The State University of New York at Fredonia will host a panel discussion entitled "Separation of Church and State: Constitutional Issues" on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 4 p.m. in Room G-144 of the Williams Center. The event is sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs and is being held in conjunction with Constitution Day.
 
Admission to "Separation of Church and State: Constitutional Issues" is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.
 
"Separation of Church and State: Constitutional Issues" will focus on the ‘Establishment’ and ‘Free Exercise’ clauses in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The Establishment clause – "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" – was drafted to prevent the federal government from imposing a national religion. The Free Exercise clause – "Congress shall make no law...prohibiting the free exercise thereof" – ensures individuals the right to practice their faith.
 
Historical debates have led to differing interpretations of the clauses. SUNY Fredonia Interim Dean of Graduate Studies and Lifelong Learning Len Faulk, moderator of the "Separation of Church and State: Constitutional Issues," noted that such political issues as classroom recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, Ten Commandment displays in court buildings, prayer in public schools and public funding of private religious education have once again sparked heated analysis of the First Amendment.
 
"Issues surrounding the separation of church and state have been key to the political realignment of this country," Dr. Faulk said. "It is crucial that we understand what the Constitution said about the separation of church and state, that we ascertain what the Founding Fathers intended – this is an important, critical issue in the public domain that is well worth discussing."
 
The "Separation of Church and State: Constitutional Issues" panel will include SUNY Fredonia faculty members Christ Gaetanos, Laura Johnson and Adam Nye. Dr. Gaetanos is an Assistant Professor of Business Administration who earned his juris doctorate from the University at Buffalo in 1979 while Ms. Johnson, a Visiting Assistant Professor of Communication, has focused her research on religious broadcasters, the ‘religious right’ and the use of religion in media to influence the political system. Mr. Nye teaches constitutional law as an Assistant Visiting Professor in the Department of Political Science and recently completed a graduate school project at the University at Buffalo entitled "Modernizing Society: Church/State Relations in the Republic of Ireland."
 
The panel will also include SUNY Fredonia students. Audience members will be given an opportunity to share their views, as well.
 
For more information on programs and events at SUNY Fredonia, visit the university online at www.fredonia.edu.