Lamont & Flexer talk Trump, Elliot, and more during Eastern visit

Mathew Biadun | News-Editor

From left to right at the front of the room is Aiden Smith, Jennifer Croughwell, Ned Lamont, & Mae Flexer. Seated at the top right is Wyatt Poehler.

3/5/26 - Two politicians, Ned Lamont and Mae Flexer, visited Eastern today during a visit to Willimantic. Lamont, Governor since 2019, is running for re-election, facing several Republicans currently engaged in a crowded primary, and a Democratic primary challenge. Flexer has served as the State Senator for the 29th District, which encompasses nine towns including Windham's Eastern and Mansfield's UConn, since 2015.

Their visit to Eastern began by visiting a Communication, Law & Ethics (CFT305) class held by Dr. Andrew Utterback. Along with the two politicians was John Maduko, interim Chancellor of the CSCU System; Upen Malani, Vice President of Facilities; and Karim Ismaili, University President. Visiting a communications class, they fielded a number of media and technology related questions by students in the class.

One of the topics discussed was AI; a hot-button issue in Connecticut politics, where many Democratic legislators push for further regulations, whilst Gov. Lamont has stood firm on opposing them, out of fear of driving away opportunity. He recommended that students pursue AI, saying that it, "...really gives you the opportunity to take the lead in a new age." While opposing AI regulation, this session has seen the Governor push more to regulate other technology, including a push to ban phone usage in schools 'from bell to bell' and to regulate social media for minors.

Lamont took the question directly to students, asking what they think. One student admitted it was a problem for many; "People aren't living their life to live it, they're living to post it." The phone-ban bill is one of several being considered in a crowded legislative session which, in an even-numbered year, only runs from February to May.

Another student asked advice on how the politicians developed their public speaking. Flexer spoke humbly, admitting that she still gets nervous at times. She recalled that reading aloud at her church helped develop her skills. Lamont, meanwhile, said that public speaking had never been a problem for him. "I was a smart aleck," he chuckled. "A smart ass, a little defiant."

The last question was more serious, asking about difficulties faced by Dream USA students, who are not allowed to get work while studying at Eastern. Flexer pushed the question to Lamont, who, after a moment of thought, said, "ICE is really complicated for me. They're a federal agency. Sometimes people ask me to arrest ICE - I can't do that!" He elaborated that he has tried to protect students, such as requiring ICE to show judicial warrants to enter parts of university campuses.

Following Lamont's lead, Pres. Ismaili stepped in, citing his experience on the national 'President's Alliance' as a sign of advocacy for the undocumented community. Chancellor Maduko also made a brief comment, saying, "Across CSCU, a student is a student," and reaffirming that the institution does not look at immigration status.

As the class ended, students left the room as the politicians pivoted to another, this time going to Goddard 200. Despite arriving some twenty minutes late, the room was packed, as around thirty Eastern students crowded into the room to listen and ask questions. The room included a variety of students, including Democrats and Republicans. The first question came from Wyatt Poehler, President of Eastern's Campus Republicans, who asked about housing and energy.

"You're not serious about getting people to stay, getting young people to stay, if you're not serious about housing," Lamont answered. He cited the controversial HB8002 housing bill, which he referred toa s the 'towns take the lead' bill, as a way he has promoted housing.

Another student broke news to the pair of politicians as he asked how they felt about firing Kristi Noem, which had just occurred. Lamont & Flexer looked as visibly shocked at the news as the gasping students. Lamont spoke about a meeting he had at the White House ten weeks ago, where he got to talk to Pres. Trump on the issue.

"But what the hell happened in Minneapolis, and how do you make sure it doesn't happen again?" He said the President was 'unusually self-reflective' at that meeting, and that he knew the events in Minneapolis had been disastrous. Lamont made his thoughts clear afterwards.

"I would've fired her," he muttered.

One question asked about education, where Lamont praised the PACT Program and boasted, "Our calling card is that we have the best education in the country." Flexer called for more changes to happen, theorizing that Windham could have the most underfunded school system in the state. "You have kids in Windham going on field trips once a year, whereas in other parts of the state, they may go on field trips once a month. It's not fair."

I asked a question for the Campus Lantern, asking about Connecticut's struggle with job markets, citing recent companies such as LEGO and Stanley Black & Decker, who have left the state or reduced their presence. Lamont largely brushed off the concerns. "We have a much lower unemployment rate," he said confidently, though Connecticut's unemployment rate is about middle of the road. He cited job growth in life sciences, tech, and advanced manufacturing. "There's a gauranteed job for you if you have the chops to do it," he claimed.

One student was a little more critical, returning to education, and asking why it was fair that the CSCU system was underfunded. "UConn spends two times as much per student than we do, and we're worth just as much," she said, and cited the large salary UConn basketball coaches as evidence of their flourishing coffers. Lamont and Flexer defended their record, citing the PACT Program and its possible expansion.

"I can't talk to that specifically," Lamont said, "But we do spend more per student than basically anywhere in the country."

Another challenging question came from a student self-identifying as a Democrat, asking why she should vote for Lamont in the primaries over Elliot.

"He's nicer," Flexer sniped immediately. Lamont was more temperate.

"Can't just talk the talking, you've gotta get stuff done."

Flexer agreed with that sentiment, saying, "The other candidate has a lot of positions on paper, but as someone who worked with him in the legislature for a long time, I don't see a lot of evidence of him getting stuff done...I hope that'll inform your choice in the August primary, if there is one."

Two Eastern Warriors accompanied Sen. Flexer across her meetings. One, Aiden Smith, serves as her intern, while the other, Eastern alum Jennifer Croughwell, as her Legislative Aide. At the end of the Q&A in Goddard Hall, Smith sneakily called out announcing that Eastern Democrats, though technically a defunct organization at Eastern, may be returning with some events in the future.

A new, similar, but separate organization, the Left Wing Alliance, will be holding an interest meeting at 6PM, March 10th, in STU113.