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Mount Presents Panel On Aftermath of 2016 Presidential Election

3/21/2017

Riverdale, N.Y. – Last month, Mount Saint Vincent held a packed panel discussion on the meaning of the 2016 presidential election, allowing students, faculty, and staff to come together to discuss—and debate—Trump era policy within the context of America’s complex sociopolitical heritage. Mount President Charles L. Flynn, Jr. moderated a spirited dialogue between panelists Sr. Eileen Fagan, Chair and Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies; Vincent Fitzgerald, Associate Professor of Communication; Kristin Lawler, Chair and Associate Professor of Sociology; Daniel Opler, Chair and Associate Professor of History; and Joshua Shmikler, Assistant Professor of Philosophy.

“Democracy is not merely a set of empty procedures, but instead a way to promote the dignity of the human person, respect for human rights, and commitment to the common good,” Sr. Fagan said. “For this reason, our citizenship and that of our political leadership are deeply moral identities.” The election of President Trump, however, “showed a very narrow nationalism” endangering that common good.

Reflecting on Access Hollywood’s 2005 footage of Trump’s controversial remarks toward women, Dr. Opler argued the now-president’s “toughest guy in the room” persona, combined with society’s prevailing sexism, ultimately drove his ascendancy. “Since at least the 1980s, historians have argued that sexual assault and treating women horribly in general have been a way for men to assert power,” Dr. Opler said.

Jennifer Frias ’20 said the discussion enforced her dislike for Trump and increased her concerns about the Trump administration’s immigration policies. “It makes me want to get more involved in politics,” she said.

But Spencer Bode ’18 said he was discouraged by “the extremely dark and redundant, negative comments” throughout the event. “I was expecting to hear how we were going to move forward during the next four years,” he said. “I heard no such strategy; rather talk of resignation and treason. As an American, I respect the system that elects our POTUS.”

The panel was presented by the Departments of Communication; History; Religious Studies and Philosophy; Sociology, and Women’s Studies, as well as the minor program in Political Science.

About the University of Mount Saint Vincent
Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity, the University of Mount Saint Vincent offers nationally recognized liberal arts education and a select array of professional fields of study on a landmark campus overlooking the Hudson River. Committed to the education of the whole person, and enriched by the unparalleled cultural, educational and career opportunities of New York City, the College equips students with the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary for lives of achievement, professional accomplishment and leadership in the 21st century.