The final assembly of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met 227 years ago Wednesday, and people across the nation took time to observe this monumental anniversary.
Sam Houston State University was no exception, as professors and guest speakers have come to campus to present a series of speeches on the constitution and the controversies surrounding recent Supreme Court rulings.
SHSU’s two-day celebration of Constitution Day continues today with a series of lectures and discussions.
Thomas Cox, associate professor of history, said in a statement that the discussions to be presented will address why America is living in an incredibly important constitutional time.
“These talks examine the ways that not just judges and attorneys but ordinary Americans have used the Constitution as a crucible for addressing the moral and political controversies that inform our lives,” Cox said.
There are four talks scheduled for today.
Cox will give a presentation titled “From the Founders to the Tea Party: Changing Views of the U.S. Constitution” and will run from 9:30-10:50 a.m.
Later today, associate professor of history Jeffery Littlejohn will speak at “Civil Rights Landmarks: Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education and the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964” at 11 a.m.
That afternoon there are two talks scheduled: “The Constitution Doesn’t Interpret Itself: Written Constitutions and Proceduralism,” with SHSU department of political science assistant department chair, Kenneth McIntyre, Ph.D, and “Roe v. Wade—A Conservative Decision?,” with philosophy professor and program coordinator Frank Fair. Ph.D.
Junior history major Chelsie Scheffer said she is interested in Fair’s discussion on Roe v. Wade.
“I’m learning about it currently in one of my classes,” she said. “It’ll be interesting to get another opinion besides my professor’s.”
Scheffer said this event is a great opportunity for non-history majors to immerse themselves in American history.
“I think it’s cool because not a lot of students are history related or even enjoy history, so this being kind of a big thing on campus for students to go to is great,” she said. “[History majors] think it’s cool because other kids get to learn about stuff that we enjoy. Not a lot of students like history so its cool that we get to teach other people what we enjoy.”
SHSU’s celebration of Constitution Day began Wednesday night with a presentation from Houston Baptist University professor of government John Tyler.
For more information on the remaining events, contact Cox at 936-294-4804.