ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University decked its halls in red, white and blue to celebrate Constitution Day on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
Constitution Day is the federal observance of the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787. Across the Northern campus, students, faculty and staff wore patriotic clothing or decorated their workspaces with a patriotic theme.
Festivities also included a display in the NSU Beulah Williams Library and patriotically themed food in the Wolves Den. The American Legion and Exchange Club also retired American flags in the Barnett Center parking lot.
In the NSU Student Center, the Dacotah Prairie Museum set out a display, and the League of Women Voters registered people to vote.
Betty Sheldon said the League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan group that offers the opportunity to register to vote so people can be well-educated and make an informed choice.
“I think this year we've registered more voters than ever,” she said.
NSU student Hunter Heinrich said it was his first time registering to vote because he’d never voted before.
“My vote may have a say in the next election,” Heinrich said. “I learned it was Constitution Day today. I'm glad that I registered!"
The commemoration extends into Sept. 18, when NSU Professor of Political Science Dr. Jon Schaff delivered ““Lincoln and the Limits of Presidential Power” at the NSU Noon Forum in the Library Round Room. Schaff is the author of “Abraham Lincoln’s Statesmanship and the Limits of Liberal Democracy,” published by Southern Illinois University Press.
All of the campus events were free and open to the public. Visit NSU’s Constitution Day Web page to find information such as Constitution Fun Facts and an interactive quiz.
About Northern State University
Northern State University is a regional university that offers outstanding academics and exceptional extracurricular activities at an affordable price on a safe, welcoming campus. Northern State recently announced its Educational Impact Campaign, with a goal of raising $55 million for a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, new athletic and recreation fields, and an on-campus regional sports complex. Once the campaign is complete, NSU will be the recipient of more than $100 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.