UAFS Hosts Slate of Events for Constitution Week

Written By: Ian Silvester

The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith will celebrate Constitution Week Sept. 14 through 18 with a series of events focused on civic engagement, voter participation, and the U.S. Constitution. Activities throughout the week will include a Constitution Quiz Bowl, voter registration drive, panel discussions, and passive displays.

For at least 10 years, UAFS has been marking Constitution Day with a week-long celebration of events. With Arkansas gubernatorial and Fort Smith mayoral elections both coming up in November, the week of learning has implications for students.

“They can’t understand the power they have without understanding the process,” said Dr. Williams Yamkam, associate professor of history, social sciences, and philosophy, and advisor for the Democracy Project.

According to Yamkam, events throughout the week aim to inform and educate students about the Constitution's foundational system and the relationships between the branches of government and between the governed and government.

“Understanding the process is, in and of itself, an empowerment journey,” Yamkam explained. “Once you’re empowered, you can impact the process in a way that will be more rewarding to you as an individual and as a commonwealth.”

National Voter Registration Day falls on Tuesday, Sept. 15, two days before Constitution Day. Yamkam said members from the Sebastian County Election Commission will be on the UAFS campus helping students register to vote. The commission will also have a voting machine available for students to see and cast a mock vote on, so they know what to expect in November at their poll location.

“This gives students a sense of that empowerment and an understanding that their vote can determine the outcome of an election and show them the power that they have in determining who gets into office and who doesn’t,” Yamkam said.

The full slate of events includes:

Crumbl and the Constitution
Monday, Sept. 14, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the SGA Office, Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center 119-A.
Hosted by the Student Government Association. 

Constitution Quiz Bowl
Monday, Sept. 14, noon, at the Campus Center Fireplace.
A Constitution-themed quiz bowl featuring Dr. Lee Krehbiel and hosted by the UAFS Democracy Project. 

National Voter Registration Day
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Campus Center Fireplace.
The UAFS American Democracy Project will host a voter registration drive, giving students an opportunity to register to vote. 

Lunch and Learn Panel Discussion
Wednesday, Sept. 16, noon, at the Latture Conference Center.
Explore the history and evolution of the U.S. Constitution and have a conversation around it, presented by Dr. Williams Yamkam. 

Sweet Taste of Democracy
Thursday, Sept. 17, 12:30 p.m., at the Campus Center Fireplace.
Celebrate Constitution Day with the UAFS Democracy Project.

Documentary on the U.S. Constitution
Friday, Sept. 18, 11 a.m., at the Campus Center Fireplace.
A documentary program on the U.S. Constitution featuring Dr. Williams Yamkam. 

Constitution Week Pop-Up!
Friday, Sept. 18, 1-3 p.m., at the Campus Center.
The Young Democrats at UAFS will be wrapping up Constitution Week with freebies and trivia.

Throughout the week, a U.S. Constitution display will be featured at the Boreham Library.

• Tags:
• Constitution Day
• Constitution Week
• National Voter Registration Day