It is perhaps more the Declaration of Independence than the Constitution that set the wheels in motion to make a country of truly free human beings, with the earlier document's stipulation that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." It took the Constitution – following a terrible war fought on our own soil and a long struggle by women to gain the vote – longer to meet at least the spirit of the ideal of equality set forth by second paragraph of the Declaration. Nevertheless, the Constitution proved itself flexible enough by allowing for evolution by amendment – early on with the Bill of Rights; later for the abolishment of slavery and the guarantee of a vote not barred by race or color or previous condition of servitude; and finally, granting the vote not barred by a person's gender. To celebrate this political evolution and to recognize Constitution Day this year, the library has assembled a panel of faculty to discuss the historic election and early months in office of our first African-American president.

Panelists are Gaston Espinosa, CMC, Religious Studies; Michelle Bligh, CGU, School of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences: Elizabeth Shermer, CMC, History; Stuart McConnell, Pitzer, History; Darryl Smith, Pomona, Religion. The panel will be moderated by Cecilia Conrad, Dean of Faculty, Pomona College.

Light refreshments will be provided.

For more information, contact Adam Rosenkranz