>> COMING UP NEXT, INSIGHTS ON THE WAR IN IRAN FROM THE PROFESSORS AND LOCAL POLITICIANS BLOCK PLANS FOR IMMIGRANT DETENTION CENTERS , ALSO , CAN GAY STUDENTS BE EXCLUDED FROM A CHRISTIAN-BASED STAY TUNED , FOR "IVORY TOWER".

THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER," THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

THE PROFESSORS AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT ARE TARA ROSS OF ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE LUKE PERRY OF UTICA UNIVERSITY ANIRBAN ACHARYA OF LEMOYNE COLLEGE AND JOSH DARR OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY AMERICA IS UNOFFICIALLY AT WAR WITH IRAN, ALONGSIDE OUR STRONGEST ALLY, ISRAEL , BUT THE QUESTION OF WHY WE'RE AT WAR NOW WHAT THE END GOAL IS , AND HOW LONG IT'ILL TAKE TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL, ALL REMAIN UNCLEAR.

MEANWHILE, THE COUNTRY IS DIVIDED ON THE SUBJECT.

SOME SAY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU ARE DOING THE WORLD A FAVOR BY NEUTRALIZING THE LEAD SPONSOR OF TERRORISM AROUND THE WORLD.

OTHERS WORRY ABOUT RISING ENERGY PRICES AND THE PROSPECTS OF A FOREVER WAR.

TARA DO YOU COME DOWN IN ALL OF THIS?

GIVE US YOUR ASSESSMENT.

>> WELL, WHEN INITIALLY LOOK AT THIS, I THINK CREATE A WAR, WIN A WAR, WIN A NOBEL PRIZE BECAUSE , YOU KNOW, THAT AT LEAST WOULD GIVE US SOME CLARITY ABOUT WHY WE ARE ACTUALLY AT WAR.

NOW DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME.

IRAN DEFINITELY WAS A BAD PLAYER IN THE REGION, SUPPORTED GROUPS LIKE HEZBOLLAH, HAMAS, HUTIS THAT CERTAINLY ARE TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS SO ABSOLUTELY YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE THEM DISAPPEAR, BUT THE BIG ISSUE IS WHY RIGHT NOW?

WHAT SPECIFICALLY HAD IRAN DONE NAT THAT MADE AMERICA FEEL THREATENED, NOT ISRAEL BUT AMERICA.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS AND UNFORTUNATELY IF YOU LISTEN TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE PRESIDENT, WE STILL DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS.

>> THEY'VE THROWN OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS AND IT HAS COME FROM DIFFERENT PLACES ABOUT THE IMMINENT THREAT IDEA.

THE FIRST IS THAT IRAN HAS BEEN BUILDING THIS STOCKPILE OF MISSILES AND DRONES TO THE POINT THAT THEY MAY NOT BE STOPPED.

THE OTHER IS THAT THEY HAVE REACHED THE POINT OF 60% URANIUM.

IRAN SAID WE CAN BUILD EIGHT TO 10 NUCLEAR BOMBS NOW.

YOU DON'T BUY THAT?

>> I DON'T BUY IT SIMPLY BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL A YEAR AGO, AFTER ATTACKS IN IRAN, THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT WE HAD COMPLETELY OBLITERATED THEIR NUCLEAR CAPABILITY.

THEN THIS YEAR WE COME BACK AND WE FIND NO, WE DIDN'T COMPLETELY OBLITERATE THE NUCLEAR CAPABILITY.

SO PART OF THE PROBLEM IS WHICH STORY IS THE TRUE STORY?

>> JOSH, WOULD THE GOAL OF SORT OF GETTING RID OF IRAN'S NUCLEAR WEAPONRY CAPACITY, WOULD THAT JUSTIFY THIS WAR?

IS IT GOOD ENOUGH?

>> I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT POSSIBLE JUSTIFICATION.

I THINK IT'S JUST NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN.

I THINK THE PRESIDENT WENT TO THE PRESS AFTER THE ATTACKS TO SAY WELL, MAYBE THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

MAYBE THIS IS WHY I DID IT.

HE TALKED TO DIFFERENT MEDIA MEMBERS ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE MAKING COMPARISONS TO IRAQ.

THE DIFFERENCE WITH IRAQ IS THAT THERE WAS A MEDIA PLAN BEFORE THAT.

THEY HAD REPORTERS THAT THEY COULD TALK TO.

