By Kelly Gilbert
Staff Reporter
Sacred Heart University is hosting its annual Constitution Day event on Wednesday, Sept. 21 in the Schine Auditorium from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event will feature guest speaker Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen, along with many others.
Taking place on Sept. 17, Constitution Day is an American federal observance that recognizes and honors the adoption of the U.S. Constitution and its ideals.
It is both an annual celebration and an honored reflection of the exact day in history when delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia in 1787.
At Sacred Heart University’s upcoming rendition of this celebration, one of its main goals is to strengthen students’ faith in the U.S. Constitution and reaffirm the significance of this document at its foundational core.
Dr. Gary Rose, Professor and Chair in the Department of Government, Politics and Global Studies at Sacred Heart, is one of the event’s organizers.
“I want them to gain an appreciation for the work and vision of our nation’s Founding Fathers,” said Rose.
Students are encouraged to attend in order to participate in an in depth analysis of the foundation of the United States and to appreciate all that the U.S. Constitution has provided them.
“I want them to realize how very special the U.S. Constitution is,” said Rose. “I want them to see the connection between their own existence as free Americans and the document that we are celebrating.”
Among other guests, students can expect to see and hear from Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen. As a pivotal figure in the American legal system, Jepsen is someone who could provide an officer of the law’s knowledge firsthand.
“Students at this year’s forum will learn how important a State Attorney General is with regards to enforcing the Constitution and how an Attorney General’s decisions affect our rights,” said Rose.
President of the pre-law club and junior Antony Galvano is looking forward to Jepsen’s appearance at the Constitution Day celebration.
“I think George Jepsen has done an exceptional job with ensuring a quality of life for the people of Connecticut,” said Galvano. “With an operating budget of only $32 million, his office generated $523.2 million in revenue of the state in 2015. He is obviously knowledgeable about his career, as well as with the law, so it will definitely be interesting to hear from a figure of such authority here at school.”
Galvano is also expected to give a short speech at the event from his own point of view explaining the significance of constitution day.
“Hosting this event at Sacred Heart University demonstrates how the university is dedicated to fulfilling its mission statement of creating a student who is ‘knowledgeable of self, rooted in faith, educated in mind… [and] able to respond to an ever changing world.’ This event allows a student to listen to a well educated officer of the law, as well as truly get a feel for all that the U.S. constitution has provided citizens with,” said Galvano.
Dr. Rose encourages students to attend this patriotic, on-campus event.
“Students should attend this forum because it’s hard to imagine being a citizen of this country without knowing anything about the document that has held this country together since its inception, and how this document protects our freedoms,” said Rose.
