U. Nebraska-Lincoln student senators offer a fun day all about the Constitution.
Thursday and Friday this week, the Association of Students of the U. Nebraska will be hosting Constitution Day. This is the first year the day will be celebrated at UNL. The event will start Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at the UNL College of Law.
As an educational institution receiving federal funds, ASUN is legally mandated to provide programming for the day. The stipulation was written by the late U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd, who inserted language into the 2005 spending bill.
The 11:30 a.m. start time begins a tour of the law college, which precedes the Constitution Day luncheon at the college at 12:15 p.m. A lunch of sandwiches with a vegetarian option will be served. Following the luncheon will be a speech by UNL Alumna Amy Miller of the American Civil Liberties Union Nebraska about the current lawsuit against the city of Fremont.
Emily Schilchting, a junior political science major and ASUN’s chief of staff, said the speech will be an event not to miss.
“She is an amazing speaker, and listening to her speak on the issue in Fremont will be great,” she said.
For 100-level political science classes, extra credit is being offered for students who attend the speech.
The day will conclude with Miller’s speech. For students who don’t want the fun to end, there is an option to sit in on Professor Eric Berger’s Constitutional Law class.
On Friday at 10 a.m., ASUN senators will be talking to students about the Constitution and ASUN. Some may even be dressed up.
“As student senators, we think it’s great to have the opportunity to celebrate the Constitution and students,” said Lane Carr, a junior political science major and government liaison communications chairman for ASUN. “Our goal for the event is to try and get students to think more civic-mindedly.”
To help show ASUN’s appreciation for students, there will be free hot dogs grilled outside the Nebraska Union. The food will be served in the plaza from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
After the hot dog feed, the senators will continue to hang out in the plaza, handing out voter registration applications until 3 p.m.
“This (Constitution Day) is the kick-off for helping people get involved,” Carr said. “What better way to do so than celebrating the Constitution?”