Students, faculty and staff are invited to bring along a beverage while perusing the Constitutional Amendments interactive display in Reed Library during September, in observance of Constitution Day.
Visitors are asked to identify and place a sticker on the Constitutional Amendment that means the most to them. Every student who interacts with the exhibit can enter to win one of two $25 Starbucks gift cards. Faculty are also invited to bring their classes to the exhibit, located along the curved wall leading to the Garden at Reed.
“We hope people could bring their beverage to ‘sip’ while they ‘stroll’ the exhibit,” explains Department of Communication Associate Professor Angela McGowan-Kirsch. “Then, students who ‘stroll’ can enter to win a gift card at Starbucks,” added Dr. McGowan-Kirsch, who is chair of the American Democracy Project.
Constitution Day, on Tuesday, Sept. 17, commemorates the Founding Fathers' formation and ratification of the U.S. Constitution. On that day, cookies will be available in Reed Library next to the exhibit. Pocket Constitutions will be available during the duration of the exhibit.
“It’s entirely fitting that a library — a bedrock of a free society that provides access to reliable information and a safe space to engage in civil discourse — hosts the display,” commented Reed Library Director Kerrie Wilkes.
“The freedom to read is embedded in the First Amendment, which is my favorite,” Ms. Wilkes added. Each amendment has been made possible because of voter engagement.
“Now more than ever, this living document should inspire and challenge us to become involved and vote,” Wilkes said. “I hope students take a few minutes to engage with their Constitution through the amendments and become inspired that change is possible through ‘We the people’.”
The American Democracy Project and Reed Library co-sponsor the exhibit, which is supported by the Carnahan Jackson Fund for the Humanities of the Fredonia College Foundation. Voter registration forms will be available at the exhibit.
