Posted on 07/10/2007 7:33:10 AM PDT by SirLinksalot
Young America’s Foundation is pleased to release its third annual “Top Ten Conservative College” list in response to the frequently asked question of which colleges we recommend to those seeking conservative colleges.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of students begin their college search. Admission guides, seminars, advice from friends, and help from advisors all offer different perspectives. Presented with so many options, confusion often clouds this important decision-making process. Given the requests for Young America’s Foundation’s recommendations, and to aid in making the right decision, we are proud to release our third annual “Top Ten Conservative Colleges” list.
A wide variety of rankings exist for the market of American colleges and universities. Each year, U.S. News & World Report releases its “America’s Best Colleges” edition. The magazine grades each institution based on factors including peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, and student selectivity. Yet, U.S. News does not rank the overall experience that colleges offer. That is why Young America’s Foundation presents the following list of ten institutions that offer a conservative experience for students. Young America’s Foundation deemed these ten institutions the best, and they are listed in alphabetical order. We are also pleased to list additional colleges we feel deserve honorable mention.
Many conservative students seek alternatives in higher education, but they may not be fully aware of institutions that fit these criteria. The 2006-2007 “Top Ten Conservative College” list features ten institutions that proclaim, through their mission and programs, a dedication to discovering, maintaining, and strengthening the conservative values of their students.
The listed colleges offer an alternative to the liberal status quo, because they allow and encourage conservative students to explore conservative ideas and authors. They offer coursework and scholarship in conservative thought and emphasize principles including smaller government, strong national defense, free enterprise, and traditional values. Furthermore, they avoid trends in academe by continuing to study Western Civilization instead of straying toward the study of Marxism, feminism, sexuality, postmodernism, and other modern distractions that do not give students a complete understanding of our country, our culture, and its founding principles.
Young America’s Foundation highly recommends service academies such as West Point and Annapolis for people interested in serving their country and receiving a top-notch education. However, these schools do not appear in the top ten. They are not liberal arts colleges but rather military colleges that follow a training model for future officers. There is nothing more honorable than serving our country, and we strongly encourage interested and able students to consider this option.
This is not an exhaustive list of conservative institutions and should not be taken as such. Nor should it be the only source consulted in a college search. Young America’s Foundation recommends that this list serve as a starting point. Parents and students should seek several information sources, read admissions materials thoroughly, consult with friends and counselors, and make visits. Additionally, Young America’s Foundation is not a college rating organization; we decided to publish this list to help address a frequently asked question.
For more information, please contact the listed colleges, or feel free to call Young America’s Foundation at 800-USA-1776.
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Christendom College
Front Royal, Virginia
The college was founded in 1977 by a group of Catholics concerned with the direction of higher education, especially within the Catholic church. “Only an education which integrates the truths of the Catholic faith throughout the curriculum is a fully Catholic education,” stated the founders. Led by Dr. Warren H. Carroll, the visionaries also envisioned how, “the only rightful purpose of education is to know the truth and to live by it. The purpose of Catholic education is therefore to learn and to live by the truth revealed by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…”
The original vision of Christendom lives today through the institution’s devotion to Catholic theology and way of life. The core curriculum reinforces a Catholic worldview and teaches students to “distinguish truth from error or distortion, and then to communicate truth accurately, effectively, and convincingly to others.” Required courses include “Literature of Western Civilization,” “Introduction to Philosophy,” and “Fundamentals of Catholic Doctrine.”
For more information, contact Christendom College at:
Christendom College Admissions 134 Christendom Drive Front Royal, Virginia 22630 (800) 877-5456 admissions@christendom.edu http://www.christendom.edu
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College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, Missouri
The College of the Ozarks is a unique Christian college with about 1,400 students, located in Point Lookout, Missouri. Dubbed as “Hard Work U.” by The Wall Street Journal, it has a special work-study program in which students work in lieu of paying tuition.
