Professors Defend their Profession on Constitution Day

By Kristen Griffith and Brandon Smith, The Whetstone

Instead of a three-day event with guest speakers like last year, this year’s Constitution Day featured Wesley’s own professors.

Professor Victor Greto, Dr. Cynthia Newton and Professor Elizabeth Marchioni hosted the event Sept.17. They asked the audience of about 100 to name negative stereotypes of journalists, politicians, and lawyers. They then explained those professions’ purpose and motives and how they related to the Constitution.

Freshman Kayla Ryan enjoyed Constitution Day.

“It was a nice review of the Constitution because it took into account modern times and how it still connects,” she said.

Greto, multimedia professor and journalist, represented journalists; Newton, professor of political science, represented politicians; and Marchioni, professor of law and justice studies, and a non-practicing attorney, represented lawyers.

“I liked the journalism perspective the best because it was the funniest compared to the other two, which were more serious,” Ryan said. “Greto’s examples made it interesting and humorous.”

Although Constitution Day was a refresher for junior Jarrett Williams, he was more than satisfied with the event.

“Personally, I already knew a lot of the information,” he said. “It was nice to see the teachers in an open setting, talking in front of the group.”

William said the only thing he disliked was that it didn’t last long enough.

“I wish there were more events like that – teachers talking about what they do,” he said.

Junior La’Conya Eley noticed that professor’s pushed for student interaction.

“We were a crutch to open up the discussion,” junior La’Conya Eley said.

Graduate student Carl Simpson also noticed the professor’s reliance on the audience.

“The teachers depended on the students,” Simpson said

Newton said constant student involvement was always the plan.

“I love Constitution Day, it’s one of my favorite days and I get excited,” Newton said. “I like exposing students to this information.”

The professors wanted the audience to call out common complaints people have about journalists, politicians and lawyers. One of the stereotypes for all three of them was that they’re liars.

Marchioni said lawyers need to withhold certain truths for their client’s sake.

“They’re innocent until proven guilty,” she said. “We can’t go spilling our guts.”

Marchioni said the Constitution allows the accused to keep quiet if they want to; lawyers can lie if it’s in their client’s best interest.

Newton said it’s in the public’s best interest when politicians lie.

“They tell you what you want to hear,” she said. “Think of them as creative interpreters.”

She said if politicians do not lie, they most likely will not be elected.

“Journalists are supposed to listen and catch them (lying),” Greto said.

He said the job of a journalists is to investigate, and point out the lies people, like politicians, make.

Another common complaint made about the three professions was that they are biased.

Greto said all journalists are biased.

“The more serious you are, and the more professional you are, you can strip some of that bias away,” he said.

Newton said being biased is necessary for politicians.

“Would you want someone in office who’s completely neutral?” she said. “Why would you vote for them?”

Newton said people vote for the person in their corresponding political parties; they pick the candidate who shares their political views.

“I can’t say that bias is a bad thing,” she said.

She gave an example about Republicans who say Donald Trump is “not a real Republican,” because some of his political views are not the same as most Republicans.

“You want someone who is biased,” Newton said.

Marchioni said lawyers can be biased, but the court is supposed to be neutral.

“Lawyers are advocates of our clients,” she said. “We’re biased for our clients.”

The audience agreed that politicians have the worst reputation out of the three.