A Blog on McConnell Center Life

Jason Jewell Class of 2017 I am bi-racial, black and white, raised by my white mother and family. My mom has a Ph.D in Social Work creating a deeper understanding for systematic issues such as racism education economics and the intersection of them all. I can remember my mom getting into contentious arguments with family about politics and each holiday or get-together, I would pray she would not bring anything up or go on some rant. The older I became the more I began to understand the racial undertones of even the most broad political arguments. I myself would sit there as a bi-racial kid hoping and praying that no one brought up a conversation of race because I simply wanted to enjoy company and food that I love. Love doesn’t recognize race, which is why conversations about race are so difficult. The people in the room are my family and I enjoy their company but I struggle with the idea that despite their individual love for me, they are a product of a systematically racist soc...

Jeremy Ball Class of 2017 The 2016 presidential election brought a lot of attention to the role of the Supreme Court in American politics. With the unexpected death of Justice Scalia earlier this year, both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton campaigned on how our nation’s highest court could influence public policy for years to come. After political scientists accurately  predicted  how the Senate could delay a nominee advanced forward by President Obama, it is now apparent that President-elect Trump will nominate a Justice early in his term. With a GOP controlled Senate, it is likely his nominee will be confirmed. But what impact does the average American play in this process? It may be larger than you think. The Supreme Court and The Constitution     Article III of the Constitution lays out the explicit powers of the American judiciary, and notably, it lacks a lot of details. In fact, Article III only calls for the establishment of a Supreme Court, with limi...