As the U.S. enters the presidential election season, AU has recognized the importance of having students be politically aware while equipping them with the skills and education to think critically and engage in civil discourse on a variety of topics. One way that AU has done this is through the history and political science department hosting a reading of the Constitution on Sept. 16 at noon on the front entrance of the Nicholson Library.
There were about 25 attendees, with students, faculty and staff dropping in and out to listen for a few minutes as they passed through the Valley. Multiple departments and offices were represented in the reading of the Constitution from Christine Thacker, a professor of dance, to Trent Palmer, director of alumni. Library staff provided both readers as well as free fresh popcorn for the event.
Department Chair Jaye Rogers, Ph.D., spoke on the reason for celebrating Constitution day, but also the importance of it. “We’re in a year when we’re voting for president,” she said. “…it seems a rather important thing to do. So that’s why we did it and we did it in front of the library, because it needs to be in some very public place so more people might actually hear what we’re doing.”
Senior Jacqueline Wilson, a social studies secondary education major, explained how it was a great way to get campus involvement with political awareness. “I feel like I saw so many people walk[ing] by that were looking at it curiously, wondering what was happening,” she said. Wilson continued with how this event is relevant to her future career as a teacher. “I came to the reading because currently I am actually teaching in a government class for high school seniors. So I feel like it’s important if I’m going to teach them government, that I should also be like getting government in my daily life.”
Although celebrating national Constitution day, which is officially on Sept. 17 this year, is required by law for institutions such as AU that receives federal funding, the history and political science department know there is significance in celebrating it even without a requirement. Rogers explained that “we have the oldest written, clearly defined constitution that is still in existence, still governing a country, and it’s incredibly important that we recognize that it’s also important that we recognize that the language obviously sounds archaic.”
By reading the Constitution, AU is able to hear snippets or large sections of the document that helped found the U.S. to how it is today, including with the Amendments marking the progress of the development of the country. As the presidential election continues, AU students are challenged to ask themselves questions on what it means to uphold this document and protect the freedoms, liberty and rights listed within.