Hopkins Parent and Renowned Constitutional Scholar, Akhil Reed Amar Addresses Students on Inauguration Day

 
Akhil Reed Amar, Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University and parent of Vikram ’17, Kara ‘19 and Sara ’19, addressed students at Assembly encouraging them to become heirs to the great American democratic project. 

“This is a constitutional day,” Professor Amar noted.  “The peaceful transfer of power is a uniquely American phenomenon.  It doesn’t happen in many places around the world and the world didn’t have this before the great American democratic project.”

Starting with George Washington, Professor Amar described the revolutionary uniqueness of a ruler in power handing over power to another, thereby ensuring that the democratic process is greater than one person. 

Holding up a well-worn copy of the Constitution, he noted, “In 1777, we the people ordained this document and said this is how we want to the governed.”  But it is a living document, he said, and the succeeding amendments to the document are precisely that—“it is our nation ‘making amends’ for what is left out—the emancipation of slaves in the 13th amendment, equal citizenship in the 14th, women’s suffrage in the 19th.” 

Professor Amar closed his remarks with a challenge to the students.  This document is your inheritance.  What amends need to be made?  What will the amendments of the future be?

A complete video recording of Professor Amar’s address can be watched in the attached videos.

A biography of Professor Amar is found here.  https://www.law.yale.edu/akhil-reed-amar

At 11:30 a.m. a live-stream of the Inaugural ceremony was available for viewing for students, faculty and staff at the invitation of the Heads of the Young Democrats and Young Republicans of Hopkins School.
 
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