It's Constitution time
Kourtney McClain
Issue date: 9/14/05 Section: News
On Dec. 8, 2004, President George W. Bush signed a bill that required Constitution Day to be celebrated by public education institutions.
According to public law 108-447, all educational institutions that receive federal funds must hold an educational program honoring the United States Constitution. The holiday is to be held on Sept. 16 and 17 of every year. These days mark the writing of the preamble and signing of the constitution 218 years ago.
Western Illinois University will be hosting a week of Constitution-related programs to honor the celebration. On Sept. 16 at 12:30 p.m. National Public Radio's "Justice Talking" debate on "Free Speech in the Digital Age" will be broadcast live from the National Archives in Washington D.C. The event can be heard in room 109 of Morgan Hall, it is free and open to the public. The program will focus on the First Amendment by examining censorship in libraries, textbooks and on the Internet.
"It's a one hour program involving free speech and censorship, and a discussion will follow," said Mario Morelli, co-chair of Western's American Democracy Project committee and philosophy and religious studies department chair.
Each day this week on Western's Web site, various faculty members are providing insight on some constitutionally related issues. Some of the issues include the government seizing private property, racial discrimination in jury selection, and whether or not juveniles should be allowed to receive the death penalty.
According to Morelli, this is the first year that Western has celebrated Constitution Day, primarily because it is now required.
Robert Pawelek, sophomore law enforcement and criminal justice major, knew that Constitution Day was approaching but was taken aback that others did not know about it.
"I'm very disappointed that no one knows when our Constitution was signed. Yet people still complain that it's their right to a free America and free speech," Pawelek said.
According to public law 108-447, all educational institutions that receive federal funds must hold an educational program honoring the United States Constitution. The holiday is to be held on Sept. 16 and 17 of every year. These days mark the writing of the preamble and signing of the constitution 218 years ago.
Western Illinois University will be hosting a week of Constitution-related programs to honor the celebration. On Sept. 16 at 12:30 p.m. National Public Radio's "Justice Talking" debate on "Free Speech in the Digital Age" will be broadcast live from the National Archives in Washington D.C. The event can be heard in room 109 of Morgan Hall, it is free and open to the public. The program will focus on the First Amendment by examining censorship in libraries, textbooks and on the Internet.
"It's a one hour program involving free speech and censorship, and a discussion will follow," said Mario Morelli, co-chair of Western's American Democracy Project committee and philosophy and religious studies department chair.
Each day this week on Western's Web site, various faculty members are providing insight on some constitutionally related issues. Some of the issues include the government seizing private property, racial discrimination in jury selection, and whether or not juveniles should be allowed to receive the death penalty.
According to Morelli, this is the first year that Western has celebrated Constitution Day, primarily because it is now required.
Robert Pawelek, sophomore law enforcement and criminal justice major, knew that Constitution Day was approaching but was taken aback that others did not know about it.
"I'm very disappointed that no one knows when our Constitution was signed. Yet people still complain that it's their right to a free America and free speech," Pawelek said.
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