Alex arrived back to Yale Sunday evening to a note from Anneliese to come down to her room. She sighed and put her things in her room before telling Emma she was going to Anneliese's room. Emma followed and waited outside while Alex entered Anneliese's room. "Hey. I got your note," Alex said, holding it up. "What's up?"

"Have you finished your Poli Sci paper yet," Anneliese asked.

"Yeah," Alex replied. "Mine was five pages. Hope that's enough."

"I'm sure it will be," Anneliese said, "What example did you use for the right to due process case?"

"Perry v. Sinderman," Alex replied. "Faculty rights."

"Ah," Anneliese said, "Good one."

"Thanks," Alex said.

"How was the dinner?"

"Not bad. Zoey's ex-boyfriend wants to get back together with her."

"Charlie? I thought she received a lot of threats the last time they dated."

"Yeah..but…how did you know?" Alex looked at her friend in confusion. She didn't know Anneliese well enough to tell her the saga of Zoey's dating life.

"Alex, your life is in the newspapers," Anneliese said.

"Yeah…it's just weird to hear about it from someone else," Alex said. "You want to go grab some dinner? I didn't eat before I left school."

"Sure," Anneliese replied.

Alex walked into her Biology class and sat down, Kate sitting next to her. Camryn sat at the top of the class, surveying all of the students for any danger for the youngest Bartlet.

Alex pulled out her notebook and looked over the reading material from the previous day. She looked up as the Professor, Dr. Jonah Truman walked in. She could hear a collective groan from all of the students. Dr. Truman was notorious for his strict policies and tests that could reduce anyone to tears.

"I know that some of you have been questioning me for letters of recommendation, which I am glad to supply," he said, standing behind the podium. "However, I will need an essay of three pages on why you believe in Darwinism."

A loud murmur grew from the students at this statement. A student across the aisle and three rows up from Alex raised their hand. "Sir, what if we don't believe in Darwinism," the student asked.

"Then I suggest you look to others for your letter of recommendation," he said, dismissing the question.

Alex stared for a moment, trying to comprehend what her professor was saying. "Miss Bartlet," she heard the professor call her name. She didn't even remember raising her hand.

"Sir, doesn't it impinge upon a student's first amendment rights when you force them to support your view," she asked.

"Miss Bartlet, I run this class as I see fit. If you don't agree with that, then I suggest you switch classes," he replied coolly. She knew he was challenging her, but she couldn't resist her next outburst.

"Sir, there isn't enough evidence to suggest that Darwinism is absolutely the wayin whichhumans evolved," she said. "How can you expect students to blindly write about something that isn't 100 proven fact?"

"That, Miss Bartlet, is for you to find out. Now, we will be discussing the reproductive cycle of spores," he said, turning out the lights and turning on the presentation.

"How dare he suggest that," Alex asked, as she stormed out of the classroom.

"Alex, you shouldn't have said that," Emma said, stopping her.

"Emma, I don't care who he is. He cannot force his views upon the students," Alex said, her face red with anger.

"Alexandria, listen to me," Camryn said, stepping in front of her and met the younger woman's eyes. "You really shouldn't have said that." She stopped and took a deep breath, closing her eyes.

"Yeah. I know," she said, "But he still can't do that."

Camryn and Emma both nodded, their eyes scanning the students that passed. The students eyed the young girl, knowing what she had said in the class. "C'me on," Emma said, "You've got history next."

"Sir, there's a story in the Yale Daily Newspaper," CJ said, walking into the Oval Office first thing in the morning.

"Yale," Jed asked, sliding his glasses off. "What has my youngest daughter done now?"

"Sir, she made a comment in class yesterday regarding Darwinism and Creationism," CJ explained.

"What," Jed asked, leaning forward. He took the paper from CJ and began to read through the article. "Get her down here now." He rubbed the bridge of his nose and sat down. It was going to be another long day.