THEY HAD A ROLLOUT, A DRUMBEAT TO WAR THAT HAD ITS PROBLEMS, BUT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE REPORTERS IN THE PENTAGON, IT'S A LOT HARDER TO DO.

THIS WAS-- WE CAN'T MAKE ASSESSMENTS WITHOUT GOALS.

WE ARE PROFESSORS WE KNOW THAT.

WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, SEE WHAT THE RAMIFICATIONS ARE WITHOUT KNOWING THE EXPECTATIONS.

THAT'S ONE REASON.

BUT THERE ARE OTHERS.

>> AREN'T WE SEEING THE RAMIFICATIONS?

IRAN IS BOMBING PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING IN THE GULF REGION.

QATAR, SAUDI ARABIA, OTHER ARAB STATES.

I MEAN AREN'T THEY PROVING THE POINT THAT THEY CAN'T BE TRUSTED WITH WEAPONRY?

>> POSSIBLY.

I THINK THAT IRAN KNOWS HOW TO MAKE THE U.S.

UNCOMFORTABLE AND MAKING THE ALLIES UNCOMFORTABLE.

MAKING THE OTHER NATIONS AROUND THERE UNCOMFORTABLE.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO WIN.

IT HAS TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE TO STAY.

THEY'RE DOING THAT.

>> THE IRANIANS DON'T TRUST THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE IN THE 1950S WE DEPOSED THEIR DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT AND HAVE HAD BAD RELATIONSHIPS EVER SINCE.

I THINK THEY'RE REACTING TO A BIG SWIFT ATTACK WE STRATEGICALLY ENGAGED IN BECAUSE ISRAEL INFORMED US THEY WERE GOING TO DO IT.

THEY JUST WANTED OUR SUPPORT.

UNITED STATES SAID WE WILL DO IT WITH YOU.

IT WAS NOT SMART THAT TRUMP WITHDREW FROM THE MONITORING THAT WASN'T PERFECT.

WE ARE IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

I WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SUPPORTIVE OF LIMITED STRIKES IF THE URANIUM YOU MENTIONED WAS AT THE LEVELS THAT COULD PRODUCE A BOMB, IF THEY ACTIVATED THEIR NUCLEAR PROGRAM BUT WE OPTED FOR SOMETHING MUCH LARGER AND EXPANSIVE WITH MANY MORE NEGATIVE REPERCUSSIONS.

>> IT'S ONLY AT 60% NOW, NOT WEAPONS GRADE 90%.

BUT LUKE, THEY WERE HIDING THEIR NUCLEAR FACILITIES UNDERGROUND AND SO THE AGREEMENT THAT OBAMA HAD, MANY SAID THERE WAS NO WAY TO ENFORCE IT BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T ALLOW, YOU KNOW, THOSE WHO WOULD CHECK TO SEE IT, COME IN.

>> THERE ARE CHALLENGES BUT NO DOUBT THE URANIUM IS HIGHER SINCE 2018 THAN IT WAS UNDER THAT AGREEMENT.

>> YEAH, ANIRBAN.

>> ANOTHER FOREIGN MINISTER CAME STRAIGHT TO FACE THE NATION AND SAID WE HAVE GOT A VERY, VERY GOOD DEAL FROM IRAN, MUCH BETTER DEAL THAN CPOA, SOMETHING TRUMP COULD USE SAYING THEY-- ZERO STOCKPILING.

THEY WERE ALL IGNORED TO NOW SAY IT IS ABOUT THEIR NUCLEAR WEAPONS, I DON'T BUY IT.

LET'S BE CLEAR HERE, ALL RIGHT.

WHAT IRAN-- WHAT IRAN IS DOING NOW ISRAEL HAS DONE FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

ISRAEL GOES AND BOMBS WHOEVER THEY FEEL LIKE WHENEVER THEY FEEL LIKE.

THERE IS A NUCHT SECRETARY RESOLUTIONS IN 1981 THAT TALKS ABOUT INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY GOING INTO ISRAEL TO LOOK AT THEIR NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED IN.

NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN WE WILL ATTACK IRAN.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE INTERNATIONAL LAW, IT IS VERY CLEAR.

AN AGGRESSIVE MOVE.

MOST INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW SCHOLARS WOULD AGREE THIS IS NOT A-- THAT THIS IS NOT A VIOLATION OF THE U.N.

CHARTER.

NOW WHAT I THINK IS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION DID NOT HAVE A CLEAR IDEA ABOUT WHAT-- THERE ARE TWO BUCKETS.

