WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University’s celebration of Constitution Day on Sept. 17 will feature videos, exhibits and quiz shows aimed at educating American citizens about the freedoms they enjoy.
Congress passed a provision in 2004 declaring Sept. 17 as Constitution Day. All federally funded schools are asked to develop educational programs to celebrate this foundational day in U.S. history.
Events will be in held in Purdue Memorial Union room 118 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The celebration is free and open to the public.
Local celebrities will take part in a Jeopardy-style quiz-off on the Constitution at 1:30 p.m. outside room 118.
Among other activities, most of which are continuous throughout the day, are:
- Showings of “A More Perfect Union,” a video by the National Constitution Center;
- A banned book exhibit, sponsored by Purdue University Libraries, displaying books that have been censored throughout history;
- Showings of Schoolhouse Rock’s “The Preamble,” a classic cartoon treatment of the events leading up to the signing of the Constitution;
- Quiz bowl competitions on the Constitution;
- A League of Women Voters display with voter information and registration;
- A video of Justice Learning’s “Conversations with Supreme Court Justices,” featuring Justice Stephen Breyer and former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Congress passed a provision in 2004 declaring Sept. 17 as Constitution Day. All federally funded schools are asked to develop educational programs to celebrate this foundational day in U.S. history.
“The point we want to make everyone aware of is that no matter who you are, the Constitution has an impact in nearly every part of your life,” said Phillip VanFossen, the Ackerman Professor of Social Studies Education and director of the James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship. “It’s something we all take for granted, and studies have shown that a vast majority of people don’t know much about the document. Constitution Day gives schools a brief, yet important, chance to change this.”
The College of Education’s Ackerman Center is coordinating the events, which are sponsored by the offices of the president and vice president for student services, Purdue Student Government and the Purdue Student Union Board.
More information on Constitution Day is available at http://www.purdue.edu/constitution-day/
