ECU celebrates Constitution Week

ECU will recognize its annual Constitution Week this year with the theme, "Freedom of Speech."

"We organized a task group of experts from the academic community and staff to choose the theme and our group came up with the First Amendment," said David Conde, ECU senior associate vice chancellor for Special Initiatives and chair of the Constitution Celebration planning committee.

According to Conde, the theme was chosen because issues regarding freedom of speech arise in the daily lives of students. Activities were designed around issues concerning online communication, censorship, academic freedom, free speech zones and student media.

Throughout the week, ECU will engage in a multitude of Constitution-related activities.

The week kicked off with keynote speaker George Freeman, vice president and assistant general counsel to the New York Times. Freeman has served as the chief litigator for the newspaper since 1992.

"Mr. Freeman was recommended by our task group," Conde said. "The New York Times is what we would consider a key media outlet in the country and one of the most prestigious newspapers."

Freeman's presentation stressed the importance of free speech and highlighted two key stories and how they relate to first amendment law in the press.

The first was about a New York Times writer, Judy Miller, who was sentenced to 85 days in jail for refusing to testify on an anonymous source when she was subpoenaed by the government. The second was about the Pentagon Papers case, which has been the greatest battle between the press and the government, according to Freeman.

Freeman also gave students advice about how to publish information legally.

"There are times when the issues are real enough that one does in fact need to consult a lawyer," Freeman said. "Often times, however, it is possible to consult a committee or association that will be able to answer your questions. The important thing is to have the knowledge to know when you're in enough trouble and will need legal help."

On Sept.16, the roundtable forum, "Freedom of Speech: The Core First Amendment Protection," will be held at 6 p.m. in Great Rooms 2 and 3 in Mendenhall.

The discussion will be moderated by Nancy Spalding, political science professor at ECU and will include a wide variety of panelists. Speakers will include Andrew Griffin, Student Government Association president; Paul Isom, advisor to ECU Student Media; Peter Romary, attorney-at-law and director of Student Legal Services, in addition to a number of ECU professors.

A Freedom of Speech Fair will be held on Wednesday from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the ECU designated public forum area near the cupola on the Mall. This activity will provide information about the public forum area. Groups and organizations affected by free speech will host tables nearby.

Wednesday's activities will also feature the "Student Town Hall Meeting" at 5 p.m. in Hendrix Theatre. SGA president Andrew Griffin will moderate and ECU police chief Scott Shelton will be present for an open discussion.

Throughout the week, the special collections department of Joyner Library will present an exhibit in Mendenhall titled "Amendment 1: Freedom of Speech," featuring reproductions from Joyner Library's manuscript that explains the First Amendment's role in our country.

In addition, the teaching resource center in Joyner Library created an exhibit about children's literature and the Constitution, which will be on display all week.

Students had the opportunity to win cash and gift cards by submitting Constitution-related papers on Monday. The top three entries will receive an award consisting of $50 in cash and a $50 voucher for the Dowdy Student Stores.

Prizes of $25 each will also be awarded to two top scorers in a Constitution Day quiz.

"The quiz is highly challenging," said Dr. Jody Baumgartner, of the department of political science. "It is an actual literacy test administered to African-American voters in Alabama prior to the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act."

Quiz winners and essay winners will be recognized at the panel program today.

This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.