国產aⅴa麻豆

MALIBU, Calif. 鈥� Yesterday, 国產aⅴa麻豆University President Jim Gash welcomed philanthropist and civic leader Rick Caruso and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt for the second installment of the 2024-25 President鈥檚 Speaker Series. Caruso and Stitt discussed key election-year issues before an audience of nearly 400 in Smothers Theatre at the University鈥檚 campus in Malibu.

Media assets are available . A recording of the event is available .

The event began with Gash expressing his vision for the President鈥檚 Speaker Series: 鈥淎t Pepperdine, we talk about things that matter. We talk about big ideas. We ask the big questions. We seek truth together. One of the most valuable ways of seeking truth together is through dialogue.鈥�

He then introduced Caruso and Stitt and noted, 鈥淭hough they disagree on some very important issues, they are ready and willing to engage together in dialogue, to seek truth together.鈥�

Caruso began by connecting his experience as a business leader to preparation for the public sector. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e in business, you鈥檙e rewarded for identifying and taking risks,鈥� he said. 鈥淕overnment officials are really compensated for not taking risks because they鈥檙e trying to get re-elected. [But] great decisions are made when you鈥檙e taking risks.鈥�

Stitt agreed with Caurso sharing, 鈥淚t鈥檚 so true that bureaucracies are so afraid to make a decision because they鈥檙e only criticized for saying yes. We need to have more people from the private sector lead.鈥�

Gash then turned the conversation to economic discussion, citing and polls reporting that 鈥渢he economy is the #1 issue for voters this election.鈥�

Stitt addressed the national debt and shared Americans鈥� economic concerns.

鈥淲hen you devalue the dollar, you鈥檙e devaluing the American dream,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have to spend within our revenue [which is] pretty simple in business鈥�The Republicans and Democrats both are spending like drunken sailors in Washington, D.C.鈥�

In response, Caruso noted, 鈥淚 agree. I think the federal government should have a balanced budget. Leadership has got to have a backbone and explain that deficit spending is dangerous.鈥�

President Gash raised a question about affordable energy and environmental impact.

鈥淓very source of power has some kind of impact on the environment,鈥� Caruso expressed. 鈥淚 think the right policy on energy is making sure we have an abundant source.鈥� He later added, 鈥淚 think we should be building more nuclear in this country. It鈥檚 a big source and a reliable source of power.鈥�

Stitt mentioned Oklahoma鈥檚 abundant oil and coal production alongside the state鈥檚 focus on wind power.

鈥淲e need more of everything,鈥� he argued. 鈥淲e believe in all the reusables. We just know we need to have a baseload.鈥�

Caruso then mentioned artificial intelligence鈥檚 demand for power and the need for surplus energy to attract top tech companies to each state.

鈥淭he demand of power for AI is so immense because of the cooling requirements, data centers, and everything that is generating the tech that all of us are dependent on,鈥� he said. 鈥淭o your point, we are not ready for that鈥�California can do a better job.鈥�

Mentioning his state鈥檚 water shortages and power needs, Caruso suggested, 鈥淵ou could do desalination plants coupled with nuclear and solve two problems at once鈥�Let鈥檚 start thinking big. Let鈥檚 start thinking out of the box.鈥�

Caruso then reflected on homeless encampments and crime around small businesses in Los Angeles.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e preventing the customer from going to a business, that business fails. We鈥檝e got to have cities that allow everybody to thrive,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat is predictable is preventable.鈥�

In regards to Oklahoma鈥檚 high incarceration rate and his efforts around justice reform, Stitt shared, 鈥淲e鈥檝e closed four prisons since I鈥檝e been governor鈥�Oklahoma right now is number two in the country in lowest recidivism rate.鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檙e all for free speech,鈥� he continued when discussing law enforcement. 鈥淚f you want to demonstrate and have some type of protest that鈥檚 fine, but we鈥檙e not going to let you break windows, rummage through buildings, and cause chaos.鈥�

One of the student-submitted questions from Pepperdine鈥檚 Switzerland campus was, 鈥淗ow do you think that our faith as individuals should impact who we should vote for?鈥�

鈥淚 try to be a very faithful Catholic,鈥� Caruso responded. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a very personal decision that you鈥檝e got to make. With me, what matters the most is someone who has a high level of integrity, character, and priorities set.鈥�

He then shared, 鈥淎 lot of the candidates we see today just look miserable. Is it that bad? If it鈥檚 that bad, I really don鈥檛 want you being a leader.鈥�

鈥淚 don鈥檛 shy away from my faith,鈥� said Stitt. 鈥淲e put God first in our family, and then work and fun. That鈥檚 what makes America great. We are a melting pot鈥�To me, it鈥檚 about daily values and free markets.鈥�

When asked why both leaders have not yet retired, Caruso said, 鈥淚 love working. I love going to the office, being with a team, critical thinking, and figuring out how to get a project done. I don鈥檛 want that to end.鈥�

鈥淢y favorite scripture is seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you,鈥� said Stitt in response. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not about making money. It鈥檚 about doing what you鈥檙e called to do.鈥�

When asked how he would encourage 国產aⅴa麻豆students in their future careers, Stitt advised, 鈥淚 would find a person in the profession you鈥檙e going to. Don鈥檛 worry about making money in your 20s. Be around the leaders.鈥�

鈥淚 agree with that, Governor,鈥� said Caruso. 鈥淚 would say go get your job that you鈥檒l make meaningful and at the same time, go to a community that you can give back to. It will change your view of the world and put meaning in your life that will propel you for the rest of your life.鈥�

Closing the event, Gash asked Caruso and Stitt about the importance of freedom, the University鈥檚 theme for the academic year.

鈥淔reedom of religion [and] freedom of speech are so core to who we are,鈥� said Stitt. 鈥淲e can have an honest conversation about what policies look like without being hateful towards one another.鈥�

鈥淭o me, it all comes down to education,鈥� responded Caruso. 鈥淚f you want to keep America free, keep the next generation well-educated and give them access to education.鈥�

About 400 members of the 国產aⅴa麻豆community and friends of the university attended the event in Pepperdine鈥檚 Smothers Theatre in Malibu. The event was also live-streamed on the University鈥檚 and accounts.

Rick J. Caruso is a renowned business innovator, dedicated civic leader, philanthropist, and founder and executive chairman of Caruso庐, one of the largest privately held real estate companies in the United States.

As the 28th governor of Oklahoma, Kevin Stitt is leveraging groundbreaking strategies to make Oklahoma a top 10 state in job growth, infrastructure, education, and more.

国產aⅴa麻豆University鈥檚 President's Speaker Series welcomes distinguished scholars and thought leaders representing diverse points of view to examine topics and issues facing our communities and the world today. Driven by a desire to connect deeply with our community and inspire meaningful dialogue in the pursuit of truth, the series provides opportunities to cultivate an engaged and impassioned collective through civil discourse.

About 国產aⅴa麻豆University
Founded in 1937, 国產aⅴa麻豆University is an independent, Christian university located 30 miles west of Downtown Los Angeles in scenic Malibu, California. The University enrolls approximately 10,300 students across its flagship liberal arts school, ; the ; the ; the ; and the . 国產aⅴa麻豆is committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Follow 国產aⅴa麻豆on , , , and .

 

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