Women of color at PLU build connections that provide support and opportunity through the Sista Circle program. #ResoLute #Mentorship

Happy Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, Lutes. Friendly public service reminder to PLU students, alumni and friends to make sure that you’re registered to vote this November! We also posed three quick Constitution-related questions to PLU Department of Political Science Chair Michael Artime: Q: What is it about the constitution that has allowed it to hold up and remain such a sturdy guidepost for 233 years? A: I think that there are good reasons and bad reasons for the endurance of the Constitution. I think that the system of checks and balances has prevented any one group or branch from breaking our democracy. Likewise, I think that the people of this country deserve a lot of credit for doing the hard work of preserving the overall system through continued pressure for democratic change (even though there is still much work to be done). Q: Do you think the founders would be surprised to find out that the constitution they wrote is still our nation's constitution 230 years later? A: It's hard to say what the founders would think, but I would assume that they would be surprised that we are so reticent to make changes today. The constitution is, first and foremost, a political document born out of a lot of partisan and ideological compromises between the delegates. I think that they would be surprised that we seem so hesitant to use the levers of politics to make changes to the document. Q: What’s a little known fact or trivia bit about the constitution that you enjoy? A: I was thinking earlier about constitution facts, and one thing that I like to do with my students is have them imagine just how uncomfortable it was during its writing. As it says in this article by RealClear Policy (https://rb.gy/topevh) - “The National Constitution Center describes the weather during the summer of 1787 as ‘unbearably hot and humid,’ making debate even more unpleasant. The windows and doors of the Assembly Room were closed, and the delegates would not take off their coats and vests.”

A great first read in our new mentorship-themed issue of #ResoLute is this conversation with psychology professor Wendelyn Shore about the ethics and intricacies of mentorship.

Great KNKX Public Radio feature on local artist, activist and PLU alum Saiyare Refaei ‘15. Saiyare shares in the piece that their PLU Wang Center-supported study away experience in Oaxaca, Mexico was a turning point for their art and activism.