institute takes pride in being a bipartisan body, thus wanting whatever comes from the Eisenhower Institute to be bipartisan, as well. Thus, Ike’s Anvil is a way for students to practice understanding both sides of a story, fighting for what they believe in, and learning how to be a leader through what they are passionate about. As citizens of the United States, it is the people’s duty to advocate for policy changes.
“The beauty about Ike’s Anvil is that it can really be about anything,” said Igras.
Recently, Igras explains, someone took something as simple as almond farming and turned it into a public policy matter.
“My goal is to solidify their writing,” said Igras. Igras and Lauren Cole, editor-in-chief, have mentorship roles where they review pieces before they are published on the Anvil. She hopes that they can teach other students how to look at the world through a public policy perspective and see how everyday activities can be reflective of a policy issue that can be brought to people’s attention.
Ike’s Anvil posts weekly content written by students. These pieces come in the form of op-eds, ranging between 500-700 words. The end goal of the written entries are to be oriented towards policy, are opinionated, and well-researched. The platform is a tool for students interested in journalism and have an ambition to work in D.C. to utilize as well, as through the process of getting a piece uploaded, students can learn what a good political writing sample is.
