Celebrate Constitution Day at UK

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 15, 2010) - Constitution Day, the national commemoration of the signing of the United States Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787, has become an annual celebration at the University of Kentucky where everyone, including students, faculty, staff, elected officials and all citizens, observe the rights and privileges granted to Americans by the U.S. Constitution. This year is no exception as UK will observe the day this Friday, Sept. 17, with events from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the north lawn of the Main Building. In the event of rain, the events will be relocated to the patio of the UK Student Center.

Kickoff for UK Constitution Day will begin at 9 a.m. with the readings from banned books by members of the UK and Lexington communities until 11:30 a.m., and will continue from 12:30 to 3 p.m. The readings will also be available to hear live throughout the day via UK's "island" in the online virtual world Second Life. For more information, visit UK's Second Life blog at ukisland.wordpress.com

As always, free apple pie and lemonade will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (while supplies last) by the Main Building. Free pocket-sized copies of the U.S. Constitution will be available as well. 

A civic information fair will also be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. where students can register to vote and obtain an Election 2010 Voter's Guide.

From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Buck Ryan, UK journalism professor and director of the Citizen Kentucky Project, will moderate the Citizen Kentucky Forum. The forum, which is being organized by Ryan's students in his Discovery Seminar course, will feature Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson, UK College of Education Dean Mary John O'Hair and longtime political writer and director of the Institute on Rural Journalism and Community Issues Al Cross. These leaders will preview Election 2010 and engage visiting middle school students in a conversation with the campus community regarding civic education throughout the Commonwealth as part of a new group called Kentucky Advocates for Civic Education (KACE).

"This year we are focusing on what UK can do to improve civic education for kids in the Commonwealth," said Ryan. "It will take a team effort by civic leaders, elected public officials, journalists and other good citizens, including the kids themselves."

Ryan encourages members of the campus community to use their free time, whether it be a little or a lot, to stop by and enjoy the events.

"Come for two minutes or two hours, whatever makes sense for you."

The Citizen Kentucky Project is an initiative within the Scripps Howard First Amendment Center, housed in the UK College of Communications and Information Studies. The project is designed to engage young people in civic life.

Events related to Constitution Day at UK are free and open to the public. They are sponsored and presented by the Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence, the Provost's Office, the President's Office, the Gaines Center for the Humanities, the Scripps Howard First Amendment Center, the Student Government Association, the Student Center Director's Office, UK Libraries, the Discovery Seminar Program, the UK College of Communications and Information Studies and the UK College of Education.

For more information, call (859) 257-1958 or email chellgrencenter@uky.edu.