First Presidential Roundtable to address January 6 Capitol attack, Constitutional issues

Grand Valley State University's four most recent presidents will gather February 24 to host a roundtable discussion regarding the U.S. Constitution and the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6.

The event will feature Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, along with GVSU President Philomena V. Mantella and former presidents Thomas Haas, Mark Murray, and Arend Lubbers. 

The discussion will focus on the role of the U.S. Constitution, and how Americans can move forward from the violent attacks on the Capitol to heal the pain suffered by many.

GVSU Presidential Roundtable: The Constitution

Featuring Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO, National Constitution Center

February 24, 7 p.m.

Virtual Event; RSVP required via this link

This is the first in a series of Presidential Roundtable discussions, prompted by the January 6 insurrection. Future topics will include elections and democracy.

"We, as members of an academic community, will seize this moment to explore the divisions straining our civil discourse," said Mantella. "Grand Valley is defined by fair, rigorous and open intellectual exchange offered with respect for the rule of law, democracy and the inclusion of people of all backgrounds."

"Careful examination of the Constitution, voting rights and procedures, journalism, social media and other related subjects will bring focus to this undertaking. We know our campus community can pull together during this ongoing time of unique trial to be a model of the best humanity has to offer. This series is one such way."

The Presidential Roundtable Series is presented by Grand Valley State University, the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, assisted by the GVSU College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies, the Office of Student Life, the Frederik Meijer Honors College and its Padnos/Sarosik Civil Discourse Program.

The National Constitution Center is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate the public about the U.S. Constitution. The Center engages millions of citizens as an interactive museum, national town hall, and provider of nonpartisan resources for civic education. Rosen became president and CEO in 2013 and has developed its acclaimed Interactive Constitution, which brings together the top conservative and liberal legal scholars in America to discuss areas of agreement and disagreement about every clause of the Constitution. The online resource has received more than 30 million hits since launching in 2015.

For more information on the roundtable series, visit the Presidential Roundtable website.