Economics freshman Molly McBride attended Thursday’s “Constitution Day” lecture. Although she isn’t majoring in law, she said she found the lectures interesting. In this audio clip, she gives her thoughts about the lectures she attended.
As part of the federally recognized Constitution Day, MSU students and faculty gathered Thursday to discuss how various national issues fit within the document and what it means to today’s society.
The MSU College of Law and James Madison College partnered to discuss the federally recognized day, by holding a series of lectures and discussions relating current news and issues to the original meaning of the Constitution.
Although this is the first year the two colleges joined together to commemorate the day, MSU has been recognizing the Constitution since 2005.
Anna Johnson, a third-year law student, said it was a great opportunity to hear professors talk about topics that relate to everyone, not just law students.
“I think the lectures should be interesting (to everyone) because they impact everybody,” Johnson said.
Celebrating one of the nation’s most important documents is required of institutions receiving federal funding, said Carlota Toledo, associate director for student affairs.
“We also wanted to educate and have a discourse between faculty and students of constitutional issues,” Toledo said. “It’s a great opportunity to learn more.”
The lecture topics included “The Constitution, Law and Religion,” “U.S. Constitution: Current Debates and Novel Ideas” and “The Degradation of Constitutional Discourse in America.” The variety of discussions throughout the day expressed the range of present-day topics, Toledo said.
“The diversity of the dialogue reflects the diversity of the issues,” Toledo said. “Plus, it allows something for different communities. There’s something for everyone.”
Law professor Kevin Saunders spoke about the issues that arose during Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings. Saunders said Constitution Day was a good way to get students thinking about the Constitution and its present-day implications.
“It’s relevant to the Constitution and fresh in the mind of those who watched (Sotomayor’s) confirmation,” Saunders said.
During the lecture, law professor Susan Bitensky spoke about outlawing corporal punishment because it would make a less violent and more civilized America, Bitensky said.
“In the past it has seemed as if the Constitution wasn’t being taken seriously in some quarters,” she said. “It was heartening to take part of the event highlighting the Constitution and celebrating its existence.”
Bitensky said she wanted to lecture because of the importance of the document.
“I think that the federal Constitution is extremely important to further and implementing
a civilized society,” Bitensky said.
Toledo said she was pleased with the overall turnout for Thursday’s Constitution Day.
“The people who came were interested in the topics and really wanted to hear (the lectures) and be engaged in the discussion,” Toledo said.
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