Due to the generosity of Howard D. Polsky '73, all Political Science majors at Lehigh University were invited to submit essays on one of two topics this year.
Essay Question 1:
A well-functioning democracy depends on an informed citizenry. Does generative artificial intelligence (AI) pose a serious threat to American democracy by its ability to create false, incomplete, or distorted political messaging (e.g., voice cloning, modified Google phone videos) in our elections or policy choices? Why or why not? If so, what are some potential solutions or mitigation remedies? Please explain.
Essay Question 2:
The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides that no state shall "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." The landmark Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954) concluded that the concept of separate but equal is "inherently unequal," and banned the practice of de jure segregation. Since Brown, judges and scholars have debated the meaning of equal protection in practice. Most recently, in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, 600 U.S. 181 (2023), the Supreme Court justices held that race-conscious admissions constitute unconstitutional race-based classifications under the Fourteenth Amendment. Many current diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs seek to ensure that under-represented ethnic minorities are afforded heightened consideration in recruitment, resource allocation, promotions, and other institutional policies. Can DEI programs be structured to achieve these objectives without violating the Fourteenth Amendment or must DEI programs be modified to emphasize color-blind objectives leading to the same outcomes? Please explain.
