IUP celebrates Constitution Day on Monday, September 17, 2012, with two events free and open to the public.
This will be the eighth annual observance of the day in 1787 when the final draft of the U.S. Constitution was signed and sent to the states for review and ratification.
"With the upcoming presidential election, it's a good time to reflect on the republic created by the U.S. Constitution. I hope people will come to these events with lots of questions,” said event organizer Gwen Torges,
Department of Political Science, which is sponsoring Constitution Day.
Everyone on campus and in the community is warmly invited to attend and celebrate the 225th birthday of the Constitution.
Public Reading of the U.S. Constitution
noon | In front of Stabley Library, Oak Grove
Join President Michael Driscoll in a public reading of the Constitution. Starting with the Preamble and concluding with the 27th Amendment, we'll bring the words of this venerated document to life. If you have never heard the Constitution read aloud, prepare to be moved. Be one of the first 100 people to arrive, and you can read part of the Constitution and receive a pocket-sized copy of the Constitution, a “We the People at IUP” t-shirt, and a star-shaped cookie.
“A Casual Conversation with the Framers of the U.S. Constitution”
6:00 p.m. |
HUB Ohio Room
Enjoy—and participate in—a conversation with four of the framers of the Constitution: Ben Franklin, Charles Pinckney, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison, portrayed, respectively, by political science professors David Chambers, Dighton “Mac” Fiddner, and Steven Jackson and
History professor Joe Mannard.
Learn what the framers were thinking when they wrote the U.S. Constitution, as well as how they might view contemporary constitutional challenges.
This presentation is the opening program for the
Six O’Clock Series and is cosponsored by the Office of Student Life.
About Constitution Day
Formal commemoration of Constitution Day is a relatively new phenomenon. Frustrated by many Americans' lack of even basic knowledge about their government and its history, Senator Robert Byrd decided to take a proactive approach to increase civic awareness. The West Virginian Senator authored legislation—which became law in December 2004—that requires universities to teach their students about the U.S. Constitution.
Starting in 2005, on September 17 each year, every educational institution that receives any federal funds (and that includes just about every university in the country) must implement some sort of educational programming designed to raise awareness about the Constitution and its history.
Online Resources about the U.S. Constitution
Is your knowledge about the Constitution a little rusty? You’re not alone. In a survey by the National Constitution Center, only 1.8 percent of college students knew that James Madison is considered the father of the U.S. Constitution, compared to 58.3 percent who know that Bill Gates is the father of Microsoft. The following links will take you to a variety of resources that provide information about the history and content of the U.S. Constitution.