William H. Kelly III
Associate Editor
Jackson State University celebrated civil rights and liberties with a three sessions during its annual Constitution Day observance on Sept. 17, 2015.
Constitution Day observances became law in 2004 for any education institution receiving federal funds.
The first session held at 8 a.m. included a reflection on the Constitution as students listened to Charance Wright, Student Government Association Chief Justice, read the articles of the Constitution.
Sophomore Class President Faith Ambrose, a political science and elementary education double major from Jacksonville, Ill., served as one of the Constitution Day committee members.
“Miss Sophomore, Jesslyn Course, was really passionate about having a ‘Know Your Rights’ forum. It was discussed between the executive board that we should make this a part of Constitution Day,” said Ambrose.
Transitioning into the second session brought a festive atmosphere as students gathered on the Gibbs-Green Plaza at 12 noon for a Hotspot. During the event, students were encouraged to register to vote as volunteers passed out applications and American flags.
The third session of the day was held in the Jacob L. Reddix Hall General Purpose Room at 6 p.m. An overview of the first amendment was delivered by Attorney Rhonda Cooper, assistant professor of political science at JSU.
During the overview, Cooper discussed the importance of knowing the law with students.
“Even if you’re not studying law, you should be more abreast of what’s going on. I understand and I appreciate social media but you can read the newspaper. You can read here on campus, you have the USA Today, the Jackson Free Press, the Jackson Advocate, read those periodicals,” said Cooper. “Read them weekly, read them daily, read your assignments and sometimes go outside for additional sources. I think the more students read the more empowered they will be because they have the knowledge and then they know it for themselves.”
The major focus of the third session was a panel discussion entitled: Know Your Rights, which examined the First Amendment. The panel included Cooper, Officer Jeremy Gordon of the Jackson Police Department, Lindsey Horton, Vice president for JSU Public Safety, and Elayne H. Anthony, Director of Mass Communication.
Darryl Brown, a sophomore computer science major from Carson, Calif., appreciated the discussion on the current divide between law enforcement and the public.
“I feel like these events give us a chance to fully talk with and understand the police side of things because we always have our point of view and how we feel like we’re being profiled just because of the things that we see,” said Brown. “There are always two sides to a story so I feel like having this opportunity to ask them the questions that are on our minds helps develop more of an understanding and releases some of the tension.”
All photos by William Kelly III
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