UNR NEWS RELEASE
The University of Nevada, Reno will join in a national discussion to observe Constitution Day in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Humanities, Sept. 17, 2012, from 10:15 a.m-noon, in the Joe Crowley Student Union Theatre on the University campus. The event, “Emancipation Nation: Celebrating Freedom on Constitution Day,” will feature an interactive, live-stream discussion with leading emancipation historians, broadcast from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington D.C., to campuses across America. Students, faculty and staff at the University of Nevada, Reno are encouraged to participate. The event is free and open to the community.
The University’s event will be introduced and moderated on campus by Stephen Lafer, Ph.D., associate professor in the College of Education, beginning at 10:15 a.m. in the Joe Crowley Student Union Theatre. The live-stream program, marking the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, will be broadcast to the University from 10:30-11:30 a.m. The program features a group of prominent historians who will perform before a live student audience in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of History, representing different viewpoints illustrating various perspectives on emancipation. After the broadcast, Dr. Lafer will lead a group discussion from 11:30 a.m.-noon.
Constitution Day will be observed nationally on Monday, Sept. 17, 2012, to commemorate Sept. 17, 1787, when the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention held their final meeting, to sign the Constitution of the United States of America. A federal law directs public schools and universities to sponsor educational programs about the United States Constitution each year in honor of the signing.
The University of Nevada, Reno Constitution Day event is sponsored by the Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Extended Studies and the Intercultural Council. For more information and a downloadable flier, visit http://www.unr.edu/constitutionday or call Extended Studies at (775) 784-4046.
