VSU Celebrates Constitution Day with Public Reading, Trivia, Cookies

Source: National Archives

VALDOSTA — In recognition of Constitution Day, Valdosta State University will host Cookies and the Constitution from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17. The event will be held in Palms Quad, near Langdale Hall, and will feature faculty, staff, and student volunteers conducting a public reading of the Constitution of the United States of America, free pocket Constitutions and cookies, and a bit of trivia fun with Constitutional Jeopardy.

Cookies and the Constitution is sponsored by VSU’s Office of the President, Student Government Association, Academic Affairs, Odum Library, and Department of Social Work. Its aim is to promote awareness and understanding of the Constitution and of Constitution Day. 

“On Sept. 17, 1787, the Founding Fathers signed the most influential document in American history — the United States Constitution,” according to the National Constitution Center. “This document established the framework of our government and the rights and freedoms that ‘We the People’ enjoy today.” 

U.S. Senator Robert Byrd, a Democrat from West Virginia, designated Sept. 17 as a day to recognize all who have become citizens, either by birth or naturalization, and to learn more about the formation of the nation’s founding document. Constitution Day became a national observance in 2004. 

“Our ideals of freedom, set forth and realized in our Constitution, are our greatest export to the world,” Byrd reportedly once said. 

In honor of Constitution Day, all educational institutions receiving federal funding are required to hold an educational program pertaining to the U.S. Constitution. 

VSU will continue its celebration of Constitution Day with the following: 

• An exhibit of books, government documents, and media about the Constitution and its interpretation. Located in the large exhibit cases on the first floor of the Odum Library, the items will remain on display through Tuesday, Oct. 15. 

• A student presentation forum titled “The Constitution, the Continued Democratic Voting Challenge, and the Rise of a New Jim Crow Order.” From 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24, in the University Center Theatre, students from both the Department of History and the Department of Political Science will present various cases, as well as background history, on the struggle for Democratic voting and the role played by the Supreme Court, Congress, and state legislatures. 

• A faculty roundtable talk titled “Regulation or Suppression: Before and After Shelby County Alabama v Holder.” From 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26, in the University Center Theatre, faculty from both the Department of Political Science and the Department of History will discuss various topics revolving around the history, impact, and fallout of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v Holder. 

The student presentation forum and faculty roundtable talk are sponsored by VSU’s Office of the President, Department of Political Science, and Department of History. Refreshments will be served at both events. 

Contact Emily C. Rogers, reference library at Odum Library, at (229) 245-3748 or ecrogers@valdosta.edu to learn more. 

On the Web:

http://constitutioncenter.org/

• The U.S. Constitution was written in the same Pennsylvania State House where the Declaration of Independence was signed and where George Washington received his commission as commander of the Continental Army. Now called Independent Hall, the building still stands today on Independent Mall in Philadelphia, directly across from the National Constitution Center. 


• Written in 1787, the Constitution was signed on Sept. 17. But it wasn’t until 1788 that it was ratified by the necessary nine states. 


• The U.S. Constitution was prepared in secret, behind locked doors that were guarded by sentries. 


• Some of the original framers and many delegates in the state ratifying conventions were very troubled that the original Constitution lacked a description of individual rights. In 1791, Americans added a list of rights to the Constitution. The first 10 amendments became known as the Bill of Rights. 


• Of the 55 delegates attending the Constitutional Convention, 39 signed and three dissented. Two of America’s “founding fathers” didn’t sign the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson was representing his country in France, and John Adams was doing the same in Great Britain. 


• Established on Nov. 26, 1789, the first national “Thanksgiving Day” was originally created by George Washington as a way of “giving thanks” for the Constitution. 


• Of the written national constitutions, the U.S. Constitution is the oldest and shortest. 


• At 81, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania was the oldest delegate at the Constitutional Convention, and at 26, Jonathon Dayton of New Jersey was the youngest. 


• The original Constitution is on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, it was moved to Fort Knox for safekeeping. 


• More than 11,000 amendments have been introduced in Congress. Thirty-three have gone to the states to be ratified, and 27 have received the necessary approval from the states to actually become amendments to the Constitution.

Source: National Constitution Center

Valdosta State University’s 2013-2019 Strategic Plan represents a renewal of energy and commitment to the foundational principles for comprehensive institutions.

Implementation of the plan’s five goals, along with their accompanying objectives and strategies, supports VSU’s institutional mission and the University System of Georgia’s mission for comprehensive universities.

The story above demonstrates VSU's commitment to meeting the following goals:

Goal 1: Recruit, retain, and graduate a quality, diverse student population and prepare students for roles as leaders in a global society.

Goal 3: Promote student, employee, alumni, retiree, and community engagement in our mission.

Visit http://www.valdosta.edu/administration/planning/strategic-plan.php to learn more.