RIGHT?

WHY ARE WE GOING TO WAR AND WHAT IS THE END GOAL?

BOTH PARTS, I THINK ARE FLIMSY.

I THINK ONE OF THE THOUGHTS THAT WE WILL TAKE AWAY, KHAMENEI AND ENTIRE REGIME WOULD COLLAPSE LIKE A HOUSE OF CARDS.

THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

IRAN IS A MASSIVE, MASSIVE CULTURE, 4,000 TO 5,000 YEARS OLD, CIVILIZATION AS A RESULTING FROM THE ACHAEMENIDS SO IT'S NOT EASY TO JUST COME IN AND BOMB AND JUST GET RID OF A COUNTRY.

>> LET ME CHALLENGE YOU ON THIS ANIRBAN.

I WAS VERY YOUNG WHEN THIS HAPPENED, WHEN THE AMERICAN HSES HOSTAGES WERE TAKEN BY IRAN.

WE SAT FOR A LONG TIME WATCHING THIS UNFOLD.

FOR DECADES IRAN HAS BEEN ATTACKING VARIOUS AMERICANS TARGETS.

AND WE SAW WITH OUR VERY OWN EYES, UPWARDS TO 30,000 PROTESTORS KILLED IN THE STREETS.

WHY ISN'T THAT ENOUGH?

>> WELL, LOOK, 30,000 PROTESTORS IN THE STREET IS THE NEWS THAT WE ARE GETTING FROM THE WESTERN MEDIA, RIGHT?

THERE ARE VARIOUS OTHER MEDIA ANALYSIS THAT WOULD REFUTE THAT.

BUT HERE, TO YOUR POINT, ARE WE NOW GOING TO GO AFTER EVERY REGIME THAT WE THINK ARE A ROGUE REGIME OR WE THINK THAT IS NOT DOING GOOD BY THESE PEOPLE.

THERE IS A VERY STRONG IRANIAN CIVIL SOCIETY.

ONE OF THE RECENT FIELD MEDALS IN MATHEMATICS WENT TO AN IRANIAN SCHOLAR.

IT'S NOT THAT THE IRANIANS WERE NOT TAKING PART IN PROTESTS.

LET THAT CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVITY GO ON NOW.

SAYING WE WANT TO SAVE IRAN FROM AN OPPRESSIVE REGIME AND NOW WE ARE BOMBING THEM.

I DON'T SEE THE COHERENCE OF THIS LOGIC.

>> WE WILL SEE AS THINGS MOVE UNFOLD.

MOVING ON NOW.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IS BUYING UP COMMERCIAL WAREHOUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY , INCLUDING HERE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK , THE PLAN IS TO CONVERT THE WAREHOUSES INTO MASS IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTERS , BUT SOME LOCAL POLITICIANS ARE BUT SOME LOCAL POLITICIANS ARE PUSHING BACK.

OFFICIALS IN CHESTER, NEW YORK RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT SEWAGE CAPACITY , ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ADEQUATE POLICING, THE LOSS OF PROBABILITY OF PROTESTS , BUT ICE MAINTAINS , LOCAL COMMUNITIES HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

THAT THE FACILITIES WILL ACTUALLY BRING MORE JOBS, MORE REVENUE AND MORE PUBLIC SAFETY ANIRBAN, COMING BACK TO YOU, WHAT IS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION FOR THEIR CITIES AND TOWNS.

SHOULD THEY ROLL OUT THE WELCOME MAT OR NOT.

>> THAT DEPENDS ON THE CITY TO CITY.

I DO NOT SEE ANY BLANKET REASON TO SAY NO OR YES, BUT I AM, IN PRINCIPLE, AGAINST WAREHOUSING PEOPLE IN VERY LARGE SPACES.

SO THEY'RE SAYING, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A HUGE WAREHOUSE, I'M GOING TO PUT IN 40,000 DETAINEES IN THERE.

WHAT WOULD BE THE CONDITION OF EXISTENCE FOR THESE DETAINEES BECAUSE THESE PLACES WERE BUILT NOT FOR PEOPLE, BUT THEY WERE BUILT FOR GOODS AND MATERIAL THINGS.

>> THE PLAN IS TO REFURBISH THEM TO OUTFIT THEM.

>> YOU SEE THAT GOING ON WITH THE ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ, THE JUDGE HAD TO SHUT IT DOWN.

