Calvin to Host Constitution Day Event

September 14, 2006 == MEDIA ADVISORY

Calvin College will host a Constitution Day event on Monday, September 18 at
3:30 pm in the Forum in its DeVos Communication Center.

The college plans a quiz-show format, complete with prizes and an assortment
of special refreshments - everything from Independence Hall cake to punch and
mixed nuts.

Calvin professor William Stevenson is one of the organizers of the event and
says audience members will compete for prizes by answering questions testing
their knowledge of the Constitution and its Amendments.

Calvin will be one of thousands of colleges and universities across the
country marking Constitution Day as a result of a federal law that requires
colleges to present educational programs about the U.S. Constitution every
September 17 (when September 17 falls on a weekend, as it does this year,
institutions may hold events during the preceding or following weeks, according
to guidelines issued by the U.S. Education Department).

According to a Chronicle of Higher Education article last year the
requirement, designating the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution as
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, was inserted into a spending bill by
Sen. Robert C. Byrd, a Democrat of West Virginia. It covers all educational
institutions that receive federal funds.

The new law does not provide federal funds to defray the cost of colleges'
programs and the Education Department does not plan to monitor compliance.

Contact Stevenson at 616-526-6235

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Received on Wed Sep 13 22:15:11 2006