Day 9
Fire alarm wake up UD Washington Fellow
Early in the morning, while some UD fellows were sleeping, or in the bathroom, and others were in the kitchen for the breakfast, numerous alarms go off, a voice screams and urge all the inhabitants of the Independence Hall to get out of their room through the stairs –and not the elevators- because a fire was detected in the building.
In their attempt to leave the building, some fellows took their passports their money, other took camera while a few don’t bring anything out. Then one of our friends- after having taken all his money- ran back to check for a fellow who is disabled because he was not able to use the stairs without help.
There I have seen the brotherhood that exists among fellows who help our 2 friends with disabilities to get out of the building through the stairs.
Fortunately, the firefighters came 10 minutes later and didn’t find any fire in the building and then allowed us to go back in our rooms to prepare for our academic session…
Rule of Law and Judicial Independence by Pr. Wayne Batchis, JD, PhD
Morning Session
Pr. Batchis theme was about the Rule of Law and Judicial and Independence context.
We learned from that session that the United States of America has a very complex and strong judicial system. The American judicial system is divided between state and federal judiciary level. While most of the states elect their judges, the federal judges are appointed by the executive branch.
Furthermore, some people support an equal power between state and federal government while others argued for a strong federal government with a strong federal judicial system.
The judicial system is not going to be tyrannical but on the other hand it has a lot of power.
For instance, judges have the freedom to say “no” to the legislature and the executive power. Meanwhile, to balance the power, the legislative branch can vote to cut the judicial branch budget and it is up to the president to appoint the federal judges.
Because of this executive and legislature control, it is legitimate to wonder if the judicial system is the least dangerous.
Despite these balance power challenge, the federal judiciary comes on the top because people like and trust the court. Moreover the American judicial system is independent from other government institutions, the states, litigants and public opinion.
In conclusion, one can say that the judicial branch has a lot of virtues. Indeed, it is a check on other branches of the government, it protects the rights of individuals and add an economic value to American system.
Therefore, the way American judicial system is organized can be seen as an example for Africans to set up an independent judicial system to balance the executive power.
Afternoon Session
Morris Library Tour (Gutierrez and Iheanacho)
In the afternoon the UD Washington Fellows visit The Morris Library Tour.
The general information about the Library have been provided by Dr. Iheanacho and Dr. Gutierrez. Then fellows know that their UD ID Card allows them to have access to the resources of the library including the online library where a fellow could research the data base and research guide, and be referred to a specialist, as well as find foundations and grants on the library website.
The second part of the tour has been a visit to Multimedia Center. Nico Carver and John Stevenson guided the fellows to this open space in which multimedia projects are implemented. The multimedia lab provides high technology photo scanner, color scanner, microforms and microfiches, film and video collection and music recording services.
Finally the multimedia services office are opened to provide technical and logistical assistance to UD Washington Fellows on any multimedia project they want to implement during the fellowship period.
The last stage of the Morris Library tour has been the exposure to the special collection. The special collections office, led by Mrs. Tammi Kimi, are around the theme of arts, literature, history and Delawarena and science and technology
This afternoon session has been instructive about the resources opportunities available for UD Washington Fellows to help them go through their essential questions.
This library tour visit raised a couple of questions which are: In what extent African countries leaders are willing to invest in education and research? How could civic society organization best advocate for more investment and promotion of education and research in the African Continent?
Hope we can work in the multimedia center to produce something good for YALI and Africa..