REFURBISHMENTS ARE HASTY, PLUMBING, YOU KNOW, KITCHEN, YOU NEED HEALTHCARE FACILITY.

YOU NEED, YOU KNOW, TOILETS AND ALL THAT STUFF.

IT REALLY BOGGLES MY MIND HOW FAST YOU CAN SCALE UP THESE PLACES WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A HUMANE WAY TO DETAIN PEOPLE, RIGHT?

AND AGAIN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHETHER DETAINING IS GOOD OR BAD BUT I THINK THIS IS TOO HASTY FOR THAT.

>> MONEY TALKS THOUGH, RIGHT?

THE FUNDING WAS 3 MILLION FOR THESE DETENTION CENTERS NOW IT'S $45 MILLION.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS MONEY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO THROW AT THIS.

AND THE PLANS INCLUDE HOUSING, FOOD, LIBRARIES, REC CENTERS.

SO SCEPTICISM IS WARRANTED BUT IT'S IN THE PLAN.

AND THE ALTERNATIVE IS TENT CAMPS WHICH ICE TRIED AND THAT DIDN'T WORK WELL OR PUTTING THEM IN PRISONS.

SO THERE IS POTENTIAL BENEFIT FROM DOING THIS IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL PROCESS.

>> YEAH, TO YOUR POINT, LUKE, 70 MILLION IN ARIZONA, 84 MILLION IN PENNSYLVANIA, 100 MILLION MARYLAND AND IT SEEMS LIKE A BLANK CHECK.

COULD THAT MONEY BE BETTER SPENT ON IMMIGRATION JUDGES THAT WOULD WIN OWE DOWN THE NEED FOR DETENTION?

>> WELL, WE CAN SCRUTINIZE THAT ALL DAY LONG.

PROBABLY IS THE SHORT ANSWER.

BUT THESE DETENTION CENTERS AND IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IS HERE TO STAY FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

I WOULD SAY DO IT MORE HUMANELY.

>> WOULDN'T IT BE MORE HUMANE TO HAVE LARGER SPACES, TAR AR TARA?

>> IN GENERAL I THINK IT WOULD BE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU READ ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE VARIOUS DETENTION CENTERS NOW.

SO THIS DOES SEEM LIKE A BETTER PLAN.

PART OF MY CONCERN IS THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THE FACILITIES WILL BE BOUGHT AND REFURBISHED BY SEPTEMBER.

THAT'S A PRETTY TALL ORDER.

THAT'S NOT THAT LONG TO, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH IT'S KIND OF A BLAIPG SLATE SO TO SPEAK, THAT'S NOT THAT LONG TO GET SOMETHING UP AND RUNNING IN THE WAY THAT WE ARE BEING TOLD IT'S GOING TO BE.

THE OTHER THING IS WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THE CENTERS ARE GOING TO ATTRACT IN TERMS OF ARE WE GOING TO THEN SEE, YOU KNOW, CONSTANT PROTESTS OUTSIDE THESE CENTERS?

ARE WE GOING TO SEE CONSTANT ICE ACTIVITY OUTSIDE THESE CENTERS AND IS THAT GOING TO LEAD TO EVEN MORE PROTESTS BECAUSE ICE IS THERE?

I THINK IT'S A PRO AND CON.

HAVE YOU TO WEIGH WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF COMMUNITY.

AND ONE LAST THING.

IF THE GOAL HERE IS TO PROCESS THESE INDIVIDUALS AND THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT MOST OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE DEPORTED OUT, HOW LONG ARE THESE CENTERS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE IN USE?

BECAUSE AT SOME POINT, IF WE ARE ACTUALLY ACHIEVING WHAT THE GOAL IS, YOU WOABTS HAVE MORE AND MORE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS COMING IN TO KEEP SUPPORTING THE NEED FOR THOSE CENTERS.

>> I'M WAITING FOR THAT TO BE THAT THEY COULD BE A.I.

DATA CENTERS, RIGHT?

THERE IS ENOUGH OF A PARALLEL ISSUE HAPPENING WITH WAREHOUSES AND THE ACTUAL BENEFIT FOR JOBS AND CAN WE FORCE THIS ON COMMUNITIES.

FEDERALISM IS GOING TO STAY IN THE WAY OF THIS.

PEOPLE NEED TO MAKE A CASE AND A AND ICE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE THESE SORT OF BIG SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS BUT YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE A CITY COUNCIL AND STATE LEGISLATURE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

>> ANIRBAN'S POINT, IT SHOULD BE UP TO LOCALITIES.

