Constitution expert to take on affirmative action, gun rights and more at Hauenstein Center event

Constitutional expert and scholar Akhil Reed Amar will talk about why culturally and politically polarizing topics, including gun control, affirmative action, gay marriage and the Affordable Care Act, can be interpreted in different ways at a September 14 event hosted by Grand Valley's Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies.

Amar, the current Sterling Professor of Law at Yale University and former political consultant to the hit TV show "West Wing" will explain why different interpretations of the Constitution impact how policy decisions are made in the United States. Amar has discussed constitutional interpretation and law as a guest on The Colbert Report, Charlie Rose, and in publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, and The L.A. Times.

Amar will also discuss his new book, "The Constitution Today: Timeless Lessons for the Issues of Our Era". 

Akhil Reed Amar: The Constitution Today

Wednesday, September 14, 7 p.m.

GVSU Pew Grand Rapids Campus, Loosemore Auditorium

Event is free and open to the public

Seating is limited, advance registration strongly encouraged

"When you watch the news, it can be hard to decipher the stakes involved in constitutional interpretation," said Scott St. Louis, program manager for the Hauenstein Center's Common Ground Initiative. "We are very excited for Akhil Amar's presentation, considering his reputation for making political theory and constitutional interpretation both interesting and accessible to a broad audience."

Amar has been recognized by bipartisan legal organizations for his contributions to the field of constitutional analysis, and teaches constitutional law both at Yale College and Yale Law School. He has won awards from both the American Bar Association and the Federalist Society.

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, Library and Museum is partnering with the Hauenstein Center to help put on this event.

For more information, visit hauensteincenter.org.