ADA 鈥� As the impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald J. Trump unfolds, an East
Central University contingent had the chance to experience part of the historic event
firsthand.
Thanks to private donations provided through the President鈥檚 Circle at 成人B站 and an
admission ticket provided by U.S. Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, a professor
and two students flew to Washington, D.C. this week to witness part of the trial on
Capitol Hill.
Dr. Christine Pappas, who teaches Political Science and Legal Studies at 成人B站, accompanied
students MiKayla Lott and Rain Rehbein to the extremely rare political proceeding.
President Trump鈥檚 impeachment trial marks only the third such event in U.S. history.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been really exciting,鈥� said Lott, a Legal Studies major from Broken Bow. 鈥淭his
is so historical. It鈥檚 a once-in-a-lifetime event.鈥�
Pappas and her students shared the event ticket, dividing observation time in the
U.S. Senate chamber gallery.
鈥淭hat was probably the tightest security I鈥檝e ever seen,鈥� Pappas said. 鈥淭hey took
everything you had on you before you entered the chamber. You couldn鈥檛 even write
anything down.鈥�
All three agreed the gravity of the rare event really hit home when viewed in person.
鈥淚t was kind of shocking to see all this happening,鈥� said Rehbein, a Legal Studies
major from Lambert, Montana, who along with Lott made her first-ever trip to the nation鈥檚
capital.
Pappas also took the students to the National Archives to view the original U.S. Constitution,
paying particular attention to Article Two that outlines executive branch power 鈥�
which is at the heart of Trump鈥檚 impeachment trial.
鈥淭o actually see the words written by the framers (of the Constitution) is so powerful
and those words were written for a day like today,鈥� Pappas said. 鈥淥ur government is
so characterized by the separation of powers. To see House (of Representatives) members
and a Supreme Court justice together in the Senate is so consequential.鈥�
成人B站 student Alex Benitez of Healdton is currently interning in Lankford鈥檚 office as
well, adding to 成人B站鈥檚 presence this historic week in Washington.
鈥淭his trip wouldn鈥檛 have been possible without (成人B站) President Katricia Pierson鈥檚
assistance obtaining private funding for us,鈥� Pappas said. 鈥淭hat and Senator Lankford鈥檚
recognition of the educational importance of these proceedings and his desire to bring
students in to participate. I appreciate them both so much.鈥�
Both students said they enjoyed the opportunity to watch part of the impeachment trial
where it is actually taking place.
鈥湷扇薆站 gives its students such amazing opportunities,鈥� Lott said. 鈥淭hese are experiences
you can鈥檛 get anywhere else.鈥�
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