Democracy Days Back In Person for 2021

Published: 08/31/2021

Join St. Charles Community College for Democracy Days, an interdisciplinary forum assessing the history, health and functioning of democracy in America and abroad. The event will be held in person in the Social Sciences Building auditorium and in the virtual space from Sept. 13-16. 

Students, faculty, staff and the community can see the full schedule and join the online presentations and discussions on the day of each event by visiting the Democracy Days website.

Monday, Sept. 13

8:30 a.m. - The U.S. Constitution and Major League Baseball

Batter up! As the hometown team tries to make history yet again, come and see how our country's pastime compares to one of its other most prized traditions ... the United States Constitution. Lisa Randoll (Political Science) will game out exactly how various aspects of Major League Baseball compare and connect to our country's most integral founding document.


10 a.m. - The Poetry & Prose of Protest

The current political climate of the United States has created an environment that is rife for protest in its many forms: marches, picket lines, vigils, speeches. This panel examines another form of popular protest with a rich history: the written word.  Following a brief history of the use of literature as protest, members of the Fall 2021 Creative Writing II class taught by Joe Baumann (SCC English) will present their protest writing and discuss their motivations and inspirations for writing, as well as what they hope the power of art and the written word can achieve in a time of turmoil and upheaval.


11:30 a.m. - Signs of Life 

When push comes to shove, what are we willing to live with? From the death of George Floyd to the storming of the U.S. Capitol, recent events raise the question of what we're supposed to do when we can no longer run our moral lives on autopilot. Extraordinary situations like these seem to call for acts of ethical creativity, but how can this be accomplished while maintaining our integrity?  Join Charles DeBord (SCC Philosophy) for an investigation of how the philosophical foundations of ethics can ground our understanding of right and wrong within a rapidly changing social landscape.
 

1 p.m. - Transgender Today: A Panel Discussion 

Missouri leads the country in the number of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced, most of which target transgender youth. Fifteen such bills have recently made an appearance. On this panel to discuss these bills and other related issues: Rep. Barbara Phifer represents St. Louis County (District 90/Kirkwood) in the Missouri House of Representatives. She was a United Methodist pastor for 40 years and has a transgender grandchild. Rep. Doug Clemens represents St. Louis County (District 72/St. Ann) in the Missouri House of Representatives. He is the uncle of a gender non-binary individual. Danielle Meert is the parent of a transgender youth and an activist with TransParentSTL. Sara Baker is the Deputy Chief of Staff for St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones. Oliver Spencer is transgender and a self-advocate who studied at SCC from 2014-2017. Moderating the panel is Tracy Bono, adjunct faculty in the SCC business department. 

2 p.m. - Afghanistan in Focus: A Panel Discussion 

A frank examination of the long war's end in Afghanistan with Fahime Mohammad, Ryanzo Perez and William Baca Mejia (SCC Economics).

Tuesday, Sept. 14

10 a.m. - Medicaid in Missouri: A PanelDiscussion

The SCC Political Science department hosts a discussion on Medicaid expansion featuring two Missouri legislators.  In 2020, Missourians passed Amendment 2, which changed the Missouri Constitution and required the state government to expand Medicaid to cover Missourians earning up to 133% of the poverty level. In 2021, the Missouri legislature refused to fund that expansion, but the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the expansion could proceed. State Representative John Weiman (R) and State Senator Jill Schupp (D) will discuss their perspectives on Medicaid expansion and what happens next. Gabe Harper (SCC Political Science) will moderate the discussion. 

11:30 a.m. - Ordinary Equality: Why We Need the ERA  

A 2020 poll revealed a 75% majority of Americans support an equal rights amendment. By 2020, 38 states ratified the ERA and passed the 3/4 rule to become constitutional. So why is it not law? This discussion, led by Grace Moser (SCC History), Dana Prewett (SCC Sociology) and Monica Swindle (SCC Sociology), will address the history behind the amendment and what it means for American women today. Panelists will discuss the Constitution and its amendments regarding equal rights and explore other nations’ constitutions with more specific protections already included.


