DECATUR, Ga.— Students at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College will observe not just Constitution Day, but a week of constitutional activities Sept. 17-21, with speakers, discussions and voter registration events.
Among the scheduled speakers are U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Georgia State University Perimeter College alumnus and Atlanta attorney Anthony Molina and Emory University political professor and analyst Alan Abramowitz.
Constitution Day, Monday, Sept. 17, marks the day 231 years ago when attendees at the Convention at Philadelphia signed the document that is the foundation of our United States government.
The following events are free and open to the public. Voter registration tables will be open on the Alpharetta, Clarkston, Decatur, Dunwoody and Newton campuses.
Monday, Sept. 17
- The Decatur Civic and Political Awareness Club, in conjunction with Partners in Education, will host U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson in the gymnasium, Decatur Campus, 10-11:30 a.m., preceded by a meet-and-greet session beginning at 9:30 a.m.
- Attorney and Georgia State University alumnus Anthony Molina will speak about gerrymandering and its effects, 1 p.m., in Building AA, Room 1140, Alpharetta Campus.
- Vallera Gibson, diplomat in residence from the U.S. State Department, will speak at 11:30 a.m., Building SB, Room 1170, Decatur Campus.
Tuesday, Sept 18
- Newton Campus will kick off its week at 11:30 a.m. with a discussion of the midterm elections and a showcase of community partners to encourage student involvement. There also will be a voter registration table open at 10 a.m., Building 2-N Auditorium.
- The Dunwoody History and Politics Club will host a discussion about U.S. immigration policy, with William Hoffman of the Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network and Xavier Torres de Janon of STERN Law firm, 1-2:30 p.m., Building NC, Room1100 (Auditorium).
Wednesday, Sept. 19
- Immigration attorney Danielle Caffey of the Atlanta law firm Kuck/Baxter Immigration Partners will speak about U.S. immigration issues and policy, 11:30 a.m., Building 2-N Auditorium, Newton Campus.
- Clare Gilbert from the Georgia Innocence Project will speak at 1 p.m. in Building SB, Room 1170, Decatur Campus.
Thursday, Sept. 20
- Alan Abramowitz, Emory University political scientist and author known for research and writing on American politics and election, will speak at 10 a.m. in the JCLRC (library) auditorium, Clarkston Campus. His talk will be streamed to all campuses.
- Joel Walker from the National Archives will discuss political prisoners held at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, 1 p.m., Building SB, Room 1170, Decatur Campus.
Friday, Sept. 21
- A brown bag lunch will be held to discuss prominent Supreme Court decisions, 12-1 p.m. Building NB, Room 2100, Dunwoody Campus.
Constitution Day is the annual celebration of the day that representatives to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia completed and signed the U.S. Constitution in 1787. The observance of this day began as “I am an American Day” in 1940 and later became known as Citizenship Day. In 1952, the celebration was moved from May to Sept. 17 to commemorate the signing of the original document.
In 1956, Congress established Constitution Week, setting it to start annually on Sept. 17. In 2004, the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia included provisions in the appropriations act to designate Sept. 17 of each year as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day and require public schools and government offices to provide educational programs to promote a better understanding of the Constitution.
“Constitution Day requires all schools that receive federal funds, from elementary schools to research universities like Georgia State, to dedicate a day to exploring our fundamental governing document,” said Adam Stone, political science professor on the Alpharetta Campus.
Photo: Alan Abramowitz, Emory University political scientist and author known for research and writing on American politics and election, will speak at 10 a.m. Sept. 20 in the JCLRC (library) auditorium, Clarkston Campus. His talk will be streamed to all campuses.