In addition to the 34 majors, 38 minors, and eight pre-professional programs it offers, the College of the Ozarks has an extensive character education program. As soon as students arrive for freshman orientation, they begin character education programs and abide by a dress code and an honor code.
A core liberal arts curriculum is required of all students and an optional character-based curriculum is available but not required. The general education curriculum is “purposefully complemented by an emphasis on the development of vital competencies,” such as writing, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary connections. Overall, the College of the Ozarks offers a robust array of programs and excellent opportunities to receive a well-rounded education.
One of the most distinctive features of the College of the Ozarks is the work-study program. All students work 15 hours per week instead of paying tuition. Many students find interesting jobs at the college such as working at the college’s own airport, in the print shop, as a campus landscaper, or on the farm. Two 40-hour weeks are also required during longer breaks, including Christmas or Easter. Some students also work during the summer to get ahead on their tuition or to cover their room and board costs.
For more information, contact College of the Ozarks at:
College of the Ozarks Admissions P.O. Box 17 Point Lookout, Missouri 65726 (800) 222-0525 admiss4@cofo.edu http://www.cofo.edu
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Franciscan University of Steubenville
Steubenville, Ohio
Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio is a dynamic Catholic university with 1,982 undergraduate students and 405 graduate students. Majors are available in 35 undergraduate subjects, and the college offers 33 undergraduate minors and seven graduate programs. As a devoutly Catholic institution, Franciscan lives by a conservative intellectual and social philosophy based on the strong liberal arts tradition and the teachings of the Catholic church.
Many of Franciscan’s programs are devoted to obtaining a deeper knowledge of the history, philosophy, and culture that shaped Western Civilization. For example, the university offers five specific programs in which students learn directly about Western Civilization and the role of the Catholic church in its formation. Franciscan also offers an honors program devoted to great books of the Western world. Furthermore, many faculty members have distinguished themselves in conservative scholarship. Political science professor Dr. Stephen Krason penned books about the founding fathers and the Constitution. Legal Studies program director Brian Scharnecchia authored a three-volume work outlining and advocating a conservative approach to family issues.
Campus life at Franciscan is different than most colleges. Many students choose to live in a “household,” a mix between a fraternity and a faith-sharing group. Through sports, Bible study, prayer, and other social activities, households provide an essential bonding experience that parallels the mission of the university. A large portion of the student body’s free time is spent serving the community and attending Mass held on campus.
A factor that distinguishes Franciscan is the student body’s devotion to activism on traditional religious values. Public policy, civic participation, and conservative activism groups remain popular among students.
For more information, contact Franciscan University at:
Franciscan University Admissions 1235 University Boulevard Steubenville, Ohio 43952 (800) 783-6220 http://www.franciscan.edu
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Grove City College
Grove City, Pennsylvania
Grove City College is a Christian college located north of Pittsburgh with 2,300 students. It offers 55 majors and has no graduate program. Its mission states: “While many points of view are examined, the College unapologetically advocates preservation of America’s religious, political, and economic heritage of individual freedom and responsibility.”
As a liberal arts institution, its mission also states: “Rejecting relativism and secularism, [Grove City College] fosters intellectual, moral, spiritual, and social development consistent with a commitment to Christian truth, morals, and freedom.” The atmosphere created at Grove City College through its policies encourages “the spiritual, moral, intellectual, and character development” of its students and staff.
Grove City has a commitment to conservative scholarship in various fields. For example, Dr. Paul Kengor (political science) recently wrote another best-selling book entitled The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism and is an expert in the American presidency. Dr. Tracy Miller (economics) is an expert on international economics who has written on the subject. Many of Ludwig von Mises’ papers are housed and researched at the college. In addition, Grove City boasts a strong department of religion and a major in entrepreneurship.
Given its legal and financial independence from the federal government, Grove City College’s tuition fees are surprisingly low. Annual tuition is about half the national average, thanks to the college’s generous scholarship and loan program. As a result, Grove City is ranked as a great value among comprehensive colleges in the northeast United States by U.S. News & World Report. It has been widely reported that the seniors in this college outscore Ivy league schools in terms of critical thinking and knowledge of Civics, Western history and the Constitution.
