On Wednesday, October 31, YU Ideas, an initiative hosted by the office of the provost of Yeshiva University, presented a panel discussion, entitled “Power, Politics, and Leading a Nation,” to talmidim in MTA’s Honors College program. Panelists included Professor Sharon Poczter, chair of strategy and entrepreneurship at the Sy Syms School of Business; Dr. Neil Rogachevsky, associate director and research fellow at the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought; and Professor Matthew Incantalupo, assistant professor of political science at Yeshiva College. Moderated by MTA Principal for General Studies Dr. Seth Taylor, the panel discussion covered a wide range of topics from the major challenges facing U.S. leaders, to understanding economic policies and the relationship between politics and economic equality.

Panelists also fielded questions from both Dr. Taylor and talmidim on the role of economics in elections, how to determine whether news is fake or real and the extent to which past examples of great statesmanship can be drawn upon when facing today’s challenges. The presentation also sparked a timely discussion on the importance of exercising the right to vote, voting in local elections and getting involved in and being aware of local politics. More than 90 talmidim from across all grades joined the discussion, which aligns with this year’s Honors College theme of civics.