Baylor Celebrates Constitution Day

by Lillyan Baker, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

Dr. Jody Baumgartner, an assistant professor of political science at East Carolina University and an expert on American and French presidential elections, will present his lecture on "Comparing Presidential Selection in the U.S. and France" at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, in Kayser Auditorium at the Hankamer School of Business on the Baylor University campus.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will celebrate the birth of our government and the importance of the upcoming presidential elections. Baylor's office of the executive vice president and provost hosts the event each year, which reminds students of the adoption of the Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787.

"We are very please to use this opportunity to focus Baylor's community attention on specific issues of interest, as they are effected by our Constitution," said Dr. James Bennighof, vice provost for academic affairs at Baylor. "This year nothing seemed more appropriate than focusing on the presidential elections."

A federal mandate passed by Congress in 2004 requires institutions of higher learning that receive federal funding to implement an educational program celebrating the Constitution on Sept. 17.

Since Baylor requires all students to enroll in a political science course, Baylor has taken this educational opportunity to teach students with more specific issues dealing with our Constitution. Since 2005, Baylor has commemorated Constitution Day by hosting panel discussions and informative scholars on the Baylor Campus.

For more information about the Constitution Day event, call (254) 710-6500.