Mandatory ‘Constitution
Day’ now
a possibility at CSULB
By
Mario Burciaga
and Joe Serna
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writers
As a result of a legislation passed by Congress last year, all schools provided
with federal funds in the United States, including Cal State Long Beach, will
be required to celebrate Constitution Day. According to the Department of Education’s
Web site, www.ed.gov, the Congressional initiative is authorized by the Appropriations
Act of 2005.
“The
American public and the schools and universities
are not well informed about the constitution,” stated
Alex Stein of the Department of Education.
Educational institutions are required to hold a program during Constitution
Day every Sept. 17 or on the preceding or following week.
Sept. 15 Cecile Lindsay, associate vice president of academic affairs, along
with Mike Hostetler, dean of students, abided the legislation by holding a
panel discussion for CSULB students to attend.
Speaking at the panel were Chuck Noble, from the department of political science,
who discussed the technical problems present in the Constitution; Kathie Schey,
a graduate student in history, who discussed matters having to do with citizenship;
and Albie Burke, from the department of history, who gave background information
on the Constitution and discussed its strengths.
Other members of the discussion panel were Chuck Greenberg, a retired local
attorney, who discussed the fallacy of strict construction as a valid method
for interpretation; and Rene Cramer, from the department of political science,
who discussed the amendments.
“
The reason why this was done was so that students could learn about the Constitution,” Hostetler
said. “People tend to see the Constitution as a finished product and
attending the panel [gives] a view of the Constitution, how it has worked
and how it has changed.”
Although the department of education does not specify what should be offered
at schools on Constitution Day, Hostetler believes what is offered at CSULB
is appropriate, but thinks otherwise of Sen. Byrd’s implementation of
Constitution Day.
Sen. Byrd seems to believe that the Constitution is the greatest thing since
salted peanuts,” Hostetler said. “If the intention of Sen. Byrd
was to give knowledge of the Constitution, then this is the wrong way.”
CSULB student James Traye said given the choice, he would never attend a function
dedicated to the Constitution.
“By having this law pass, I feel as if the government thinks our generation
is uneducated,” Traye said. “There is nothing constitutional about
Constitution Day.”
Regarding future plans for Constitution Day at CSULB, Hostetler said students
interested in the Constitution can someday attend the panel or any other program
offered by CSULB.
“
Students will definitely learn something,” he said. |
