Dr. Charles Kesler traces the history of liberalism in the U.S., looking at its origins in progressivism and its opposition to conservatism.
To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Thursday, August seventh, 7:30 pm guest lecture; and select the RealAudio link to the left of the main body of text.
Professor Lucas E. Morel discusses the history of affirmative action in the U.S., looking at how it has changed from the early 1960s to the present day. He examines particularly the 2003 U.S. Supreme Court cases Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger, both on affirmative action.
To listen to this lecture, scroll to session thirteen, and select either the RealAudio link or image in the gray bar to the left of the main body of text.
Dr. Carol Swain speaks about her own views on race relations and the development of race relations, particularly her view that a new "white nationalism" has replaced outright racism in the U.S. today.
To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Thursday, August 7th guest lecture; and select the corresponding RealAudio link to the left.
Dr. Raymond Wolters examines the life of W.E.B. Du Bois and his roles as both scholar and activist.
To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Tuesday, August fifth, guest lecture; and select the corresponding RealAudio link to the left.
Professor Jeffrey Sikkenga examines freedom of speech and continues on to examine the definition and development of the rights of individuals formally accused of crime. He focuses on the 1966 Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona and the 2000 case Dickerson v. U.S., which established and upheld the "Miranda rights"—that is, the reading of an individual's rights to silence and representation upon arrest.
To listen to this lecture, scroll to session 11, and select the RealAudio link to the left of the main body of text.
Professor David Forte looks at the U.S. Constitution and its interpretation, focusing on how Supreme Court Justices have interpreted it—and their own role in lawmaking—throughout U.S. history.
To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Wednesday, July ninth, 7:30 pm guest lecture; and select the RealAudio link to the left of the main body of text.
Professor Ken Masugi examines the 1965 U.S. Supreme Court case Griswold v. Connecticut, in which the Supreme Court ruled that an 1879-established Connecticut law against the use of contraceptives violated a citizen's right to privacy. He looks at how this case interprets the Constitution.
To listen to this lecture, scroll to session eight, and select the RealAudio link to the left of the main body of text.
Professor Ken Masugi follows the establishment of the doctrine of "separate but equal" and its opposition and eventual downfall from a legal perspective. He examines particularly the 1896 Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson and the 1954 case Brown v. Board of Education.
To listen to this lecture, scroll to session five, and select the RealAudio link to the left.
Professor Ken Masugi looks at the functioning of the Supreme Court. He then examines the 1952 Supreme Court Case Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company v. Sawyer, in which the steel company Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. petitioned that President Harry Truman exceeded his presidential powers by instructing Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer to seize control of the U.S. steel industry, under wartime powers.
To listen to this lecture, scroll to session one, and select the RealAudio link to the left of the main body of text.
Professors John Moser and David Tucker discuss the development of the presidency as an institution in the United States, looking at the intentions of the Founding Fathers in creating the institution and what it has evolved into over time.
To listen to this lecture, scroll to session nine, and select either the RealAudio image or link in the gray bar to the left of the main body of text.