Making Sense of the 2016 Elections

 

The 2016 presidential election has been unique in many respects, but like all presidential elections it has brought important political and societal issues to the forefront of our public dialogue. In this day-long symposium we will discuss some of these important issues, hearing from scholars and practitioners in Utah and beyond. Specific panels will focus on some of the most hotly debated issues of the current election cycle, including: immigration and national security; the importance and impact of our elections laws and processes; and the current state of criminal justice and police practices in the United States. Through these in-depth discussions we will break through the cycles of spin and partisan rhetoric that dominate our elections, and better understand these critical public issues.

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Panel 1: Immigration & National Security (11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.)

Immigration, national security, and the intersection of these issues have played a significant role in the current election, from Donald Trump's plans to build a wall and restrict Muslim immigration, to concerns about the threat our current immigration policies may pose to Americans' security. Panelists will discuss immigration and immigration policy as it affects Utah and the United States, and discuss important issues regarding how we think about the link between immigration and security.

Panelists
Jean Hill, Government Liaison for the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City
Derek Monson, Sutherland Institute
Dr. Saher Selod, Simmons College
Dr. Brent Steele, University of Utah

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Panel 2: Fair Elections? Elections Rules and Biases in the U.S. (1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.)

In August, Donald Trump expressed his concern that the election may be "rigged" against him. While elections may not be rigged in the traditional sense, it is not at all clear that our elections processes are "fair." Panelists will discuss how the way we run our elections impacts our politics, commenting on recent controversies over voter ID laws, the Utah caucus system, and more.

Panelists
Leah Farrell, ACLU
Dr. Lindsay Nielson, Bucknell University
Dr. Jessica Preece, Brigham Young University

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Panel 3: Criminal Justice, Policing, and Police Practices (3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

Even before Donald Trump declared himself the "law and order candidate," criminal justice and policing issues had been brought to the forefront of this election cycle, stemming from various police-involved shootings, the emergence of Black Lives Matter, and numerous controversies over sentencing practices in the United States. Panelists will provide critical commentary on these issues and more.

Panelists
State Senator Luz Escamilla (District 1)
Dr. Edmund Fong, University of Utah
Dr. Nazgol Ghandnoosh, The Sentencing Project
State Representative Eric K. Hutchings (District 38)