Archive

2025

Constitution Day Highlights

Wednesday, September 17

This year’s theme invited reflection on how constitutional values intersect with student voices, identities, and experiences. Whether you’re attending classes, joining student government, expressing yourself online, or advocating for change, the Constitution is always present.

1:00 p.m. | Constitution Reading with David Brooks

Location: Peck Hall, hosted by the College of Liberal Arts. 

3:00 p.m. | Keynote Address: David Brooks

Location: Tucker Theatre  

About David Brooks

David Brooks is a celebrated journalist, cultural commentator, and bestselling author whose work explores the moral, political, and social currents shaping American life. As an Opinion columnist for The New York Times, Brooks has become known for his thoughtful analysis of the clash of ideas and the complexities of moral formation in modern society.

His career spans decades and includes roles at The Wall Street Journal, The Weekly Standard, Newsweek, and National Review. He’s also a regular contributor to PBS NewsHour and NPR, bringing insight and balance to public discourse.

Brooks is the author of several influential books, including:

• Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There
• The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement
• The Road to Character
• The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life
• How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen

A graduate of the University of Chicago with a degree in history, Brooks has taught at Yale, Duke, and his alma mater. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and his work is grounded in a philosophical tradition shaped by thinkers like David Hume, Edmund Burke, and Alexander Hamilton—a tradition that balances humility with audacity, and fair-mindedness with compassion.

Brooks brings to MTSU a voice of reason and reflection, inviting students to consider how constitutional values shape their everyday lives.2024

2024

In 2024, ADP students helped create and distribute the following informational posters to help their fellow students learn more about the election:

CLICK HERE to view the full Rutherford County Sample Ballot

Do research on the candidates. Read their campaign websites. For nonpartisan candidate guides, some helpful resources include:

• League of Women Voters’ Vote411 Tennessee Voter Guide
• Ballotpedia Tennessee 
• Guides.vote
• and the resources below

2023

Constitution Day 2023

Common Sense Civics: Can We Work Together Again to Solve America’s Problems?

MTSU celebrates Constitution Day/Week 2023 (Video)

‘Bring democracy back’: Cooper, Corker highlight MTSU’s Constitution Day panel (Video)

Constitution Day 2022

Grassroots Organizing and Movement Building are in Tennessee’s DNA: Highlander Center Comes to MTSU

• STUDENTS READ ALOUD CONSTITUTION TO ENCOURAGE VOTING by Lillian Chapman for Sidelines
• MTSU marks Constitution’s 235th anniversary with public readings, community-organizing talk by Gina E. Fann for MTSU News
• ‘Real conversations’ are 1st step in grassroots organizing, Highlander Center leader tells MTSU audience by Gina E. Fann for MTSU News

Constitution Day 2021

State Legislatures Shaping the Nation: Tennessee Law and National Civic Culture

‘Democracy out loud’ in evidence at MTSU during Constitution Week readings

Constitution Day 2020

Voting Privilege, Prejudice, and Power

• MTSU marks Constitution Day Sept. 17 with voting rights panel, voter registration
• MTSU campus keeps tradition of reading U.S. Constitution to celebrate democracy  
• Constitution may guarantee rights, but MTSU panelists say Americans still aren’t equal under law or in society
• BIOL 1030 Honors Reads the Constitution
• Watch the Panel Discussion

Constitution Day 2019

Suffragists and Citizenship

• Video of Panel Discussion at Tucker Theatre
• MTSU’s 2019 Constitution Day Celebration Details
• Students Reflect on the Importance of Constitution Day
• Suffragists panel celebrates voting, urges vigilance at MTSU Constitution Day 2019
• ‘We are still fighting for equality today’: Rep. London Lamar speaks at suffrage panel
• MTSU celebrates Constitution Day 2019 with readings, voter registration

Constitution Day 2018

Interim Election Voter Registration, Monday September 17, 2018

• MTNews “Voter Registration is Focus of MTSU’s Annual Consitution Week Celebration”
• WSMV “Tennessee Campuses Competing in Voter Registration Drive”
• MTSU Welcomes Secretary of State for voter Registration Drive
• WGNS Radio “Constitution Week: September 17-23, 2018

ADP Voter Registration and #VoteTogether Party as part of Constitution Week and beyond

• MTSU, local Election Commission team up for new True Blue Voter student registration program
• MTSU, Rutherford County Election Commission work to get students involved
• MTSU students can register to vote on first day of fall semester classes, too
• MTSU’s True Blue Voter drive registers almost 200 students during CUSTOMS events
• MTSU, League of Women Voters cancel Sept. 20 gubernatorial forum
• Voter registration is focus of MTSU’s annual Constitution Week celebration
• Secretary of State Hargett visits MTSU to support student voter registration drive
• MTSU urges campus toward Election Day with final voter registration push
• Last-minute surge boosts MTSU voter registration numbers
• Bring your voter ID Nov. 6 and join MTSU’s ‘Party at the Polls’ at Central Magnet

Constitution Day 2017

The Constitutional Role of an Independent Judiciary in a Democracy, Wednesday, September 20, 2017 – Tennessee Room, James Union Building – 2:30 pm. Panel with distinguished Senior judges, retired judges, and justices.

The Constitutional Role of an Independent Judiciary in a Democracy video

Constitution Day 2016

Saying No to Oppression: Legacy and Civic Responsibility, Wednesday, September 14, 2016 – Tucker Theater – 2:30

• Lecture and panel discussion with civil rights and nonviolence activist Diane Nash.

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Constitution Day 2015

Thursday, September 17, https://amerdem.mtsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/05/ConstitutionDay2015Poster.Readings2.jpg

No Voice No Choice: The Voting Rights Act at 50

Thursday, September 17 – Tucker Theatre – 2:30 P.M. 