I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH STATES BANNING THESE AND NEW YORK IS PROBABLY GOING TO CONSIDER IT.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IS FEDERALISM GONE AWRY.

>> LOOK AT THE COMMUNITIES HERE.

SOME COMMUNITIES THINK IT'S AN ASSAULT ON THEIR MORAL HEALTH THEY SHOULDN'T DO IT BUT OTHER COMMUNITIES WHERE THE JOBS ARE NOT-- I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HASTINESS.

IN ORDER TO RETRO FIT THIS HUGE AREA TO HOLD THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN A VERY SHORT TIME, I DON'T KNOW.

THAT SEEMS LIKE A RECIPE FOR DISASTER IN MANY CASES BUT WE WILL SEE.

>> YEAH, A COUPLE OF YOU HAVE ENGS SOMED THIS IDEA THAT LOCALITIES SHOULD MAKE THE DECISION.

BUT LET'S SAY THAT MOST OF THE LOCALITIES IN BLUE STATES SAY NO.

THAT MEANS THESE DETENTION CENTERS WILL END UP IN RED STATES WHERE THERE IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE LESS ATTENTION, LESS OVERSIGHT, LESS PROTESTING, LESS WATCHFULNESS.

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THAT, JOSH?

>> WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE RACE TO THE BOTTOM IN ECONOMICS THAT WE SEE ACROSS DIFFERENT STATES.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE DYNAMIC THAT WOULD PLAY OUT.

IF THERE IS A WAY TO DO IT TO MAKE THE CASE THAT MAKE BLUE STATES SAY YES, MAKE THE CASE.

>> EVEN BLUE STATES ARE BIG AND DIE SCRERS.

CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK HAVE CONSERVATIVE POCKETS.

I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE AN ALL OR NOTHING ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

>> CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT ALSO, RIGHT.

CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT, PEOPLE CAN GO IN AND CHECK THESE PLACES.

>> IN THEORY.

>> NOW TO OUR THIRD TOPIC.

THE BALDWINSVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS CURRENTLY LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE , ACCORDING TO THE POST STANDARD, THE DISTRICT RECENTLY PLACED ONE OF ITS HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS ON PAID LEAVE BECAUSE SHE ALLEGEDLY EXCLUDED A STUDENT FROM A CHRISTIAN-BASED SCHOOL GROUP, BECAUSE OF THE STUDENT'S SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

BUT FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THREE WEEKS THE SCHOOL BOARD'S MEETING WAS PACKED, WITH PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO CAME OUT TO SUPPORT THE TEACHER , GROUP IN QUESTION, A CHAPTER OF TURNING POINT USA , IS PROVIDING A SPACE FOR CONSERVATIVE, CHRISTIAN VIEWS IF THE ALLEGATION IS TRUE , DO YOU SEE THIS AS A CASE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM VERSUS EQUAL TREATMENT IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL, OR SOMETHING ELSE?

>> SURE, I THINK WE ENDED-- WE COMPLICATE WHAT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM MEANS HERE BECAUSE WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF KEEPING RELIGION OUT OF GOVERNMENT OR MAKING SURE THAT RELIGION IS NOT MAKING-- MAKING SURE THAT GOVERNMENT IS MAKING THESE DECISIONS OR THAT PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO A RELIGION-FREE SPACE IN GOVERNMENT SPACES.

FREEDOM OF RELIGION WRITTEN AND CONCEIVED AS I UNDERSTAND IT IS ABOUT AS MUCH OF KEEPING RELIGION SEPARATE FROM GOVERNMENT, MAKING SURE THAT RELIGION CAN BE ITSELF AND PRACTICE ITSELF THE WAY THAT IT NEEDS TO DO AND WANTS TO DO IN SPACES THAT ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE KIND OF OVERSIGHT AND CONTROVERSY AND POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS, WHICH THIS CASE HAS PLENTY OF, THAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT A GOVERNMENT AGENCY OR A GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT OPERATION LIKE A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW, THIS-- THERE HAS BEEN A STRONG MOVE TOWARD MORE RELIGION IN SCHOOLS.

I WAS AT LSU BEFORE THIS WHERE THE 10 COMMANDMENTS ARE IN EVERY CLASSROOM.

USED TO BE THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

NOW BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR I GUESS IS THE THING BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO LEAD TO MORE CONTROVERSY FOR THE RELIGIOUS SIDE OF THINGS AND THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT IT.

