Colonel Ann Wright spoke to the Hamline community on Mar. 3. Wright, a 29-year Army and Army Reserves veteran, talked about how the Trump administration will interact with the changing global climate.

Wright has served at multiple U.S. embassies in countries across the world, such as Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Micronesia and Mongolia. She was also a diplomat at the State Department until her resignation in 2003, which was in opposition to the Iraq War.

Todd Pierce, retired Major turned judge advocates officer joined the talk via Skype to give a speech. Pierce spoke on topics such as the history of martial law and his experience serving in the military justice system.

Pierce has been involved in a handful of cases that involved proving the innocence of wrongfully convicted Guantanamo bay detainees, two of which were successful.

Pierce’s speech ultimately served to better inform the audience on the concept of presidential power.

He also brought to light the sense of false power that has been given to President Donald Trump regarding the immigration bans he has promised. Professor of Political Science David Schultz also commented on the limits of presidential power.

“There’s this amazing thing out there called the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, which include things like separated power and checks and balances,” Schultz said.

Schultz and Pierce spoke more specifically about presidential power regarding foreign policy from a legal framework perspective.

“Presidents can’t just be like Captain Picard on Star Trek and say make it so, and make it so,” Schultz said.