By Montreal Spencer/south news editor
One of the United States’ least known holidays, Constitution Day arrives next week.
On Sept. 17, 1787, U.S. forefathers gathered in Philadelphia to sign their names to the Constitution.
The holiday was first recognized in December 2004 with the passing of a law written by Sen. Robert Byrd. Before the law was created, the holiday was known as Citizenship Day.
“A great Republic cannot sustain itself unless its citizens participate actively in their own government. To do that, I strongly believe that our citizens must be familiar with the Constitution and the intent of the Framers who wrote it,” Byrd said.
The act mandates that all federally funded educational institutions must provide educational programming on the history of the American Constitution on that day.
All TCC campuses will host events to celebrate the holiday.
SE Campus will have activities 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Bistro, including trivia games and a presentation on the Constitution’s origins.
Trinity River Campus will celebrate the day in the Main Street hallway throughout the day. Students can compete in word games for prizes and receive pocket Constitutions.
South Campus activities include an event in the Free Speech Zone noon-1 p.m. Students will speak and hand out Constitution booklets.
NW Campus activities include trivia games for prizes and educational information related to the Constitution 10 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. in the WSTU lobby.
Several students are unaware of the holiday, and many do not know what to think about it.
“I’ve never even heard of the holiday, honestly, but if we can get off from school, I have no problem with it,” said NE student Taryn O’Connor.
Ross Medendorp, another NE student, agreed.
“I never heard of it myself, but I think we should observe the Constitution because it is basically everyone’s right to observe it and be respectful of everyone,” he said.
NE student Ty O’Neal does not see any point in the holiday.
“Why would they make a Constitution Day now? It’s been around for how many years?” she said.
NE student Jamie Bitterman said she believed the law is a waste of time.
“It’s just something for the legislature to do to make it look like they’re doing something,” she said.
“I think they have more important things to do than to make up a national holiday.”
