The University of West Florida will get the debate no one requested at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 17, in the UWF Commons Auditorium.
The debate on whether the U.S. Constitution is “procedure or prescription” pits heralded Senior Advisor for the Capital Markets Initiative at the Heritage Foundation Allen Mendenhall, who has a law degree from West Virginia University, a Master of Laws from Temple University and a Ph.D. in English from Auburn University, versus Clifford Humphrey, with a Master’s and Ph.D. in Politics from Hillsdale College. Humphrey is Interim President Manny Diaz’s chief of staff.
Foes or Friends
The combatants worked at Troy University. During Humphrey’s brief time serving as Troy’s Executive Director of the Institute for Leadership Development, Mendenhall was the Associate Dean and Grady Rosier Professor in the Sorrell College of Business and Executive Director of the Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy.
Both Mendenhall and Humphrey were named 2024 Lincoln Fellows of the Claremont Institute. Gates Garcia, the Tampa Bay podcaster appointed to the UWF Board of Trustees, was also a 2024 Lincoln Fellow. Garcia resigned from the UWF board to avoid his confirmation hearing in front of Sen. Don Gaetz.
Remember Claremont Connection: In February, Claremont Institute hired Boise State professor Scott Yenor as its Senior Director of State Coalition in Florida. Yenor helped Gov. DeSantis overhaul higher education and was appointed to the UWF Board of Trustees. Like Garcia, Yenor resigned before his confirmation hearing.
Opposing Arguments
Which side of “procedure” versus “prescription” will Mendenhall and Humphrey take? Should we root for the UWF guy, no matter what side? We could do a “white out” for the forum and only wear white. Will the Argo mascot show up?
For those not familiar with right-wing conservative lore, “procedure” most likely means seeing the Constitution as a framework that establishes how our government operates, focusing on structure, separation of powers and democratic processes.
“Prescription” views the Constitution as a document that prescribes the outcomes that should be achieved, providing us with the values and specific rights that must be protected. It’s more of a directive about what the government should accomplish.
In other words, is the Constitution mainly about checks and balances, fair elections, and due process, or about guaranteeing equality, liberty, and justice?
- With two trustees, Adam Kissel and Zack Smith, working for the Heritage Foundation, we expected to see the group make an appearance on campus. Is this the first of many to come?
- The debate could be worthwhile if one side came from a more progressive, liberal viewpoint, rather than from two conservative camps. But that isn’t the point, apparently.
Past Forums:
October 2023: Is the Electoral College an integral part of the U.S. federal system and hence worth preserving? Or is it a relic from the past that needs to be revised or abolished altogether to bring it into closer alignment with the national popular vote? UWF professors from the Reubin O’D. The Askew Department of Government debated this.
November 2023: Should extremist speakers be allowed to speak on University and College campuses? The UWF Speech and Debate team debated this topic.
March 2024: The UWF Speech and Debate team debated the impact social media has on public discourse.
April 2024: Navigating the Future: AI’s Role in Reshaping the Workforce—Area leaders and AI experts have been invited to engage in a robust conversation about the implications of AI.
October 2024: Civic Conversations: A Forum on the Florida Constitution—The UWF Office of Public Policy Events for a group forum and roundtable discussion on the Florida Constitution.
April 2025: Higher Ed for All?—The Office of Public Policy Events and the Office of Campus Culture and Access for a group forum on tuition-free public higher education.
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