Will U.S. democracy survive the 2016 election?

Bryant University's Hassenfeld Institute for Public Leadership and the College of Arts and Sciences are co-hosting “Will American Democracy Survive the 2016 Election?,” a panel discussion on April 7 at 7 p.m. in Stepan Grand Hall at the George E. Bello Center for Information and Technology. The event is free and open to the public.

The panel will explore the latest issues of the presidential primary and its effects on policy. The panelists are:

• Fox News contributor Leslie Marshall, host of the nationally-syndicated radio talk show The Leslie Marshall Show;
• Former N.Y. Republican Congressman John Leboutlier, co-host of Political Insiders on Fox News;
• National security expert Scott Bates, president, Center for National Policy;
• Col. Rob Simmons, First Selectman, Stonington, CT, former Connecticut Republican congressman.

Lee Elci, host of The Lee Elci Show on CBS News 94.9 in Connecticut, will moderate the panel.

This discussion is part of Bryant's "Road to Election 2016" initiative to increase voter turnout, facilitate campus discussion, and encourage political awareness. In January, more than 20 Bryant students traveled to Manchester, N.H., to participate in the New Hampshire Primary Student Convention, which opens the state's primary process to students from all over the country. Students listened to speeches from Bernie Sanders and Chris Christie, among others. In March, Assistant Professor of English and Cultural Studies Amber Day, Ph.D., led a student and faculty roundtable on the political conversation as choreographed by the news media. The discussion focused on understanding journalistic objectivity and going beyond party talking points.

The Hassenfeld Institute helps public officials strengthen their leadership, management, and strategic thinking skills by matching them with Bryant faculty experts. More than 1,500 attendees from Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts have participated in its programs.