>> DO YOU THINK IT MATTERS THAT IT'S A STUDENT GROUP AND NOT NECESSARILY THE FACULTY OR THE ADMINISTRATION?

DOES THAT MAKE IT LESS OF AN ISSUE OF SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE?

>> IT DOES AND IT DOESN'T BECAUSE THE STUDENT CLUB NEEDS A FACULTY ADVISER.

THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE WHO ARE 18 AND THE FACULTY ADVISER MEANS THERE IS AN INVESTMENT OF STATE RESOURCES IN THAT PERSON'S TIME.

AND OF COURSE THAT BECOMES THE NEXUS OF CONFLICT AND NOW THE TEACHER WHO SEEMS QUITE WELL LIKED IS THE CENTER OF THESE MEETINGS.

THEY'RE DEFENDING HER.

>> YEAH, THIS IS BECOMING A BIG DEAL, ANIRBAN, BECAUSE LOTS OF FOLKS ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CONNECTION TO THE NOW LATE CHARLIE KIRK'S TURNING POINT USA.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW-- THERE ARE SOME ISSUES ABOUT THE CHARLIE KIRK TURNING POINT USA GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS BUT IF YOU CLEAR OUT THAT HAZINESS, HERE IS THE THING, RIGHT?

IS IT LEGAL TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST STUDENTS ROLE IN A CLUB BASED ON ITS SEXUALITY?

BASED ON THEIR SEXUALITY?

I THINK THE ANSWER IS NO.

AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, BECAUSE OF THE SEXUALITY OF THE STUDENT, THE STUDENT IS NOW ASKED TO GIVE UP HER ROLE AS A LEADER OF THAT CLUB.

IS THAT LEGAL?

CAN ONE DO THAT?

APART FROM THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT MATTHEW 25:25-40 YOU WOULD SEE THAT JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT LOVE FOR EVERYONE RATHER THAN... BUT THAT'S A BIGGER YES.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE A PREACHER, TOO, ANIRBAN?

>> BUT I'M SAYING THAT IS IT LEGAL?

LIKE WHATEVER THE TEACHER MAY BE GREAT BUT I THINK SHE DID A COUPLE OF MISTAKES FROM THE NEWS STORIES COMING OUT.

ONE IS THAT WHEN THE STUDENT WANTED TO DISCUSS HER SEXUALITY WITH HER, SHE WOULD HAVE SAID I WANT YOUR PARENT OR YOUR GUARDIAN TO BE PRESENT HERE.

WE CAN HAVE AN OPEN CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS RATHER THAN SAYING YOU SHOULD NOT BE IN THE CLUB.

I THINK THAT'S ILLEGAL.

I THINK IT SHOULD BE LEGAL.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS OF EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED SO THESE ARE ALL ALLEGATIONS, TARA.

>> ONE OF THE SAD THINGS HERE IS THAT, AS YOU SAID, THE BOARD IS BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE BECAUSE THE BOARD HAS TO ENSURE PRIVACY FOR BOTH SIDES AND THIS IS, IN THIS CASE, A SHE SAID SHE SAID.

YOU ALSO HAVE THE POWER DYNAMIC BETWEEN WHAT APPARENTLY UP TO THIS POINT WAS A REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TEACHER AND THE STUDENT.

AND SADLY, YOU KNOW,I UNDERSTAND PARENTS, YOU KNOW, THEIR CHILDREN REALLY LIKE THIS TEACHER AND THEY WANTED TO JUMP IN AND SUPPORT THE TEACHER, BUT SADLY, NO ONE IS WILLING, AT THIS POINT, TO TAKE THAT STEP BACK AND SAY LET'S LET THE PROCESS WORK THROUGH AND THEN IF WE NEED TO SUPPORT THIS PERSON, LET'S DO THAT.

THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT YOU DO HAVE THE TURNING POINT ORGANIZATION JUMPING IN, TRYING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS SITUATION, YOU KNOW.

ONE OF THE STUDENTS PUT A PETITION ON THE TURNING POINT WEBSITE AND IT'S GOT OVER 2,000 SIGNATURES AND SUPPORT OF THIS TEACHER AND WE STILL DON'T KNOW THE FACTS.

THAT'S THE OTHER PROBLEM WITH THIS?

>> I WAS JUST GOING SAY IN THE PROCESS, I THINK INVOLVES LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS.

THE STUDENT SHOULDN'T BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BUT IT RAISES EDUCATIONAL QUESTIONS.

