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Student Voice: Through The Northwood Idea, We Promote Free Enterprise Far Beyond Timberwolf Territory

October 23, 2024
A man with curly hair and a beard, wearing a black suit, checkered shirt, and purple tie, embodies the spirit of Free Enterprise as he smiles confidently in front of a gray background.

As a Timberwolf here at Northwood University, I get to experience first-hand how Northwood’s guiding philosophy, The Northwood Idea, values individual responsibility, limited government, earned success, moral law, and the importance of business — and how it can affect my life in many ways.

Along with The Northwood Idea, we learn to have a FRESH AIR mindset that prioritizes Freedom, Respect, Empathy, Spirituality, Honesty, Achievement, Integrity, and Responsibility. Students learn these ideals in and outside of the classroom, often from accomplished speakers who come to campus from all over the globe. We then apply them in our personal and professional lives after we graduate as advocates for free enterprise.

Northwood drives support for free enterprise through various efforts, including:

• Philosophy of Free Enterprise Online Course

• True North Free-Market Connector Website

When Free to Choose Publication

• Signature Events

Philosophy of Free Enterprise Online Course

This is a free online course for anyone interested in learning about the importance of freedom and free-market economics. The course appeals to viewers from all educational levels and backgrounds, and video lectures incorporate helpful animation and engaging dialogue delivered in a way that is easy to understand without a college degree. You can log into the course at https://bit.ly/3Sds6sT or visit Northwood’s YouTube Channel to watch videos of lectures included in the Philosophy of Free Enterprise online course.

True North Free-Market Connector Website

True North is a website (www.truenorthideas.org) featuring thought leadership from like-minded non-profits, academic institutions, and other organizations who stand with Northwood in support of Liberty & Business for All. Updated each week, True North features essays from significant economic and philosophical thinkers of today. If your organization would like to submit pieces to share on True North, please email Kate Hessling, Executive Director of Communications and Public Relations for Northwood University, at .

When Free to Choose Publication

When Free to Choose is a free periodical that is sent to nearly 30,000 subscribers around the U.S. and the world. Students, staff, faculty, and industry experts write essays that explore ideas that relate in some fashion to The Northwood Idea. This periodical gives students the opportunity to show what they have been learning here at Northwood, and it offers free-market advocates a chance to help promote the importance of free enterprise. This is why we call When Free to Choose “A Periodical of America’s Free-Enterprise University.” Northwood welcomes submissions from like-minded free-enterprise advocates.

Signature Events

Every signature event facilitated by Northwood University incorporates free-enterprise advocacy and emphasizes The Northwood Idea. Hearing directly from professionals who discuss how our shared values have contributed to their success is very important. Real-world examples help students understand how to apply The Northwood Idea in our daily lives.

These are some ways Northwood helps promote The Northwood Idea beyond our campus borders. Northwood wants everyone to learn the importance of free enterprise. Fully understanding The Northwood Idea can benefit us all in more ways than one.

About this piece

This piece was written by Carson Guttovz, a senior from Milford, Michigan, who is interning in the Northwood Office of Communications. Carson is active in the Northwood University International Auto Show and Northwood University Fashion Showcase, and he is a Kappa Sigma member. This essay is featured in the October 2024 Edition of When Free to Choose, Northwood University’s signature publication dedicated to promoting free enterprise. Click here to receive When Free to Choose in your inbox! To contact Carson, email .

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