Arkansas Tech University observed the 238th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the United States of America with a Constitution Day event at Hindsman Tower on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
State Rep. Matt Duffield, Pope County Judge Ben Cross, Russellville Mayor Fred Teague, Russellville City Councilman Nathan George, former Russellville Mayor Bill Eaton and ATU Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Dr. Adolfo Santos were among the readers. Several dozen ATU students also volunteered to read a portion of the document.
Dr. Christopher Housenick, ATU assistant professor of political science, presided over the U.S. Constitution reading.
Elsewhere, the ATU observance of Constitution Day also included teaching a lesson on the document at Russellville Junior High School.
Dr. Gregory Michna and Dr. Michael Rogers from the ATU Department of History and Political Science collaborated with Dr. Debra Murphy from the ATU Department of Teaching and Educational Leadership to deliver U.S. Constitution curriculum to approximately 400 RJHS American history students. Michna, Rogers and Murphy were assisted by student volunteers from the ATU College of Education and Health.
The U.S. Constitution was adopted by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pa., on Sept. 17, 1787.
In 2004, Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia championed a new law that designated Sept. 17 of each year as Constitution Day. Public schools and institutions of higher learning across the United States are required to provide educational programs about the document on Constitution Day.
Learn more about the ATU Department of History and Political Science at www.atu.edu/history.
