The JANUS Forum

Ari Fleischer, former White House press secretary for U. S. President George W. Bush, and
Ezra Klein, a current political columnist for The Washington Post and Bloomberg discussed
democracy in America during the inaugural JANUS Forum.

Miami University students met with both guests Feb. 6 in special discussion sessions where the speakers addressed their questions. Fleischer and Klein also headlined an evening forum that was open to the public where they responded to the question, “Is democracy in America working?” Both men agreed that democracy is working in the United States. “Well enough,” said Fleischer who said the strength of our democracy is our people.” Klein not only believes “democracy is working and has been for a long time, but that it has also been winning and expanding for a long time.”

The JANUS Forum itself "is designed to challenge students in a respectful, intellectual and honest way,” said Tyler Sinclair, a master’s student in political science and moderator for the discussion. “It is always important to challenge ourselves to think from different points of view and in a new way. That is what the JANUS Forum brings to Miami.” The JANUS Forum is a student-run organization that is a central component of the Thomas W. Smith Project on Liberty, Democracy and Citizenship at Miami University. The JANUS Forum is a catalyst for developing timely, interesting and rigorous discussion of public affairs.

The JANUS Forum is sponsored by The Thomas W. Smith Project on Liberty, Democracy and Citizenship; the Miami University department of political science; the Harry T. Wilks Leadership Institute, and the office of diversity affairs. It is made possible through the generous support of The Thomas W. Smith (Miami ’50) Foundation.