UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A chill in the air and leaves changing color are sure signs that a new season is near. Along with the fall weather, Penn State students will usher in election season on Wednesday, Sept. 17, by recognizing the place where many of the rights granted to U.S. citizens originated.
Constitution Day is a national day of educational programming enacted by Congress. For the eighth year, activities will be held throughout the University Park campus to promote thoughtful commemoration of the creation and signing of the United States Constitution.
In conjunction with the commemoration, students from different campus organizations — including UPUA, College Democrats, College Republicans and College Independents — will host a nonpartisan voter registration table from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first floor of the HUB-Robeson Center.
Across campus, University Libraries will have a special Constitution-related book collection on display in addition to posters detailing the Constitutional Amendments and the Penn State Student Code of Conduct on display. Pocket constitutions will be handed out at all of the library services desks and in University Park branch libraries, including the Engineering Library, Architecture Library and Physical and Mathematical Sciences Library.
University Libraries will also feature two Constitution research guides on its homepage that discuss the history of the constitution and pose questions for students and Penn State community members to ponder and discuss online using the hashtag #PSUCD14 on Twitter.
Additionally, the Penn State Speech and Debate Society will hold a debate between four student club members from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in the Foster Auditorium in the Paterno Library titled “A Privacy Amendment should be added to the Constitution." The debate is open to the public and free pocket Constitutions will be handed out at the event. It is co-sponsored by the Center for Democratic Deliberation, the department of communication arts and sciences, the Office of Undergraduate Education, Penn State Law, Student Affairs and Penn State University Libraries. The Speech and Debate Society travels to debate competitions and holds weekly practice sessions at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays in 220 Willard. They are free and open to anyone who wants to join.