People waving American flags at the Capitol on Inauguration Day

Inauguration Day Teach-In

On January 20, 2021, Joe Biden will become President of the United States and Kamala Harris will become Vice President.

This transition follows on the heels of a divisive campaign and contested election and in the middle of major turmoil in the United States.

Join us as we gather as a community of students, faculty, and staff to witness the presidential inauguration, to reflect on where and who we are, and to discuss where we will go together.

All are welcome. Let us engage in honest, respectful, and explorative dialogue as we view the inauguration and in sessions facilitated by faculty during the day and beyond.

Inauguration Viewing Event

Capitol Building on Presidential Inauguration Day

Join us as we gather as a community to witness the presidential inauguration, discuss, and respond to it.

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Opening remarks by LMU President Timothy Law Snyder
and introduction by LMU Faculty Senate President Dorothea Herreiner

8:30-9:00 a.m. PST: Opening and Introduction
9:00-11:00 a.m PST: Viewing of the Inauguration, followed by responses from faculty

Panelists:
Elizabeth Drummond, Associate Professor and Chair of History
Richard Fox, Professor and Associate Chair of Political Science and International Relations
Anupama Kapse, Associate Professor of Film, TV and Media Studies
Claudia Sandoval, Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations
Eric Strauss, Professor of Biology and Executive Director of the Center for Urban Resilience (CUREes)
Kimberly West-Faulcon, Professor of Law

View Event Recording

Inauguration Teach-In and Related Events

“We the People” As Protectors of Our Constitutional Democracy

Wednesday, Jan. 20 | 11-11:45 a.m. PST

Kimberly West-Faulcon
James P. Bradley Chair in Constitutional Law & Professor of Law

What impact will the inauguration of Joseph R. Biden have on America’s constitutional system of government and the rule of law? Do we—the people of the United States—have sufficient civic literacy to properly play our constitutional role as protectors of our own freedom? Presentation followed by Q&A.

Suggested viewing before the event: An Independent Judiciary: Cherokee Nation v. Georgia and Cooper v. Aaron

Inauguration 2021 and the Next 100 Days

Wednesday, Jan. 20 | 12-1 p.m. PST

Fernando Guerra, Professor, Political Science & International Relations
Chaya Crowder, Assistant Professor, Political Science & International Relations
Jessica Levinson, Clinical Professor of Law
Michael Genovese, Professor of Political Science & International Relations

Hosted by Student EXP, Center for the Study of Los Angeles (StudyLA), and Grad Student EXP. Join a panel of LMU professors in a discussion on this historic moment and what it means for the future of American politics following the inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

Identification and Incitement: Religion, Race, Nationality & Free Expression in a Hypermediated Age

Wednesday, Jan. 20 | 1-2:15 p.m. PST

Communications Studies Faculty:
Christopher Finlay, Associate Professor
Jason Jarvis, Assistant Professor
Corinna Laughlin, Instructor

Micro-targeting, filter bubbles and other advances in media have profoundly impacted how we understand ourselves, view the “other”, and shape our commitments to the public sphere. In this panel, Communication Studies scholars consider how hypermediation creates new opportunities for connection and self-expression, while simultaneously contributing to a political climate that is increasingly characterized by mistrust, conspiracy, and hate.

View Event Recording

Freedom of Speech in an Age of Insurrection and the Internet

Wednesday, Jan. 20 | 5-6:15 p.m. PST

Evan Gerstmann
Professor of Political Science

The ideal of freedom of speech is under tremendous challenge. Is it more dangerous to allow fringe theories, alternative facts, and hate speech than it is to censor dissenting voices? Have the tech giants replaced government as the most powerful form of censorship? What does the Constitution say about this? Presentation followed by Q&A.

View Event Recording

School of Education Teach-In

Wednesday, January 20 | 7-8 p.m. PST

Yvette Lapayese, Professor, Keynote Speaker

SOE Faculty Panel:
William Perez, Associate Dean
Dana Coleman, Program Administrator, Clinical Education Services
Natasha D’Costa, Assistant Director, TFA & Intern Partnerships
Fernando Estrada, Associate Professor
Manuel Ponce, Clinical Associate Professor
Marta Sanchez, Professor

The inauguration is an opportunity to engage in critical conversations about the struggles & possibilities of education in a democratic society. As an institution committed to forming change agents—teachers, counselors, school psychologists, leaders—we embrace the educational challenges of this historic event.

Impeachment 101: Removing the President

Thursday, Jan. 21 | 3-4 p.m. PST

Aaron H. Caplan
Professor of Law

For the first time in U.S. history, a new president is sworn into office while the previous president has been impeached by the House and awaits a trial in the Senate. In this session, you will learn about the mechanics and history of impeachment under the constitution, and how these principles may play out in the coming weeks.

Suggested viewing before the event: Presidential Impeachment Under the U.S. Constitution

View Event Recording

The Political Power of Propaganda Design

Friday, Jan. 22 | 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. PST

Michael Dooley
Professor of History of Design

This online event by LMU History of Design Professor Michael Dooley will analyze the ways in which graphic design is used for political manipulation and incitement. It will also examine the vital importance of visual communication in today’s climate of home-grown terrorism.
Photo: Time illustration by Edel Rodriguez

View Event Recording

Post-Inauguration Discussion

Friday, January 22 | 3:30-4:45pm PST

Stefan Bradley
Professor of African American Studies

BCLA faculty/staff members of color and those who consider themselves allies/accomplices, please meet Stefan Bradley (BCLA Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives) for a post-inauguration discussion. There will be no official agenda, but good people will come together to commiserate and celebrate, exploring tips for surviving and thriving in these tumultuous times. Please contact the organizer for more information.

Coup, Coronation and Crowds event graphic

Coups, Coronations, and Crowds: Transitions of Power

Thursday, Jan. 14 | 12:30 p.m PST

LMU History Department

Hear from historians about the strange, the disturbing, and even very occasionally the peaceful transitions between administrations and regimes. What rituals do we use to signal a legitimate authority? When do people contest this? In the week before the inauguration,, join us to consider these questions.

View Recorded Event

Last Day, First Day

As part of LMU’s pre-inauguration "teach-in" in 2017, "Last Day, First Day” was organized by Garland Kirkpatrick, Erik Benjamins '08, Brian Moss, Aristotle Mosier and Neno Pervan. The exhibition, performance, conversation and screening took place in the Thomas P. Kelly Student Art Gallery in the Burns Fine Arts Center starting the day before the 2017 inauguration.

The event featured Benjamins’ open call for letters to Barack Obama as he exited the U.S. Presidency and letters to Donald Trump as he entered the presidency. Art, graphics, maps, articles, and other texts examining that election by faculty and students were also featured (view 2017 event photos below). The exhibition was sponsored by Studio Arts, Theatre Arts, College of Communication and Fine Arts, and Ethnic & Intercultural Services.

Erik Benjamins has organized a 2020 edition of the "Last Day, First Day" project. Learn more at lastdayfirstday.com or view the submission guidelines. Submissions are due Jan. 20, 2021.

View Last Day First Day Press Release
Photo: Letters by Fred Free, 2016