2026 Constitution Day
Constitution Day Address
September 16, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. | Williams Center
Cory McCants of Buffalo Toronto Public Media joined Fredonia for a Constitution Day address exploring issues related to democracy, civic life, and an informed public.
Public Media and Democracy
September 16, 2026 | 12:00 p.m. | Williams Center
A panel featuring representatives from public media, Fredonia faculty, and a student examined public media's role in informing communities and supporting democratic participation.
2025 Constitution Day
Constitution Day Keynote — Spencer Morgan
September 17, 2025 | 11:00–11:50 a.m. | Williams Center S204-ABC
Spencer Morgan, executive director of the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site and a Fredonia alumnus, discussed how Theodore Roosevelt redefined presidential power, reshaped public expectations of executive leadership, and helped lay the foundation for the modern presidency.
What Can You Say on Campus at a Public University or College? Free Speech, the Constitution, and College Life
September 17, 2025 | 2:00–3:30 p.m. | Virtual
Panelists from SUNY and other institutions discussed the civic mission of higher education, civic discourse, and challenges involving free speech on college campuses.
Constitutional Amendments Display
September 5–26, 2025 | Reed Library
An interactive exhibit invited members of the campus community to explore the amendments to the U.S. Constitution and consider which constitutional amendment held the greatest significance for them.
2024 Constitution Day
National Constitution Day Dialogue
September 17, 2024 | 1:00 p.m. | Virtual
Hosted by AASCU's American Democracy Project, this national facilitated dialogue brought participants together across differences to learn about and discuss the U.S. Constitution.
Freedom of the Press — It's in the Constitution!
September 18, 2024 | 11:00–11:30 a.m. | Williams Center S204-DE
Bob McCarthy, retired Buffalo News reporter and WKBW-TV political analyst, discussed the relationship between politicians and journalists and the constitutional role of a free press.
New York Equal Rights Amendment Panel
September 30, 2024 | 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Williams Center S204-AB
ADP and the League of Women Voters of Chautauqua County hosted a panel examining New York's proposed Equal Rights Amendment and what adding the amendment to the state constitution would mean.
Sip and Stroll: Constitutional Amendments Exhibit
September 1–26, 2024 | Reed Library
The campus community was invited to explore a display of the constitutional amendments and consider which amendment held the greatest significance for them.
2023 Constitution Day
Liberty and Equality: An Analysis of the Rights to Abortion and Same-Sex Marriage Under the Constitution
September 13, 2023 | 2:00–3:00 p.m. | Williams Center S204-ABC
Professor Wilson Huhn examined the constitutional history of liberty and equality and legal arguments concerning abortion and same-sex marriage. The program considered how lawyers and judges use constitutional principles to interpret these rights.
Sip and Stroll: Constitutional Amendments Exhibit
September 1–28, 2023 | Reed Library
An interactive exhibit invited members of the campus community to explore the constitutional amendments and identify the amendment most significant to them.
2022 Constitution Day
Voting Rights: Identifying the Deep Roots of #BLM
September 14, 2022 | 3:00–4:00 p.m. | Williams Center S204-DE
Dr. Jennifer Hildebrand of Fredonia examined voting and civil rights, connecting contemporary movements including Black Lives Matter with earlier movements in U.S. history.
2021 Constitution Day
Your Map Matters: How Redistricting Impacts Everything in Your Life and How to Use Your Voice to Change It
September 17, 2021 | 1:30–2:30 p.m. | Virtual
Jennifer Wilson, deputy director of the League of Women Voters of New York State, discussed redistricting and its effects on representation, public policy, and civic participation.
2020 Constitution Day
Pathological Policing & Constitutional Entrenchment
September 17, 2020 | 4:00–5:00 p.m. | Virtual
Anthony O'Rourke, J.D., of the University at Buffalo, discussed police reform and its relationship to the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions, including constitutional questions involving criminal procedure.
2019 Constitution Day
Checks and Balances, the Constitution, and Impeachment
September 17, 2019 | Reed Library Garden Room
Attorneys from the Chautauqua County Women's Bar Association discussed checks and balances under Articles I, II, and III of the Constitution and the impeachment provisions contained in Articles I and II. An accompanying display invited participants to explore and respond to the constitutional amendments.
2018 Constitution Day
Why the U.S. Constitution Matters in Our Everyday Lives
September 17, 2018 | 2:00–3:00 p.m. | Reed Library Garden Room
Mike Igoe, J.D., then an assistant professor of Communication at Fredonia, discussed how the Constitution affects everyday life, drawing on his background in law, journalism, and First Amendment issues.