Missouri Sen. Rita Heard Days offers an inside look at American politics as part of an Oct. 11 forum for students participating in the University’s McDonnell International Scholars Academy. The forum, hosted by the Richard A. Gephardt Institute for Public Service, focused on “International Issues Reflected in the Upcoming U.S. Elections: Local, State and Federal Perspectives.” Other panelists, from left, are Andy Sobel, Ph.D., associate professor of political science in Arts & Sciences; Richard A. Gephardt, former U.S. congressman (D-Mo.) and chair of the institute’s advisory committee; and Murray Weidenbaum, Ph.D., former chief economic adviser to President Reagan and the Mallinckrodt Distinguished University Professor at WUSTL. Launched this semester, the McDonnell Academy’s inaugural class comprises 17 scholars from 12 of Asia’s leading universities.