UTSA to observe Constitution Day September 19

(Sept. 15, 2011) -- Constitution Day will be celebrated Monday, September 19 at the UTSA Main and Downtown campuses. The nationally observed event centers on the history of the U.S. Constitution and the role it plays today in the lives of U.S. citizens. The events are free and open to the public..

At the Main Campus, pocket-sized copies of the Constitution will be available to pick up from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University Center Paseo. Additionally, government documents librarian Rita Wilson will be on hand to share information about constitutional resources available on campus. The event is sponsored by the UTSA Special Events Center. For more information, e-mail Charlin Jones or call (210) 458-6110..

At the Downtown Campus, pocket-sized copies of the Constitution will be available to pick up from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is supported by the UTSA Office of Student Activities at the Downtown Campus and sponsored by the UTSA Special Events Center. For more information, e-mail Michelle Montanio or call (210) 458-2816..

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Constitution Day.

Constitution Day was established by law in 2004. Before the law was enacted, the holiday was known as Citizenship Day. In addition to renaming the holiday, the act mandated that all publicly funded educational institutions provide educational programming on the history of the U.S. Constitution on that day..

"Ultimate sovereignty resides with the people--they are to direct and control the government, as is the Constitution," said Richard Gambitta, associate professor and director of the UTSA Institute for Law and Public Affairs. "Each generation must marry both the message and power of the people with the message and power of the constitution, because when disparate, the government staggers or runs amuck or falls. The living Constitution's progress is long and winding, but it bends towards justice. Participation by students in Constitution Day is important to forging the marriage and to regenerating anew the commitment to the perpetual pursuance of justice.".

For more resources, visit the UTSA Library Constitution Day website.