• Panel with Civil Rights Leaders: Reverend James M. Lawson and Reverend C.T. Vivian
• Preroll Introduction Video
• No Voice No Choice Poster

Constitution Day 2014

Wednesday, September 17, Poster

Constitution Day 2013

Tuesday, September 17, Poster

Coverage

• Youtube Video
• Blue Raider Debate Team and the Dream Act

Reading the Constitution all Across Campus

Time	College/Location	To Volunteer To Read, Contact
9:00-10:00	College of Media and Entertainment @ Mass Comm	zeny.panol@mtsu.edu
9:30-10:30	College of Behavioral and Health Sciences @ Nursing Bldg	linda.hall@mtsu.edu
10:00-11:00	College of Business @ BAS	lara.daniel@mtsu.edu
11:00-12:00	College of Liberal Arts @ Peck Hall	connie.huddleston@mtsu.edu
11:30-12:30	University College @ BAS	ma.higgs@mtsu.edu
12:30-1:30	Honors College @ Honors Bldg	john.vile@mtsu.edu
12:30-1:30	College of Basic and Applied Sciences @ Peck Hall	saeed.foroudastan@mtsu.edu
1:00-2:00	College of Education @ Ed Bldg	laura.clark@mtsu.edu

Voter Registration
9:00-3:00
Peck Lawn
Honors Lawn
With League of Women Voters and Tennessee Citizen Action

Immigration/Dream Act Debate
4:30-5:30
State Farm Room BAS
With the Blue Raider Debate Team

Constitution Day 2012

Monday, September 17, Poster

Coverage

• Youtube Video
• Dean John Vile impersonates James Madison
• MTSU Holds Naturalization Ceremony on Constitution Day (NewsChannel5.com-Sep 17, 2012)
• Nearly 300 sworn in as US citizens on Constitution Day (The Daily News Journal-Sep 18, 2012)
• Hundreds become US citizens on Constitution Day (Knoxville News Sentinel-Sep 17, 2012)
• MTSU plays host to state’s largest naturalization ceremony (The Daily News Journal-Sep 18, 2012)
• MTSU welcomes naturalization ceremony on Constitution Day
• 300 immigrants celebrate Constitution Day at MTSU by becoming …
• Hundreds become US citizens on Constitution Day » Knoxville …
• Chief Justice Gary Wade Delivers Keynote Address at MTSU …
• Naturalization ceremony comes to MTSU – WSMV Channel 4
• Naturalization Ceremony for 300 on the MTSU Campus | WMOT
• Hundreds become US citizens on Constitution Day – WRCBtv.com
• MTSU celebrates Constitution Day with naturalization ceremony for …
• Naturalization ceremony comes to MTSU | The Tennessean …
• New American citizens show pride, thanks at MTSU ceremony | The …
• Naturalization ceremony comes to MTSU – WKRN, Nashville News …
• Naturalization ceremony comes to MTSU – WDEF News 12
• Hundreds become US citizens on Constitution Day during … (KRISTIN M. HALL Associated Press; September 17, 2012 – 7:44 pm EDT)
• MTSU marks Constitution Day with naturalization ceremony (Thurs., Sept. 20, 2012)

Constitution Day 2011

Saturday, September 17, Poster

Constitution Day 2010

Friday, September 17, Poster

To Establish Justice (Thoughts on Democracy poster display, KUC and Walker Lobby)

Thursday, September 16  | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Walker Library Portico (rain location: Walker Library lobby)

• Print Your Own Copy of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on the Franklin-era printing press

Thursday, September 16 & Friday, September 17 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Friday, KUC Knoll (rain location: KUC Lobby)

• T-shirt Screen Printing: Art Students’ Constitution-inspired Designs (Bring your own t-shirt or buy a t-shirt from Printer’s Proof art student organization)
• Signing the U.S. Constitution
• Voter Registration
• Live American Music: MTSU students and faculty playing and singing socially conscious songs of patriotism and protest

Friday, September 17 | 10:00 a.m. KUC Knoll (rain location: KUC Grill)

• Reading Aloud the U.S. Constitution

Wednesday, September 22 | SPECIAL EVENT | 4:30 p.m., Tucker Theater

• Establishing Justice: The New Supreme Court (Distinguished Lecture by award-winning NPR legal correspondent Nina Totenberg)

Constitution Day 2009

Thursday, September 17, Poster

Thursday, September 17—CONSTITUTION DAY!
On this day in 1787, 222 years ago, our United States Constitution was signed in Philadelphia, organizing our democratic republic and securing our civil rights.

In 2009 | From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Sign the Constitution! On the KUC Knoll.
  Personal copies of the Constitution distributed.

From 10 a.m. to noon

• Civil Discourse open mike on the “democracy plaza” of our KUC Knoll. Speak your mind — with civility. Deliberative democracy — the intelligent, reasoned, respectful exchange of ideas — is the Enlightenment ideal championed by the Framers of our Constitution.

READ THE CONSTITUTION! Join the MTSU community as we read aloud the U.S. Constitution from start to finish.

Reading begins at 12:00 High Noon on the KUC Knoll, after the chiming of the noon bells from the Honors College. MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee kicks off the Campus Celebration as the First Reader of the U.S. Constitution! VPs will read, Deans will read, and you be a reader too. Honors College bells will toll at the conclusion of the reading.

Meet one of the Framers of the Constitution! Keep your eyes open for a visit from one of our Founding Fathers and one of our Founding Mothers, our very own James and Dolley Madison (Dean John Vile, Honors College, and Dr. Meredith Anne Higgs, Academic Enrichment).