For more information, contact Grove City College at:
Grove City College Admissions 100 Campus Drive Grove City, Pennsylvania 16127 (724) 458-2100 http://www.gcc.edu
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Harding University
Searcy, Arkansas
Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas is a robust Christian college with 6,100 students. Seventy-eight majors, twelve pre-professional programs, and fifteen master’s degrees encompass the academic offerings. As the largest private university in Arkansas, Harding offers a well-rounded intellectual experience in a Biblical context. The Honors College also offers in-depth and supplementary study for accelerated students.
Majors from all programs are required to fulfill liberal arts requirements that include seven categories: spiritual and moral values, communications and critical thinking, the individual and social environment, the natural world, the creative spirit, the historical perspective, and global literacy. A moral code signed by all students creates an atmosphere where everyone is held to high standards.
Each year, Harding students participate in a variety of programs from the American Studies Institute, including the Distinguished Lecture Series. Young America’s Foundation is proud to co-sponsor several lectures each year that expose students to the ideas of leaders including Margaret Thatcher, William F. Buckley, Jr., Sean Hannity, Zell Miller, Lech Walesa, and J.C. Watts.
Harding’s American Studies Institute puts a strong emphasis on its entrepreneurial development programs. For example, the Belden Center for Private Enterprise Education, led by noted scholar Dr. D.P. Diffine, educates students on the importance of freedom and private enterprise in relation to the success of business.
For more information, contact Harding University at:
Harding University Admissions 900 E. Center Searcy, Arkansas 72149 (501) 279-4407 admissions@harding.edu http://www.harding.edu
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Hillsdale College
Hillsdale, Michigan
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan is a strong liberal arts college with 1,250
students. Offering 32 traditional majors, six interdisciplinary majors, and nine pre-professional programs, Hillsdale consistently ranks highly nationwide in U.S. News & World Report, among other publications. Its core curriculum exemplifies the tradition of a classic liberal arts program. All students, regardless of major, are required to take courses in humanities, natural science, and social science during their first two years. Highly respected conservative professors teach at Hillsdale including Dr. Burt Folsom (history) and Dr. Mickey Craig (political science).
Students at this southern Michigan campus hear from one of the largest and most distinguished lecture programs in the country. Hillsdale’s Center for Constructive Alternatives (CCA) has sponsored over 1,100 speakers since 1971, including conservative luminaries such as Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Walter Williams. Students are required to attend two hours of CCA seminars in order to graduate.
Independence is an important theme at Hillsdale. Upon its founding in 1844, it was the nation’s first college to prohibit discrimination based on race, sex, or religion in its charter. Ever since, the institution has not taken a penny from the federal government. When some students received federal loans in the 1970s, Hillsdale quickly reacted by maintaining independence and rejecting government quotas. Even given the absence of government funding, Hillsdale remains a great value because it continually provides privately funded financial aid packages.
Hillsdale provides students with a well-rounded education that focuses on liberty. Students learn what liberty means and the moral conditions of its preservation. They develop the skills to be productive citizens and the character to be good ones. The mission statement sums up the college well. It reads: “The College considers itself a trustee of modern man’s intellectual and spiritual inheritance from the Judeo-Christian faith and Greco-Roman culture, a heritage finding its clearest expression in the American experiment of self-government under law.”
For more information, contact Hillsdale College at: Hillsdale College Admissions
33 East College Hillsdale, Michigan 49242 (517) 607-2327 admissions@hillsdale.edu http://www.hillsdale.edu
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Indiana Wesleyan University
Marion, Indiana
Indiana Wesleyan University is a Christian university located in Marion, Indiana with about 2,500 students at the main campus and more than 9,500 others through the internet and satellite locations. Twenty-five associate degrees, sixty-five bachelor’s degree programs, and several graduate degrees are offered, mostly at the Marion campus but also at satellite locations state-wide and online. “Indiana Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered academic community committed to changing the world by developing students in character, scholarship and leadership,” states the mission.