Alex's limo arrived at the White House at around 4:00pm. Alex stepped out and saw her mother waiting for her just outside. She climbed out and Abbey rushed forward to hug her. "So, dad's pretty pissed, huh," she asked as they walked into the House.

"You could say that," Abbey said, walking with her to the Oval Office. She had made this walk before with her children, with Ellie when she had been hounded for laboratory testing and Zoey when she had made a statement in class.

"Think he'll hear me out," Alex asked, as they approached the office.

"I think so," Abbey said. "I'll be out here." Alex nodded and knocked before entering.

"Hey dad," she said softly. She saw the copy of the Daily Eagle on her dad's desk and cringed.

"Alexandria Grace Bartlet. When I suggested you speak your mind, I didn't mean this," he shouted, the paper in hand.

"Dad, can I at least explain myself," she asked. She had never seen him this angry before.

"It better be a damn good," he said, leaning forward on his desk.

"Dad, he can't do that," Alex said. "It undermines the rights of the students."

"Alexandria, now is not the time to lecture me about rights! Do you know what it looks like when the President's daughter is publicly quoted for supporting creationism?" Alex knew her father was angry, but she was prepared to stand her ground.

"I wasn't supporting creationism! Dad, as a university professor, he cannot force his views upon the students when it hinders their success," Alex stated, "As the head of the department, his letter of recommendation is required by many medical schools in order to get in."

"How does that affect you," Jed asked, "You're in pre-law. Not medical school."

"But it does affect the other students," Alex said. "Dad, right or wrong, he can't do this. You have taught me that above all else, we need to protect the rights of others. And when a professor stands in front of a class and denies students the right to express their opinion, then they've crossed the line of academic freedom." Jed took a deep breath and closed his eyes. A part of him knew she was right.

"Alexandria, you can't stand up in class and justify creationism."

"I wasn't," she stated, "I didn't say if it was right or wrong. I stated the fact that he couldn't force his ideas and opinions on the other students. I didn't mean to support creationism or Darwinism. I know our religion supports creationism, but like the professor, I can't lord that idea over people. That'd be hypocritical." Alex sighed and ran her hands through her hair in frustration.

Jed sighed and closed his eyes. "Alex, just promise me you won't speak out without clearing it with CJ," he said, "She's already started to go through all of this to get it figured out."

"I'm sorry," Alex said, "I didn't mean to cause trouble. I'll give a statement if needed."

"Yeah , okay," her father said, sitting down in the chair, "You staying for the night?"

"I can," Alex replied. "I brought homework with me."

"Go on upstairs. I'll be done around eight," he said. Alex nodded and left the room, feeling her shoulders sag in relief.

Abbey was reading in bed when she heard the door open to their bedroom. "I thought you would be done by eight," she said, looking up over the rim of her glasses.

"Something came up in Pakistan," he replied, "Where's Alex?"

"Studying. She is a law student, you know" she replied, marking her place and setting her book aside.

"You were a medical student. I never saw you study," he said, sitting down to pull of his shoes. Abbey rolled her eyes and marked her place in the book she had been reading.

"She was right today, you know," Abbey said as her husband moved to change for bed.

"Yeah, I know," he called from the bathroom, "But she didn't need to speak out in class."

"Jed, she spoke out in class because that's what she's been taught to do," Abbey said, "What the professor said was wrong. If she didn't speak up, then who would? Professors cannot force their opinions onto their students."

"She still shouldn't have done it," he said, walking back out, wearing his pajamas. "Tomorrow, newspapers will say that the president's daughter supported creationism over Darwinism."

"That may be," Abbey said, "But they will also say that your daughter stood up for herself and her classmates."

"Yeah," he said, pulling back the covers on their bed. He pulled the covers over him and turned out the lights as Abbey did the same. "You know, I always thought Liz would be the politician in the family."

"Yeah. But then we had Alex," Abbey said, leaning on her elbow to face him. He kissed her gently, then curled up behind her as she lay back down.