2008 Woodie Awards
Constitution in today's society
Aaron Beik
Issue date: 10/9/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Lewis took time on Friday Sept. 16 to recognize our nation's finest accomplishment, the Constitution, with an exhibit, a film and a panel discussion.
With the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina, the simple idea of celebrating our nation's most innovative and timeless document made for an interruption among all the madness.
All colleges that receive federal funding were mandated by the federal government to take a day to showcase the Constitution. If Lewis or any other university did not comply with the demands of the federal government, they would be stripped of all funding. Beginning this mandated celebration, Lewis started off with an exhibit of the Constitution.
The exhibit was held in the library and displayed three easels of exact replicas of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. At the exhibit handouts were given that gave a history of the documents and quizzes to test students' knowledge.
"I was impressed by the style it was written," said Shawanda Barga, a combined special education in elementary major with a minor in sociology, who attended the exhibit. "It showed me that people should respect it, while I came away with a new feeling toward what our nation was founded on."
A panel discussion engaged students in the second Lewis activity. The panel included Assistant Professor of the History Department Br. John Vietoris, the Director of Social and Community Studies Laurette Liesen, and the Chairperson of the Political Science Department Joe Gaziano.
The discussion began with each of the panel discussing the Constitution in accordance with their professional perspective. Vietoris began the lecture with a sentimental tone, discussing the history of the Constitution and the historical relevance of the document.
"I wanted to convey and have the students realize that our nation was not at all democratic at the founding of our nation. The roads we took to give everyone a voice is something we have worked and struggled with for the last 200 years, while keeping the same Constitution," said Vietoris.
With the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina, the simple idea of celebrating our nation's most innovative and timeless document made for an interruption among all the madness.
All colleges that receive federal funding were mandated by the federal government to take a day to showcase the Constitution. If Lewis or any other university did not comply with the demands of the federal government, they would be stripped of all funding. Beginning this mandated celebration, Lewis started off with an exhibit of the Constitution.
The exhibit was held in the library and displayed three easels of exact replicas of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. At the exhibit handouts were given that gave a history of the documents and quizzes to test students' knowledge.
"I was impressed by the style it was written," said Shawanda Barga, a combined special education in elementary major with a minor in sociology, who attended the exhibit. "It showed me that people should respect it, while I came away with a new feeling toward what our nation was founded on."
A panel discussion engaged students in the second Lewis activity. The panel included Assistant Professor of the History Department Br. John Vietoris, the Director of Social and Community Studies Laurette Liesen, and the Chairperson of the Political Science Department Joe Gaziano.
The discussion began with each of the panel discussing the Constitution in accordance with their professional perspective. Vietoris began the lecture with a sentimental tone, discussing the history of the Constitution and the historical relevance of the document.
"I wanted to convey and have the students realize that our nation was not at all democratic at the founding of our nation. The roads we took to give everyone a voice is something we have worked and struggled with for the last 200 years, while keeping the same Constitution," said Vietoris.
