UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State community is invited to celebrate Constitution Day with events at 22 campuses.
Public colleges and universities mark Constitution Day each year with events and education. Constitution Day is a federal observance that commemorates the U.S. Constitution. It is observed on Sept. 17, the day the Constitution was signed in 1787. Constitution Day was established by law in 2004.
With Constitution Day falling on Sunday, Sept. 17, Penn State campuses will hold events throughout the week of Sept. 18.
Penn State Abington
Sept. 18
- Voter registration drive
- Mini-Constitution distribution
- Speaker: Nina Ahmad, President of Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), “Power to Determine Your Destiny"
Penn State Altoona
Sept. 19
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Constitution documentary shared from Kanopy
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"Higher education is not about getting a job" TED Talk and invitation to attend a “Coffee and Civics Chat” about the talk later in the week
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Banner displayed at campus pond of the Preamble
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Constitution day facts displayed on digital screens around campus
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Pocket Constitutions distribution
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Preamble memorization contest
Penn State Beaver
Sept. 18
- Constitution Day awareness table hosted by the Beaver’s Student Government Association with staffing, information, and mini-Constitutions
Penn State Berks
Sept. 18
“Freedom of Speech and Constitutional Law,” a conversation with Michele Ramsey, associate professor of Communication Arts and Sciences and associate professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, will be held Monday, Sept.18, 12:15 pm, Perkins, MPR. Ramsey will discuss free speech from the perspective of Constitutional law, helping students to understand what we, as a University, can legally do when hate groups visit campus and exercise their rights to free speech. During that time, students will also have the opportunity to paint activism magnets to take with them and have the opportunity to create signage that can be used in counterprotest, as a legal way of responding/reacting.
Penn State Brandywine
Sept. 19
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A voter registration and education drive will be held at Vairo Library. Brandywine students, staff and faculty are invited to learn how to register and participate in the upcoming Pennsylvania midterm elections on Nov. 7.
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Vairo Library’s staff will offer a special display of books on the Constitution.
Penn State DuBois
Sept. 19
Constitution Day tabling will be held at the annual minor fair on campus, sharing information about Constitution Day and distributing pocket Constitutions.
Sept. 19 and 20
A trivia form will be shared for students to fill out to learn more about Constitution Day, its meaning and history. This form will be due Wednesday, Sept. 20, and names will be drawn for Constitution Day-themed prizes.
Penn State Erie
Sept. 18
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The Behrend Lion Entertainment Board (LEB) in collaboration with the Student Government Association (SGA) will be hosting a Constitution Day table
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Students will be able to “sign” a giant constitution
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Distribution of small American flags and USA pens
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Civic and Community Engagement will host a table alongside LEB and SGA on the importance of the upcoming election and encouraging and assisting students in registering to vote
Penn State Fayette
Sept. 18-22
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Students will receive a link to an online trivia contest via Qualtrics with 20 questions about the U.S. Constitution. Those who submit correct answers will be entered in a drawing for a $50 bookstore gift card.
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Students will have the opportunity to receive a pocket-sized U.S. Constitution, compliments of the Office of Student Affairs
Penn State Great Valley
Sept. 18-22
Penn State Great Valley will be promoting information about Constitution Day and distributing pocket Constitutions for students to pick up before class during the week of Sept. 18.
Penn State Greater Allegheny
Sept. 18
The Student Government Association and Andrew Marshall, head campus librarian, will sponsor a voter registration drive and bipartisan info table.
Sept 19.
A U.S. Constitution trivia game will be held during the common hour at Café Metro with giveaways and prizes available for winners.
Penn State Harrisburg
Sept. 19
The Student Government Association will hand out pocket Constitutions and candy in the lobby of Olmsted. This event is supported by the School of Humanities and School of Public Affairs.
Penn State Hazleton
Sept. 18-22
There will be a life-sized display of the Constitution in the Upper Butler Lobby.
Sept. 19
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Pocket Constitution distribution
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Constitution trivia sponsored by the Student Government Association (SGA)
Sept. 1-30
- Voter registration drive sponsored by the SGA
Penn State Lehigh Valley
Sept. 19
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Pocket Constitution distribution
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Prizes for memorization of select lines of Constitution
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Social media posts by Student Government Association
Penn State Mont Alto
Sept. 18
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Penn State Mont Alto campus symposium discussion: What criteria besides academics should colleges consider in making admissions decisions? Join for a conversation about affirmative action, legacy admissions and balancing fairness with diversity in higher education.
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Pocket Constitution distribution by Student Government Association
Penn State New Kensington
Sept. 18
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Student Life will distribute pocket Constitutions.
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Student Government Association will encourage voter registration in Café.
Penn State Schuylkill
Sept. 18
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Voter Registration Drive from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Student Community Center
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Constitution displayed in the Student Community Center
Sept. 19
- The movie “In Search of Liberty (Education Edition)” will be screened from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Hidden Stream Café located in the Student Community Center. This movie focuses on the Constitution including how and why it was created, what rights are included and how we can maintain its principles.
- Constitution displayed in the Student Community Center
Penn State Scranton
Sept. 18
- Constitution display in the View Café
- Distribution of pocket Constitutions
- Voter registration QR code link to website
- Promotion of voter information website
- Campus social media FYI and fun facts
- Constitution facts posted around high traffic areas around campus
- Email with description of Constitution Day facts and trivia question. Any student who responds correctly will be entered into a drawing.
- Constitution trivia game show/Kahoot trivia game, presented and hosted by the Student Government Association for their monthly connect event
Penn State Shenango
Sept. 18
History Professor Phil Nash will present during common hour in the Great Hall about the Constitution. Immediately after the presentation, he will host a game show with Constitution related questions.
Sept. 19
Student Affairs will have Constitution trivia questions hidden around campus that have students come to Student Affairs to answer. Students who answer correctly will earn a prize.
Penn State University Park
Sept. 18
The Penn State Student Engagement Network will be distributing pocket Constitutions from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Engagement Space, HUB-Robeson Center.
Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Sept. 19-23
The library will create a book display with materials that center around each academic department and laws that affect that academic discipline.
Sept. 18
A Constitution giveaway tabling event will be held on Sept. 18.
Sept. 20
Voter registration sponsored by the Student Government Association will be held Sept. 20.
Sept. 22
“Kahoot!: Game, Constitution Edition” will be held Sept. 22. The library will be holding the second annual Constitution Week Raffle. Students must explain/discuss their favorite amendment or recite the Preamble to be entered.
Penn State York
Sept. 17-22
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Academic Affairs will be distributing pocket Constitutions (in English and Spanish).
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The library staff will be running “Constitution Day Trivia” in conjunction with the Student Government Association (SGA).
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Police & Public Safety will be handing out snacks with a play on words relating to the Constitution.
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Student Affairs and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) are co-sponsoring a two-hour training on “Making Your Vote Count.”