Amarillo College students gathered at the clock tower on the Washington Street Campus Sept. 17 to learn about and celebrate one of the nation’s documents of freedom: the Constitution.
The event, organized each year by the Student Government Association, is known as Constitution Day.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention met on Sept. 17, 1787, in Philadelphia to sign the document. In 1878, William Gladstone a British liberal politician, described the Constitution as “the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.”
By federal law, any institution that receives federal funding is required to celebrate the day each year and provide educational materials about the document to students.
“It’s good for students of our age to have awareness about our government,” said Andrew Alexander, SGA president and a mass media major.
This year, SGA teamed with Roaster’s Coffee and the Donut Stop to provide refreshments to attendees. A line wrapped around the tower for about an hour as students grabbed coffee, red, white and blue doughnuts and pocket Constitutions.
The League of Women Voters also participated in the Constitution Day activities. Students who were not registered to vote or had changed their address had the opportunity to fill out registration cards.
Sue Howard, an LWV member, said it’s important for students to voice their opinions and get involved in their country’s democracy.
“A lot of people think their votes won’t matter,” Howard said.
But voting is a way for students to become more aware of what’s going on in the world, she said.
Trevor Brown, a mass media major, said being involved in SGA also is a great opportunity for those who are interested in getting involved. SGA gives students a voice, he said, while also creating friendships, building teamwork and leadership, and is an all-round great experience.
Students who missed the Constitution Day festivities or drives on Sept. 23, which was National Voter Registration Day, still have time to register.
The deadline to turn in new voter registration cards is Oct. 6 to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 4 mid-term election.
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