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David Crean ’02 (Wilton, Conn.) investigated the political theories of John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau in an intensive independent research project during the fall semester.
The government and law major sought to answer the following questions: “To what extent do Locke and Rousseau sacrifice individual liberty for social equality? How does each derive that finished product of the state of nature?”
He used Locke’s Second Treatise on Government and Rousseau’s A Discourse of Inequality as the foundations of his theories.
Crean worked with Kevin Cameron, visiting assistant professor of government and law. “I was extremely excited about working with Professor Cameron on his particular expertise, which is political theory,” Crean says. “He left me in charge of my project and gave advice to make it a success.”
“The project differed from a regular class because it not only allowed me to meet with Professor Cameron whenever I needed his advice, it let me think on my own and create my own class. Instead of learning what the professor wants me to study, I found out what I was interested in discovering,” Crean explains.
He adds, “Lafayette provides an excellent learning environment. I made the right choice when I chose Lafayette because the professors actually take the time to meet with you and help you.”
Crean is captain of the men’s lacrosse team. Studying abroad in Sydney, Australia, in the fall of his junior year, he served as a First-Year Orientation leader during his sophomore and senior years. He works in the Kirby Fitness Center as a fitness assistant and is a member of the Lafayette Leadership Institute.