Former U.S. Congressman Jim Cooper and former U.S. Sen. Bob Corker will speak at 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18 at Tucker Theatre as part of Middle Tennessee State University’s observance of Constitution Week, Sept. 12-19.

In a world polarized by politics, Corker and Cooper, both respected, influential, recently retired members of the United States Congress from Tennessee, will discuss the theme, “Common Sense Civics: Can We Work Together Again to Solve America’s Problems?”, 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, with event parking provided at the Reese Smith lot adjacent to Tucker.

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

Former Tennessee House speaker Beth Harwell, who serves as Distinguished Visiting Professor in political science at MTSU, will offer Constitution Week opening remarks at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, in the courtyard of Peck Hall with the College of Liberal Arts and College of Basic and Applied Sciences hosting the first 75-minute reading of the Constitution.

From 1-2:15 p.m., a reading will take place at the College of Education building in partnership with the University College.

Other readings times include:

• 11 a.m. to 12:15 Wednesday, Sept. 13: College of Media and Entertainment/James E. Walker Library host at Bragg Mass Communication Building.

• 10-11:15 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 14: College of Behavioral and Health Sciences/MTSU Athletics host at Academic Classroom Building.

• 11 a.m. to 12:15 Monday, Sept. 18: Jones College of Business/College of Graduate Studies host at Basic and Applied Sciences Building.

• 1-2:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19: University Honors College/Student Government Association host the week’s final Constitution reading at Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building.

To honor National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday, Sept. 19, representatives of the American Democracy Project and Student Government Association will assist in registering voters on the South Commons of the University Student Union. 

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 no later than 30 days before the election.

The American Democracy Project at MTSU website also has information specifically for student voter registration, including residency requirements, https://www.mtsu.edu/amerdem/register-to-vote.php.

 For more information about parking, a searchable campus map is available here. There is no charge to park for these events. For more information, call the MTSU Parking and Transportation Services Office at 615-898-2850 or visit www.mtsu.edu/parking.

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