The bachelor’s degree curriculum at Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) revolves around a core of several requirements, including studies in Biblical literature and world civilization. The university also is home to several prominent scholars in conservative and libertarian thought. Both Dr. David Bartley, professor of political science and history, and Dr. Ivan Pongracic, associate professor of economics, are experts in conservative and libertarian philosophy.
Academic Convocation speakers have included Attorney General Ed Meese, M. Stanton Evans, and Dr. James Dobson. Conservative authors highlighted in the curriculum include Friedman, de Toqueville, Bastiat, Hayek, and a course that discusses Ronald Reagan’s autobiography An American Life. In addition, the university has cooperated with student organizers to bring in Young America’s Foundation speakers including Dinesh D’Souza, Star Parker, and Oliver North.
Lifestyle expectations at IWU promote a Christian atmosphere on campus. The primary values center around “Christ likeness,” and include commitment, learning, serving, and stewardship. A major part of IWU is the goal of producing “world changers” through an “integrated experience of intellectual challenge, spiritual growth, and leadership development.” All first-year students take a course called “Becoming World Changers,” which provides a common experience that directs students toward fulfillment of IWU’s mission.
For more information, contact Indiana Wesleyan University at:
Indiana Wesleyan University Admissions 4201 South Washington Street Marion,Indiana 46953 admissions@indwes.edu http://www.indwes.edu
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Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia
Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia is an evangelical Christian university with about 8,700 on-campus students, and 12,000 in off-campus learning. Overall, Liberty offers 38 undergraduate majors and 29 minors, as well as 15 graduate programs, Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, a law school, the Liberty Bible Institute, and the English Language Institute. Even though it claims to be the largest Christian university in the world, it plans to continue expanding.
Liberty is directed by a solid Christian vision that is found throughout the institution’s programs and led by Rev. Jerry Falwell. Students at Liberty receive a conservative education because the doctrinal statement of the college is based on “…an absolute repudiation of ‘political correctness,’ a strong commitment to political conservatism, total rejection of socialism, and firm support for America’s economic system of free enterprise,” among other things. In addition, the faculty is committed to a Christian worldview and interested in furthering the doctrinal statement of the college.
All academic programs revolve around a Christian worldview and strive for excellence. Liberty also maintains distance learning that allows students to pursue one of several degrees from home. More than one hundred courses are offered in multiple subjects. Many of the participants have a traveling vocation such as the military or missions. A special program entitled “Home School Advantage” is a specially designed Bible study program for home-schooled students that accelerates their transition into the university.
The Christian experience at Liberty does not stop with the classroom. Dormitories are supervised by Spiritual Life Directors (SLD’s), older students that foster a Christian lifestyle and atmosphere. Many extracurricular programs are designed to further the mission of the college, including an annual Christian music festival called “block party,” Bible study, and chapel programs. The central Virginia campus also offers NCAA division I athletics, a national champion debate team, Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs, and special conferences devoted to Biblical issues.
For more information, contact Liberty University at:
Liberty University Admissions 1971 University Boulevard Lynchburg, Virginia 24502 (434) 582-2000 admissions@liberty.edu http://www.liberty.edu
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St. Vincent College
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
St. Vincent College is a traditional Catholic college in rural Pennsylvania, just outside Pittsburgh. With almost 1,700 students, it offers a comprehensive liberal arts program in the Benedictine tradition.
Archabbot Wimmer, the founder of St. Vincent College, noted that students should learn “first what is necessary, then what is useful, and finally what is beautiful and will contribute to their refinement.” The college continues that vision with a strong core curriculum promoting hard work and the study of philosophy.
The Alex G. McKenna School of Economics and Government highlights conservative ideas through its programs including the Center for Political and Economic Thought, where internationally recognized guests interact with students and faculty through lectures and events. A focus on philosophy and principles instead of current events and polling data, especially in political science, allows students to learn more deeply about the importance of Western civilization.
