LCC hosts Constitution Day discussion

By Jonah Unger
Staff Writer

LCC hosted a Constitution Day panel discussion Wednesday, Sept. 21 in the Arts and Sciences building. There were at least 25 students at this event.

The discussion was scheduled to start at 4 p.m., but due to the absence of all three scheduled panelists, it didn’t end up officially starting until around 4:15. It was later discovered that two of the panelists were absent due to having COVID-19.

“This show will go on,” said Francisco Sanchez, a faculty member at the event. “Even if it's just us, we will take a stab at the questions.”

Sanchez and Randy Watkins, both political science faculty members, stepped up to the plate and hosted the panel themselves. Considering the disappointing circumstances, Watkins and Sanchez still managed to keep things light-hearted.

“With an exception of two brave people, everybody is in the back of the room near the food,” Watkins said.

“It has nothing to do with us, it’s just the food,” Sanchez added, as they shared a laugh.  

“First of all welcome, thank you everyone for attending our event today,” Sanchez said, as he then went on to apologize for the absence of the panelists.

Shortly after that, one of the panelists, Michael McDaniel, was able to make an appearance via zoom. 

Watkins introduced McDaniel.

“Mr. McDaniel is the dean emeritus at the WMU Cooley Law School,” Watkins said. “The political faculty have been in discussion with him from time to time because there is a possibility or dream of forming a program here at LCC, which would be a pre-law program.” 

“I am always open to having somebody to talk about the Constitution,” McDaniel said. “In over 220 years it’s become the greatest document that we have.”

The event went smoothly from there, McDaniel answered various questions from students as well as questions from Watkins and Sanchez. McDaniel said his parting words at around 6 p.m., when things wrapped up.