September 1, 2005
Purdue celebrates first national day devoted to Constitution
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University will utilize interactive displays, lectures, various exhibits and even quiz shows to educate the public about American history on Sept. 15-16 during its observance of the first Constitution and Citizenship Day.
Purdue Provost Sally Mason encourages everyone to join in the tribute.
"Making sure younger generations have a firm understanding of our system of government is crucial for building a strong democracy," Mason says. "By setting aside a day to focus on the history and impact of the Constitution, the leaders of this nation have recognized that civics education is a vital component of any educational program. Purdue is proud to play a role in educating future generations to ensure that we maintain our system of government that serves as a model to the world."
Congress passed a provision in 2004 declaring Sept. 17 Constitution Day, and all federally funded schools were asked develop educational programs to commemorate the day. The Constitution was signed Sept. 17, 1787, in Philadelphia.
The College of Education's James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship is coordinating most of Purdue's events, which are sponsored by the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost, and the Office of the Vice President for Student Services. Others involved are Purdue Libraries, the history and political science departments, and the Purdue Student Union Board.
The first public event, "The U.S. Constitution: What's It Got to Do with Me?" begins at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 15 in Stewart Center's Fowler Hall and will include:
• Patricia Boling, an associate professor of political science, on privacy issues.
• Franklin Lambert, a professor of history, speaking on "Religion at the Constitutional and Ratifying Conventions."
•An exhibit of materials relating to the Constitution, displayed by the Libraries' Archives and Special Collections in conjunction with the Ackerman Center, from Sept. 12-30.
• William McLauchlan, an associate professor of political science, on civil liberties.
The celebration will continue on Sept 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Stewart Center, Room 314. Mason and Sheila Klinker, an Indiana state representative and College of Education outreach liaison, will offer keynote remarks.
Phillip VanFossen, associate professor of social studies education and director of the Ackerman Center, says the event will help people realize that the Constitution is not just a piece of paper, but the document that our country is built upon.
"Every morning, we wake up to a society that was, and continues to be, built on the basic tenets of the Constitution," he says. "Through the activities of Constitution Day, we hope to make everyone aware that the Constitution isn't just part of history, but something that affects nearly every part of citizens' lives."
The day's events will include two quiz shows. At 1:30 p.m. Purdue celebrities, including student leaders, faculty and staff, will have a chance to test their knowledge of the Constitution. Throughout the day, a multimedia "Jeopardy"-style game show will give students a chance to compete against each other.
The following events also are planned:
• Continuous play of "A More Perfect Union," a video by the National Constitution Center.
• A banned book exhibit, displaying books that have been censored throughout history.
• An interactive timeline from the National Constitution Center and a "Save the Bill of Rights" multimedia exhibit.
• The Daughters of the American Revolution display with information on the importance of the American Revolution.
• A video of Justice Learning's "Conversations with Supreme Court Justices." Sandra Day O'Connor and Stephen Breyer talk about the Constitution with high school students. The justices discuss why we have and need the Constitution, what federalism is, how implicit and explicit rights are defined, and how separation of powers ensures that no one branch of government obtains too much power. Justice Learning is a collaborative effort between National Public Radio's Justice Talking and The New York Times Learning Network.
The Purdue ROTC color guard will perform at the open and close of the Sept. 16 event. Refreshments and pocket-sized Constitutions and Purdue Constitution Day buttons will be available.
Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu
Source: Phillip VanFossen, (765) 494-2367, vanfoss@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Related Web site:
Purdue's Constitution Day
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