1  p.m. - The 2020 Election: An Analysis 

Paul Roesler (SCC Political Science) examines the 2020 election, focusing on the myth of voter fraud. Roesler will explain constitutional requirements for presidential elections, the roots of the Voter Fraud Myth and how it undermines our democracy. He will discuss some of the more bizarre myths, such as those involving bamboo and the ghost of Hugo Chavez, as well as the political implications of spreading the Big Lie, including the January 6th insurrection and restrictions on voting.

Wednesday, Sept. 15

10 a.m. - Student Open-Microphone Forum

Lisa Randoll (SCC Political Science) annually holds an open forum for students’ views, questions and experiences regarding current events and political issues that are impacting their lives. Come join the conversation! See how real politics can be. The dialogue is always conducted in a way that allows people to speak their minds without fear of ridicule.  


11:30 a.m. - Moms Demand Action  

Angela Curtis, Local Group Lead for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, will discuss her group’s grassroots non-partisan movement to prevent gun violence. She will also focus on the ways Moms Demand Action volunteers get involved in the legislative process to influence the laws that impact gun safety. 

1 p.m. - Balancing Security and Accessibility in Elections 

Kurt Bahr, Director of Elections for St. Charles County, will discuss the competing yet complementary goals of voter access and ballot security in elections.  State and Federal changes to election laws have proposed changing who and how voters access ballots as well as how those ballots are secured from fraud before and after they are cast. A look at Missouri’s current laws on election verification, auditing procedures as well as the process for voter registration and list management will provide perspective on how those proposed state and national election laws will change our election system. 
  

2:30  p.m. - Critical Race Theory: A Panel Discussion 

Greg Bosworth (SCC Dean of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) leads an exploration of CRT in our political discourse and the public education system. It’s one of the hottest political flash points in our time. Joining the panel discussion will be Grace Moser (SCC History), Rachel McWhorter (SCC English), Anastasia Bierman (SCC English) and Martha Kampen (SCC Diversity & Compliance).

 

Thursday, Sept. 16

10 a.m. - Separate and Unequal in Death: The Challenges of Preserving a Segregated Cemetery

Greenwood Cemetery, established in 1874, is the oldest non-sectarian cemetery for African Americans in St. Louis. Historian Etta Daniels and groundskeeper Shelley Morris of the Greenwood Cemetery Preservation Association will discuss their research and work at the cemetery and how it continues to change and affect descendants of those buried there. Inequality continues even after death, as Greenwood highlights the continued struggle for St. Louis’ black community to preserve and honor their dead. 

11:30 a.m. - COVID-19: The Delta Variant 

Amy Koehler, Provost of the SCC Dardenne Creek Campus (and former nursing faculty), joins Monica Hall-Woods (SCC Biology) and Nicole Pinaire (SCC Biology) to discuss medical questions surrounding vaccines and the evolution of Covid-19, including the Delta variant. Sara Evers, Assistant Director of the St Charles County Department of Public Health, will discuss government efforts to fight this pandemic in St. Charles and provide updates on the efficacy of vaccines and masks. Paul Roesler (SCC Political Science) will moderate the discussion and discuss the role of government in a democracy.


1 p.m. - Creating Equitable Education in Our Communities

Over 10 million children live below the poverty line in America, and only 14% of children growing up in poverty will graduate from college within eight years of graduating high school. The U.S. education system struggles to provide a functioning learning experience for children in low-income communities. Francesca Meixner, an educator for Teach for America, works in these communities to ensure that all children receive an equitable education regardless of family income. A true democracy will care about the needs of all; this means addressing the lack of equity within our local schools. Ms. Meixner will share what individuals can do to assist in creating a fair education system for all and will also guide students in seeing their ability to create lasting change in their own communities.

7 p.m. - Missouri at 200 Years 

It’s Missouri’s anniversary!  Join Debra Crank Lewis (SCC History), Gabe Harper (SCC Political Science) and Gary McKiddy (SCC History) as they discuss 200 years of Missouri being part of the United States. They will cover topics including Missouri Compromise, the Missouri Constitution, German influences in Missouri as well as the fractious politics of Missouri today.