Augusta University marks Constitution Day with civic participation

History met engagement at Augusta University on Wednesday, Sept. 17, as the annual Constitution Day celebration mixed civic pride and engagement with entertainment.

For five years, the Augusta University Libraries have partnered with the departments of Communication and Social Sciences from the Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences to engage with students for Constitution Day and celebrate the document that established the framework for the United States of America.

Divided into 60 segments, members of Augusta University and the surrounding community read the Constitution aloud from start to finish to celebrate the occasion.

“I think the event was a huge success,” said David Kearns, AU’s federal depository manager and organizer for the event. “We had a larger turnout than ever before and the support from our partners was tremendous.”

A display showcasing different flyers related to Constitution Day. — Alongside the reading, students and attendees were able to participate in quizzes, free food and learn more about other important documents in American history. [Michael Holahan/Augusta University]

Constitution Day falls on Sept. 17 each year since Congress made it an official holiday in 1952 during the Harry S. Truman administration. In 2017, President Donald Trump reaffirmed the holiday as both Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.

The celebration offered more than just pizza and reading. As attendees entered the Roscoe Williams Ballroom in the Jaguar Student Activities Center, they walked past balloons and visited booths where they were able to collect commemorative rubber ducks, buttons and pins. Meanwhile, up front, attendees participated in a quiz where each correct answer resulted in a gold star stress ball. Questions ranged from talking about a political scandal involving Richard Nixon and a pet dog, to knowing the state motto of Georgia.

Community organizations set up booths throughout the ballroom to promote civic engagement. The Richmond County Board of Elections was also on hand to help register students to vote, while the League of Women Voters shared information on making sure students stay on voter rolls.

The reading was kicked off by Augusta University Libraries Dean Brad Warren, who started with the Preamble. Kearns finished the reading with the closing.

David Bulla, PhD, chair for Pamplin’s Department of Communications, read the First Amendment, which guarantees many rights, including freedom of the press.

“In many ways, the First Amendment is the absolute bedrock of our democratic republic,” Bulla said. “If you can’t think and say what you will in public, then the rest our rights are almost meaningless.”

A male college student stands in front of a large crowd at a microphone and reads part of the U.S. Constitution.

A woman stands in front of a large crowd at a microphone and reads part of the U.S. Constitution.

Bulla took great pride in reading the amendment, mentioning it was also an opportunity to showcase “model behavior.”

“It was a chance for me to speak those 45 words to students, faculty, staff, administrators and citizens,” he said. “Since my father was in the U.S. Navy in World War II and Korea, I have always been grateful for being a citizen of a nation that so cherishes these rights.”

Next year will mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The Augusta University Libraries and its partners will be bringing various events to the community, focusing on the Semi-Quincentennial of our nation’s founding.

Kearns said he has already started working on events related to the anniversary.

“We are hoping to bring special programming throughout our semi-sesquicentennial year, including on Constitution Day,” he said. “We have already received suggestions on how to make a greater impact with our students and continue growing our community engagement.”