Free sessions spotlight rights and responsibilities of citizenship
Kirkwood Community College presents its seventh annual Constitution Day program on Monday, September 17, 2012, in celebration of the United States Constitution and its varied and diverse influences on our lives. This day also celebrates those who have become citizens through naturalization, or by coming of age, thus echoing one of Kirkwood’s designated general education goals: “Students will recognize the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.”
Informative programs are set for both the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City campuses. Constitution Day events in Cedar Rapids run from 1-4 p.m. in Room 234 Cedar Hall. The Iowa City program runs from 11 a.m. until noon in the campus commons. Constitution Day is open to the general public and is free of charge. The goals are to celebrate the United States Constitution and inform citizens of this document’s impact on daily life.
Cedar Rapids topics include interpreting the Bill of Rights, the materiality of books, and a discussion on the original intent of laws and what the actual text of the laws state. This latter session will be the topic in Iowa City as well.
Kirkwood’s Constitution Day events are part of a nationwide series, designed to instill better knowledge and awareness of the U.S. Constitution in daily life. This celebration also fulfills a federal mandate championed by the late Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, to honor the Constitution each year.