At Cengage, our events provide us with a truly unique opportunity. Not only do we have a chance to share meaningful connections and experiences with members of the higher ed community, but we get to learn about and explore new topics.
This past Constitution Day, we hosted an event with Blinn Community College at Texas A&M-Rellis Campus with our political science and history authors, Wendy J. Schiller of Brown University and Dr. María E. Montoya of New York University. Students, faculty and distinguished scholars came together for a thought-provoking exploration of the U.S. Constitution, diving into its origins, evolution and enduring relevance.
With over 100 students in attendance that day, and even more joining in via livestream, this event highlights a partnership between Texas A&M and Blinn Community College, an institution that serves as the community college partner for the RELLIS Academic Alliance.
Here are some of the topics Dr. Schiller and De. Montoya touched upon that day.
A thoughtful reminder for students
Dr. Schiller, co-author of “Gateways to Democracy: An Introduction to American Government, 6th Edition, opened with a compelling reminder: the Constitution was an experiment in self-governance. Her talk explored how the Founders built a government entirely from scratch. She discussed a remarkable system that still stands two centuries later, and ultimately challenged students to consider how they would design a government today. This session sparked deep reflection on the values and compromises that shaped our nation.
“…I don’t want to put too much on you as a generation. You have some work to do, but…I love celebrating Constitution Day, as you can tell. I love teaching about it. I like teaching American politics. And I would still bet on the United States of America every day of the week… So, hopefully, you can share that enthusiasm.” – Dr. Wendy J. Schiller
In this clip, Dr. Schiller tells attendees about the item she’s been taking with her everywhere she goes since college — her personal copy of the U.S Constitution. Watch to find out why she thinks of it as a “miracle of human nature.”
Effecting meaningful change
Dr. Montoya, co-author of “Global Americans: A History of the United States,” 2nd Edition, built on this foundation. Taking attendees through the amendment process, she highlighted Article V and the difficulty of changing the Constitution. With over 12,000 proposed amendments and only 27 ratified, she explained how political polarization has, at times, stalled reform. Her examples demonstrated how change often comes through the administrative state and judicial review.
“…this is sort of like an enduring, amazing document that we all want sort of ensconced. We believe it is the bedrock of our nation and our society. And I think…it’s up to us. It’s really up to all of you to figure out how to make this document continue to be a living, breathing document, that works for all of you, in a very successful way. – Dr. María E. Montoya
In this clip, Dr. Montoya discusses the significance of what she refers to as “one of the most consequential Articles of the Constitution.”
Leaving room for reflection
Our authors emphasized the importance of local engagement, voting and community involvement. They addressed student questions, offering advice on how young people can influence policy beyond the ballot box.
Events like this are a great representation of collaborative engagement on topics that are relevant to today’s learners. We can’t wait for more opportunities like this to come along in the future.
Wendy J. Schiller, Ph.D., University of Rochester, is the Alison S. Ressler Professor of Political Science and Director of the Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy at Brown University. She was legislative assistant for Senator Daniel P. Moynihan, a federal lobbyist for Governor Mario M. Cuomo, a Guest Scholar and Ph.D. Fellow at the Brookings Institution and a post-doctoral fellow at Princeton University. She teaches courses on a wide range of American politics topics, including Introduction to the American Political Process, The American Presidency, Congress and Public Policy, Parties and Interest Groups and The Philosophy of the American Founding.
María E. Montoya earned her B.A. at Yale University in 1986 and Ph.D. at Yale in 1993. She is Associate Professor of History at New York University as well as the former Dean of Arts and Science at New York University, Shanghai. She was previously Associate Professor of History at the University of Michigan where she also served as the Director of Latina/o Studies. She has taught the U.S. History survey for more than twenty years and has worked on the AP U.S. History Development Committee and consulted with the College Board.
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