USC Aiken Observes Constitution Week

Aiken, SC (09/23/2019) — Throughout the country, Americans observed Constitution Day on Sept. 17, but the University of South Carolina Aiken expanded its observance to include activities on campus the entire week.

"We want to facilitate civic engagement," said Dr. Matt Thornburg, assistant professor of political science and one of the organizers for the university's Constitution Week programs.

Dr. Besheer Mohamed, a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center, kicked off the week with his presentation: America's Changing Religious Landscape.

Mohamed is considered by many as an expert on religion in the United States. He shared insights related to research on religious diversity and current religious trends among several unique segments of society, including faith preferences, race, gender, and political affiliation.

"His work at the Pew Research Center puts Mohamed at the forefront of understanding how the social and political landscape of our country is changing," said Thornburg.

"In particular, his studies on the changing religious views of Americans help us to prepare for the challenges and opportunities that our Constitution will face as America's religious diversity grows."

Every year, the university joins the nation in observing Constitution Day each Sept. 17. On that date in 1787, "delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia debated, compromised, and came up with a new framework of government for our country-they signed the document that today lives in the Rotunda and is visited by millions of people from all around the world," according to the National Archives website.

In recent years, USC Aiken expanded their observance to the entire week around Constitution Day.

"The Constitution is quite literally the contract which Americans make with each other and their government and under which they choose to live their lives," said Thornburg.

"You certainly wouldn't agree to any other contract without understanding it, and so we view it as critical that all Americans understand their rights and obligations under the U.S. Constitution."

Related discussions during the week included The Constitution, the Law, the Courts, and Religion in American History, presented by Dr. Elizabeth Georgian, USC Aiken history professor; Religion, Race, Party and Voter Suppression, presented by Dr. Matt Thornburg, assistant professor of political science; and ACLU Constitution Week Lecture, presented by Ali B. Titus, policy and communication director for the ACLU of South Carolina.

To facilitate the goal of civic engagement, during Constitution Week, university faculty invited representatives from the League of Women Voters to register students from both South Carolina and Georgia, so they can be set to vote in upcoming elections.

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