Gephardt to speak for Institute opening, Constitution Day
Today’s opening of the Gephardt Institute for Public Service marks a new tradition for Washington University and the rest of the government-funded college community: the celebration of Constitution Day.
Slipped in as an addendum to a large spending bill in December, all United States schools receiving federal funding are now required to teach about the Constitution on or around September 17, the date the document was signed by the Constitutional Convention.
The University is honoring this new day by hosting a discussion with former Senator Richard Gephardt, as well as discussions led by Hernando De Soto, president of the Institute for Liberty and Democracy. In addition, students can obtain a free copy of the Constitution at the University bookstore, which is currently featuring a range of Constitution-related books.
Director of the Gephardt Institute Jim Davis believes that the University is observing Constitution Day in an effective manner.
“We’re not playing Trivial Pursuit with the Constitution, not reading it aloud…we’re giving students the opportunity to work with someone who has worked in the shadow of the Constitution for twenty years. I hope students take advantage of that,” said Davis.
Davis emphasized the participative aspects of the University’s current plans. Gephardt’s unique position will give students an opportunity to learn about the Constitution and the United States government in ways that rarely become possible in the classroom setting.
Members of the University’s College Republicans and College Democrats groups are also mobilizing to take part in the new celebration. Both groups plan on attending the discussions held throughout the day, as well as the opening of the Gephardt Institute.
“We think it’s going to be a pretty big day, so we’re doing everything we can to make sure students know what’s going on,” said junior Drew Gaggini, a member of the College Republicans.
While some plan to celebrate the event, political science professor Randy Calvert disagrees with this method of bringing the Constitution to American campuses.
“People shouldn’t mess up the law like that, but teaching the Constitution is a good thing. But it’s still better to have a class on it [throughout the semester]. Most schools do have such courses,” said Calvert.
Calvert also notes that Constitution Day participation at many other colleges and universities is rather low.
“Not many other schools are doing much. I think Georgetown is hosting a seminar…I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people weren’t really doing anything particularly real,” said Calvert.
While many agree that all citizens should be familiar with the Constitution, Calvert worries that the precedent set by the new law could lead to the government dictating what is taught in private universities.
The breadth of the law seems to include virtually any institution in the United States. In other words, even manicure schools and bartending schools-if they receive any federal funding-are required by law to observe Constitution Day.
Calvert believes the University’s plans to recognize Constitution Day are suitable.
“[The University's plan] seems the appropriate scale. It doesn’t make sense to teach a class, as we do that better throughout the year…Having an observation of the event seems like the appropriate thing for me. There are always lots of issues to be discussed in the context of the Constitution,” said Calvert.
Calvert does note the somewhat strange timing of Sept. 17 as the day for such an observance.
“Constitution Day represents the day that the Constitutional Convention signed off on the original Constitution. But that didn’t create the Constitution…it just proposed it,” said Calvert. “It was then sent to the Confederation Congress, then to the states, and then delegates were elected by each state, and then finally sent back to the states for ratification. Which day do you really choose? This had to be kind of an arbitrary choice.”
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