More than 200 students, faculty, staff and community members attended a Feb. 7 panel discussion, organized by the Department of Political Science & International Relations, about the candidacy and first weeks in office of new U.S. President Donald Trump.
[Follow this link to view a video recording of the Roundtable on the Trump Presidency]
The discussion was moderated by Assistant Professor Scott Minkoff, who said the event was designed “to try to have a conversation that’s a little different than the one we’re getting from our every waking moment of news consumption.”
The conversation featured four Political Science faculty assessing the nascent 45th presidency through distinct critical lenses:
- Professor Nancy Kassop, an expert on the United States presidency, especially the presidential war powers and the role of White House counsel;
- Assistant Professor Stephen Pampinella, whose research focuses on state-building, imperialism and counter-insurgency;
- Associate Professor Daniel Lipson, who specializes in environmental and affirmative action policies, and has also studied the American conservative movement; and
- Distinguished Professor Gerald Benjamin, director of the Benjamin Center, whose areas of expertise extend across federal, state and local politics and political structures.
The panelists fielded questions related to the societal trends that led to President Trump’s election, the signals his cabinet appointments send about his goals, how his first weeks in office compare to recent administrations and what his early actions as chief executive indicate about his approach to foreign and domestic policy.
The moderated discussion was followed by an audience Q&A, as engaged members of the student body and the New Paltz community appealed to the expertise of the faculty panelists.
The Roundtable on the Trump Presidency was recorded and archived by Instructional Media Services, and can be viewed online by following this link.
Visit the Department of Political Science & International Relations online to learn more.