For more information, please contact St. Vincent College at:
St. Vincent College Admissions 300 Fraser Purchase Road Latrobe, Pennsylvania 15650 (724) 537-4540 admission@stvincent.edu http://www.stvincent.edu
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Thomas Aquinas College
Santa Paula, California
Thomas Aquinas College is a small Catholic college located in southern California with 351 students. No majors or minors are offered since all students participate in the prescribed great books curriculum. The somewhat secluded location in the hills of rural southern California provides a metaphor for the unique nature of this fine institution.
The “great books” of history comprise the entire curriculum of Thomas Aquinas College, and all students graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts. Books on many subjects are included in the program, including music, mathematics, and science as well as philosophy, language, and theology. Faculty members serve less as lecturers and more as facilitators using the Socratic method. Catholic faculty members publicly take the Oath of Fidelity and make a Profession of Faith at the beginning of their terms in office.
Campus life at Thomas Aquinas follows with traditional Catholic morality and teaching, and there are many groups in which students participate. For example, the St. Genesius Players is a drama group that puts on productions, the choir often performs, and the “bushwhackers” maintain local trails and organize hiking trips. Student groups are also involved with activism on issues related to traditional religious values.
For more information, contact Thomas Aquinas College at:
Thomas Aquinas College Admissions 10000 North Ojai Road Santa Paula, California 93060 (800) 634-9797 admissions@thomasaquinas.edu http://www.thomasaquinas.edu
See also here :
THE 10 MOST POLITICALLY CONSERVATIVE COLLEGES :
We also have the DIRTY DOZEN ( the most politically liberal colleges ) :
A conservative movement for America’s youth released its third annual “Top Ten Conservative College” list for students seeking an alternative to the liberal status quo.
Young America’s Foundation ranked the best colleges in the United States that allow students to explore conservative ideas through coursework in conservative thought.
The chosen top 10 colleges “avoid trends in academe by continuing to study Western Civilization instead of straying toward the study of Marxism, feminism, sexuality, postmodernism, and other modern distractions,” according to the Foundation.
The top 10 conservative colleges in alphabetical order are:
1. Christendom College in Front Royal, Va.
2. College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout; Mo.
3. Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio
4. Grove City College in Grove City, Pa.
5. Harding University in Searcy, Ark.
6. Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Mich.
7. Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind.
8. Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.
9. St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa.
10. Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, Calif.
The colleges listed include traditional Catholic campuses, a robust Christian school, and an evangelical Christian university.
Young America’s Foundation insists that it is not a college rating organization. The top 10 list was produced in response to a frequently asked question of which colleges the organization recommends to those seeking conservative colleges.
Other schools the conservative organization recommends that are not liberal arts colleges include military colleges such as West Point and Annapolis.
Just prior to the release of the most conservative colleges, Young America’s Foundation listed “The Dirty Dozen” - the most bizarre, politically correct college courses in the nation, or what the Foundation called “troubling instances of leftist activism.”
Based on research on scores of courses from hundreds of the nation’s leading schools, “The Dirty Dozen” are:
1. Occidental College - The Phallus
2. University of California-Los Angeles - Queer Musicology
3. Amherst College in Massachusetts - Taking Marx Seriously: “Should Marx be given another chance?”
4. University of Pennsylvania - Adultery Novel
5. Occidental College - Blackness
6. University of Washington - Border Crossings, Borderlands: Transnational Feminist Perspectives on Immigration
7. Mount Holyoke College - Whiteness: The Other Side of Racism
8. University of Michigan - Native American Feminisms
9. Johns Hopkins University - Mail Order Brides: Understanding the Philippines in Southeast Asian Context
10. Cornell University - Cyberfeminism
11. Duke University - American Dreams/American Realities
12. Swarthmore College - Nonviolent Responses to Terrorism
Other courses that could have easily made the list (”Dishonorable Mentions”) include UC-Berkeley’s Sex Change City: Theorizing History in Genderqueer San Francisco; Cornell University’s Sex, Rugs, Salt, & Coal; Hollins University’s Drag: Theories of Transgenderism and Performance; and Hollins University’s Lesbian Pulp Fiction.