WHAT IS THE EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF HAVING MISSIONARY RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION ON CAMPUS?

WHAT'S THE MISSION OF THE DISTRICT, THE VISION, THE CODE OF CONDUCT.

HAVING LOOKED AT THAT FOR BALDWINSVILLE, DOESN'T SEEM LIKE DENYING ACCESS TO A VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION THAT THEY WANT TO BE PART OF OR QUESTIONING THEIR BELONGING THERE FITS WITH WHAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS TRYING TO DO.

SO I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY BEHIND THE SCENES, PART OF THE INTERNAL PROCESS.

I FEEL FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE TO LISTEN TO QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS AND LEGALLY CAN'T ANSWER THEM.

I HAVE BEEN IN THAT POSITION MYSELF.

SO WE'LL SEE HOW IT IS RESOLID.

-- RESOLVED.

WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN BUT IT'S A DIFFICULT SITUATION FOR SURE.

>> LET ME COME AT THIS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE AND SAY THAT THERE ARE FOLKS OUT THERE-- AND SOME PEOPLE IN THE WHITE HOUSE-- WHO ARE SAYING THAT CHRISTIANS ARE UNDER ATTACK.

NOT JUST IN PLACES LIKE NIGERIA BUT HERE AS WELL.

ONE REPRESENTATIVE DOCUMENTED AN INCREASE OF 400 MORE VIOLENT ATTACKS AGAINST CHRISTIANS.

DO YOU WORRY THAT NATIONAL POLITICS HAVE SEEMED-- SEEPED INTO THIS VERY, VERY LOCAL ISSUE, JOSH?

>> SEEPED IMPLIES THAT IT WASN'T SORT OF JUMPED ALL OVER BY POLITICAL ACTORS INTERESTED IN MAKING IT A BIGGER ISSUE.

THAT'S THEIR RIGHT AS POLITICAL ACTORS.

BUT AGAIN, WHEN YOU MIX THE RELIGION WITH THE GOVERNMENT ENTANGLEMENT, YOU OPEN YOURSELF UP TO THIS.

AND THINGS THAT COULD BE LOCAL ISSUES BECOME NATIONALIZED BECOME INTENSE INTENSIFIED AND CAST IMAGES THAT MIGHT MAKE THIS KIND OF EVENT MORE LIKELY.

>> THE SEPARATION OF THE CHURCH AND STATE IS GOOD FOR THE STATE BUT IT'S ALSO GOOD FOR THE CHURCH BECAUSE NOW WU DON'T HAVE TO PANDER TO POLITICIANS.

YOU CAN SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER LIKE REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING AND MANY OTHERS WHO CAME ALONG WITH IT, RIGHT.

IT'S A GOOD THING TO SEPARATE CHURCH AND STATE.

BETTER FOR THE CHURCH.

>> WE GOT THE PREACHER AND PASTOR COMING OUT OF ANIRBAN TODAY.

WE ARE NOW OUT OF TIME FOR DISCUSSION AND SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE NOW TO OUR GRADEBOOK STARTING WITH AS AND TARA, YOUR A.

>> -- I'M SORRY, YOUR F. WHOOPS.

GOT IT.

>> NO PROBLEM.

MY F GOES TO THE FDA FOR ITS FAILURE TO ACTIVELY INVESTIGATE AND REGULATE HAIR EXTENSIONS COMMONLY USED FOR BRAIDING HAIR.

A RECENT STUDY BY CONSUMER REPORTS MIRRORS PREVIOUS SMALLER STUDIES WHICH SHOW THAT MANY OF THESE HAIR PRODUCTS INCLUDE CARCINOGENS AND THOSE CARCINOGEN S INCLUDE BENZINE, MESDZ WILL CHLORIDE AND OTHERS AND MANY INCLUDE LEAD AND PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS LITERALLY NO REGULATION OF THESE PRODUCTS AND SO THERE IS NO WARNING TO THOSE WHO USE THEM ABOUT THE DANGERS.

>> MY F GOES TO A RECENT EXECUTIVE ORDER INVOLVING NATIONAL PARKS PROHIBITING HISTORICAL ANALYSIS THAT INAPPROPRIATELY DISPARAGES AMERICANS.

PARKS HAVE SINCE IDENTIFIED 600 POTENTIAL EDITS TO THEIR CONTENT THAT PRIMARILY INVOLVE NARRATIVES ABOUT SLAVERY, RACISM AND THE TREATMENT OF NATIVE PEOPLES.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> WELL, MY F GOES TO THE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AGENTS FOR UNCONSTITUTIONALLY RETALIATING AGAINST PEOPLE WHO ARE LAWFULLY OBSERVING AND RECORDING.

FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS.

WE AWE SAUL THIS VIDEO WHERE A MASKED AGENT TELLS A PEACEFUL OBSERVER WE ARE TAKING PICTURES BECAUSE WE HAVE A NICE DATABASE AND YOU ARE CONSIDERED A DOMESTIC TERRORIST.

THIS IS WRONG.

OBSERVING IS NOT IMPEDING.

>> JOSH.

MY F GOES TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN DALLAS TEXAS WHO INSISTED ON PRECINCT ONLY VOTING, NO COUNTY LEVEL VOTING CENTERS WHICH LED TO PEOPLE BEING QUITE CONFUSED ABOUT WHERE THEY COULD VOTE ON ELECTION DAY AND MAY HAVE BEEN A BIT OF AN OWN GOAL IN TERMS OF WHO IT SEEMS THAT REPUBLICANS MAY HAVE WANTED TO FACE IN THAT GENERAL ELECTION.

>> WE TURN NOW TO OUR AS, STARTING AGAIN WITH YOU, TAR AR.

>> MY A GOES TO THE MARCH 6 COVER OF THE WEEK NEWS MAGAZINE SHOWING CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS GIVING PRESIDENT TRUMP A SPANKING.

IT'S A HUMERUS REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHECKS AND BALANCES PUT IN OUR CONSTITUTION.

>> LUKE.

>> SORRY, THAT'S FUNNY.

MY A GOES TO ONEIDA COUNTY RECEIVING $2 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO DEMOLISH THE OLD ST.

LUKE'S HOSPITAL.

THIS WILL PREPARE THE SITE FOR PUBLIC REDEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING HOUSING, GREEN SPACES, WALKING PATHS AND NEW BUSINESSES.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> MY A GOES TO THE INCREDIBLE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME REVEREND JESSE JACKSON, HIS WORK TOWARD CREATING A MULTIRACIAL COALITION AND HIS RELENTLESS STRUGGLE FOR A BETTER SOCIETY SHOULD SERVE AS A MODEL FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

AS A PERSON WHO WAS NOT BORN HERE AND PRESENTS AS A NON-WHITE PERSON, I OWE MY PRESENCE IN THIS COUNTRY TODAY TO THE UNIMAGINABLY PAINFUL PATH THESE LEADERS TOOK TO ASPIRE FOR A BETTER LIFE.

MORE POWER TO REVEREND JACKSON, USA, USA.

>> I ECHO THAT.

AND JOSH.

>> MY A IS ACTUALLY RELATED TO LUKE'S F. WHICH IS THAT PART OF THE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE CENSORSHIP THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IS PUTTING UP OF QR CODES AROUND THERE SO PEOPLE CAN GIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT THINGS THEY MIGHT SEE THAT MIGHT NOT BE OR MIGHT BE OFFENSIVE TO THEM OR MIGHT BE PROBLEMATIC.

THEY'RE USING IT TO REPORT ON THE SITES BEING CENSORED.

THEY'RE USING IT TO PUSH BACK FREEDOM OF SPEECH CANNOT ALWAYS WORK OUT THE WAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT THINKS.

>> I WANT TO COME BACK, IF I CAN, TO YOUR F, ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN TEXAS.

AND THE CONFUSION THERE.

DOES ANYBODY AT THE TABLE ANTICIPATE WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THAT COMING IN NOVEMBER?

>> DEFINITELY.

>> I'M WORRIED ABOUT POTENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT CHANGE HOW WE DO ELECTIONS AND CREATE CONFUSION AND POTENTIAL PROBLEMS.

>> SAVE ACT HAS NOTIONS THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY DRACONIAN IN TERMS OF VOTING RIGHTS.

>> THAT'S NOT GOING TO PASS BUT THERE IS PRESSURE FOR TRUMP TO IMPLEMENT IT AS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER.

>> I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE POSTMARKING OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

>> THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ONE.

WELL, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR YOU TONIGHT.

WE WOULD REALLY LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK.

PLEASE WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN, OR SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE, GO TO WCNY.ORG.

I'M MEAN THEY MEAN THEY.

FOR I'M NINA MOORE, FOR ALL OF US AT "IVORY TOWER," GOOD NIGHT.

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