By Katelynn Liedtke

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — For Middle Tennessee State University student Eli Gullett, of Murfreesboro, reading a section of the Constitution at Peck Hall brought the incentive of extra credit for his History 2010 class. But participating in the traditional Constitution Week activity also shows the importance of students getting involved in such programs that remind us of the meaning of our founding documents.

“The more you know your rights, the better off you’ll be,” said Gullett, one of scores of students, faculty and staff who stepped up to lecterns across campus on Thursday, Sept. 17, and throughout the week as MTSU’s College of Liberal Artsand the American Democracy Project hosted their annual Constitution Day and Constitution Week reading events. 

According to ADP’s website, each year on Sept. 17, MTSU honors Constitution Day, a federally mandated observance that calls on educational institutions receiving federal funding to offer programming focused on the U.S. Constitution.

Each year, MTSU hosts various Constitution readings on campus during the week leading up to Constitution Day. This year, readings were held on the Honors College lawn, in the Jones College of Business courtyard, the College of Education patio, and the Peck Hall courtyard. These readings allow students, faculty, staff and the wider community to get involved by taking turns reading a section of the Constitution aloud. 

The reading at Peck Hall featured Constitution Day keynote speaker and Georgetown Law School professor Sheryll Cashin. The reading was followed by a student-moderated panel featuring Cashin in Tucker Theatre, where she discussed recent legislative changes and how the Founding Fathers would feel about them today, and answered audience questions.

Leah Tolbert Lyons, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, said that Constitution Day is essential because the Constitution serves as the foundation for our civil liberties.

“It’s important for every student to hear the Constitution, to read the Constitution, be familiar with their rights so they can be better participants and active citizens in the United States,” Lyons said. 

The American Democracy Project is a nationally recognized initiative designed to foster civic engagement, leadership, and informed citizenship. ADP not only takes the lead on Constitutional readings but also assists with voter registration, voter education, and community engagement on a nonpartisan basis. 

Like Lyons, MTSU Honors College history professor Amy Sayward, director of the American Democracy Project at MTSU, believes that every student should know and understand the Constitution. 

“Reading it through, beginning to end, really sort of hammers home some of those elements we may have forgotten about. Some of those elements we may not have thought about recently,” said Sayward, noting that ADP provided free pocket versions of the Constitution at their events. “We have, in the buckets, the full Constitution. We encourage everyone to take a pocket Constitution with them.” 

Sayward said events like this help students tie what they are learning in their classrooms to outside experiences. 

Sayward also said the American Democracy Project has more events lined up for this semester. 

On Oct. 19, ADP will be celebrating Yorktown Day as part of the MTSU 250 activities in observance of the nation’s 250th anniversary. A reading of the Declaration of Independence begins at 10:20 a.m. on the Honors College lawn, then from noon to 3 p.m., students, faculty and staff will be able to print their own copy of the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence on a replica of Ben Franklin’s printing press in the Todd Art Gallery. 

Later that day, former U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bill Frist will take part in a conversation titled “Leadership and Public Service: Past, Present and Future,” from 3-5 p.m. at Tucker Theatre. The discussion will include reflections on Alexander’s new memoir, “The Education of a Senator.”

Future events with the American Democracy Project can be found on MTSU’s master calendar.

Journalism major Katelynn Liedtke is a practicum student in the Office of News and Media Relations. Reach her at [email protected].