MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University will host political commentator and author David Brooks at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, in Tucker Theatre to culminate the university’s annual observance of Constitution Week. In addition, there will be live readings of the U.S. Constitution Monday through Wednesday, Sept. 15-17.

Brooks, a contributor to the “PBS News Hour” and opinion columnist for The New York Times, will discuss the theme, “We the People: The Place of the U.S. Constitution in Students’ Everyday Spaces,” in a panel discussion led by MTSU students and hosted by the American Democracy Project at MTSU. The event is free and open to the public.

“David Brooks has emerged as one of the most thoughtful commentators in our political discourse,” said Amy Sayward, history professor and coordinator of MTSU’s American Democracy Project chapter. “He is very much an ideological conservative, but stands out in some ways because he has been critical of the current administration.”

Sayward said she’s looking forward to hearing what questions students have prepared for Brooks and what advice he might provide them as they discuss the American document that is the foundation for the United States.

“This is such a great opportunity for our students to engage with some of these big questions that David Brooks has been posing about our country,” Sayward said.

Free event parking is provided for visitors at the Reese Smith lot at Faulkinberry Drive and Champion Way, adjacent to Tucker Theatre, inside the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building, 615 Champion Way.

Constitution Week readings

MTSU also annually observes the U.S. Constitution’s 1787 signing with volunteers reading the living document in its entirety in several locations on campus throughout the week.

On Monday, Sept. 15, readings will include:

• 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment/James E. Walker Library will host on the steps of the John Bragg Building, 1735 Blue Raider Drive.

• 3-4:15 p.m., University Honors College/Student Government Association will host on the lawn of the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building, 1737 Blue Raider Drive.

On Tuesday, Sept. 16, readings will include:

• 9-10:15 a.m., University College/College of Education will host at the east portico of the Education Building, 1756 MTSU Blvd.

• Noon to 2 p.m., students can read the Constitution online via Zoom; email Amy.Sayward@mtsu.edu to participate. The event will also be recorded.

• 1-2:15 p.m., College of Behavioral and Health Sciences/Blue Raider Athletics will host at the Academic Classroom Building courtyard, 1751 MTSU Blvd.

On Wednesday, Sept. 17, readings will include:

• 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Jones College of Business/College of Graduate Studies will host at the Business and Aerospace Building courtyard, 1642 MTSU Blvd.

• 1-2:15 p.m., College of Liberal Arts/College of Basic and Applied Sciences will host at the Peck Hall courtyard, 537 Old Main Circle. David Brooks will participate in this reading.

Get registered

To honor National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday, Sept. 16, representatives of the American Democracy Project and Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority will assist in registering voters on the front lawn of the Honors College. 

And on Wednesday, Sept. 17, representatives of the American Democracy Project and the League of Women Voters of Murfreesboro/Rutherford County will assist in registering voters on the front lawn of Tucker Theatre, 615 Champion Way, before and after the David Brooks event.

To register to vote in Tennessee, you:

• Must be a citizen of the United States who will be 18 years old or older before the date of the next election.

• Must be a resident of Tennessee.

• Cannot have been convicted of a felony (or if you have, your voting rights have been restored by a court order or pardon).

• Must be properly registered at least 30 days before the election.

The American Democracy Project at MTSU website also has information on student voter registration, including residency requirements. Visit amerdem.mtsu.edu/vote. If you live here to attend school, you may register to vote in Rutherford County, Tennessee.

Constitution Week sponsors include the Distinguished Lecture Fund, Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies, Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment, Department of History, Department of Political and Global Affairs, College of Liberal Arts and University Honors College.

Off-campus visitors planning to attend readings should attain a parking pass by calling the MTSU Parking and Transportation Services Office at 615-898-2850 or visiting www.mtsu.edu/parking for online options. A searchable campus map is available at https://bit.ly/ParkingMapMTSU2025.

— Nancy DeGennaro (Nancy.DeGennaro@mtsu.edu)