“The Dirty Dozen demonstrates that professors still have an obsession with dividing people on the basis of their skin color, sexuality, and gender,” Young America’s Foundation spokesman, Jason Mattera, said in the report.
The conservative foundation further cited recent studies that found only one in four Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms protected by the First Amendment while more than half can name at least two family members of “The Simpsons.” Also, only 31 percent of college grads could read and comprehend complex books and 40 percent of college students need remedial work in math and English.
As a personal favorite... I’d add Norwich University to the list.
I am happy to see that Harding University, the college my daughter will be attending this Fall, is on the list!
Ping!
Interesting list. It’s unfortunate that students who are not looking for a conservative Protestant or Catholic education are not going to find this list too helpful. Everyone can’t go to Hillsdale U.!
The institutions will continue to grow as Christian parents grow weary of the evil taught at places like Ithaca, Berkeley, and even state universities.
My son is applying to Hillsdale for next year. We visited this spring and he was very impressed. He went to classes for a day and got to meet a lot of professors and students.
Located on the slopes of Fiji Hill in Los Angeles, Occidental College once championed the liberal arts, but started to change after a liberal became its president in 1966. By 1970, the History of Civilization, a mandatory course for all freshmen, was abolished, to be replaced by a range of electives which included a class on "Fidel Castro's Revolutionary Socialism." Later, the large crucifix that was attached to othe college chapel was removed, so that non-Christians wouldn't be offended. One can only wonder how the Presbyterians who founded the school in 1887 would have felt.
My oldest son attends the University of Notre Dame, and I find the quality of the courses offered there in keeping with those offered by the Top Ten colleges. I *love* the place, and can recommend it to anyone. Anyone who can get in, that is - they got almost 14000 applications for this year’s Freshman class. :)
CONSERVATIVE COLLEGE PING
I honestly didn’t think much of Liberty University when I moved to Lynchburg in the mid-90s. But, I’ve come around. The numerous LU grads I’ve met and worked with are great people and well-prepared for the real world. The school has does a lot for the community too. I’m considering sending my kids to their high school (Liberty Christian Academy) when they are old enough. LCA grads get free tuition at LIberty University. Not a bad deal.
There is no way that Columbia does not make the dirty dozen.
I have heard great things about Hillsdale!
Anyone hear much about Creighton University in Omaha or Drake in Des Moines, Iowa ??
Daughter has visited both and likes them, but now-a-days, it's so hard to really tell from a brief visit and we do not know any recent grads.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated ---- gathering as much info as we can.
She is also looking at Hillsdale....
My son spent a day and a half at Hillsdale and loved the place. He stayed with a student in their dorm, ate the food, and attended 5 classes, history, poly sci, law, etc. The campus is charming, the facilities up to date, the professors very approachable, and the atmosphere was very positive. He will be applying this fall and we will see what happens. 25% of incoming freshmen have an ACT of 30 or above. They accept no federal money, but their endowment of 250 plus million allows them to be competitive in offering financial aid. We will see what happens, but I would love my son to attend there. I saw a recent quote from a sudent which really struck me. They said that “most kids comes to Hillsdale as Republicans and leave as conservatives”. Those are the things I like to hear about the school.
I started Distance Learning (online) with Liberty University this past January. I can’t tell you how wonderful it has been.
My last experience was at a local community college where I listened to one professor tell the class that people only become Republicans because they are racist (I dropped that class right away).
At Liberty, not only do I not have to hide my conservatism, I can actually write about those values and still get an “A”!
But the greatest thing by far that Liberty has helped me with is my relationship with the Lord. I am so thankful for that.
marinamuffy
I also like the fact that they told the feds to stick it and so they run things they way they want to --- no interference. A bigger plus is that there are no Gender or Women's Studies majors !!!
Thanks...
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