College to observe Constitution Day

September 9, 2013

VICTORY TWP. — In celebration of the 225th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution, West Shore Community College has organized a variety of activities on Sept. 17, to commemorate the vote taken on Sept. 17, 1787, by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention to approve the adoption of the United States Constitution.

A series of videos titled “Conversations on the Constitution,” will be shown on Constitution Day at three times on television monitors throughout the campus. Sponsored by Sunnylands Seminars, the videos will feature Supreme Court justices discussing their roles in interpreting the Constitution.

Beginning at 10 a.m., Supreme Court Justices Anthony Kennedy, Stephen Breyer, Sandra Day O’Connor, and Antonin Scalia will discuss several important Supreme Court cases and the ways in which justices are called to interpret the Constitution.

Two video documentaries will be shown at 12 p.m. addressing the issues of “One Person, One Vote” and “An Independent Judiciary.”

Supreme Court Justices John Roberts, Stephen Breyer, Sandra Day O’Connor, Anthony Kennedy, and Ruth Bader Ginsberg will discuss judicial independence and the 14th Amendment at 2 p.m.

The William M. Anderson Library has assembled a display of books about the Constitution and biographies for many of the delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention.

“The Constitution is the most significant guarantee of our freedoms,” says Professor of History and Political Science Mike Nagle, who organizes the annual event at WSCC. “We can appreciate our freedom and respect our system of government by learning more about its importance on this special day.”

“We hope everyone takes a moment to read this important document. Constitution Day provides the opportunity for all of us to give extra thought and focus to the Constitution and how it enriches our lives and citizenship.”

Free pocket copies of the Constitution will be available from the Beans and Bread Café, library, and college bookstore.