QU to Host Constitution Day Town Hall Forum
Quincy University’s Political Science and Criminal Justice departments are sponsoring lectures on democracy and a Town Hall Forum in celebration of Constitution Day on Tuesday, September 17. Constitution Day is a national celebration commemorating the formation and signing of the U.S Constitution on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who have become citizens. This event is free and open to the public.
Faculty will present lectures from 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. in MacHugh Theatre in the basement of Francis Hall (1800 College). Wendell Mauter, Ph.D., professor emeritus of history, will present “The Experience of Democracy in Ancient Athens” and Neil Wright, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, will present “The Idea of Democracy and its Influence on the United States Constitution.” A time of discussion will follow the presentation.
The forum will take place from 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. in the Hall of Fame Room in the Health & Fitness Center (20th and Oak). Neil Wright and Judy Abbot, J.D., assistant professor of criminal justice, will moderate the event.
“Our annual town hall is important because it introduces students to civic life. This year’s discussion of a hypothetical proposal to make Quincy a sanctuary city will require participants to consider the difficult and controversial issue of immigration while they come to better understand the federal nature of the United States Constitution,” said Wright.
Whereas it is easy with modern media to avoid having to listen to arguments that oppose that of our own, the town hall format requires students to hear one another out and to persuade their community with thoughtful arguments. This demands both critical thought and sympathy, which will help strengthen our intellectual community here at QU.”
Founded in 1860 by Franciscan friars, Quincy University (www.quincy.edu) is a Catholic, co-educational, residential university offering undergraduate, graduate, and adult education programs that integrate liberal arts, active learning, practical experience, and Franciscan values. Quincy University’s intercollegiate sports are members of the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference for men and women. For more information, please contact the Quincy University Office of Community Relations by calling (217) 228-5275.
