The Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College will launch Democracy Week on Monday, Sept. 15, with a series of events designed to connect students and community members with local organizations, election candidates, and civic conversations.
The week opens Monday, Sept. 15, with an inclusive community event in Plank Gym where attendees can meet local organizations working for the community, learn how grassroots efforts strengthen democratic participation, and find ways to get involved; doors open at 4:00 p.m. and the event runs until 6:00 p.m.
On Tuesday, Sept. 16, Gettysburg College Public Policy Chair Dr. Anne S. Douds will moderate a forum in Mara Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. featuring the two candidates for Gettysburg Mayor — incumbent Rita Frealing and Chad-Alan Carr — along with Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) special election candidates Mark Hopkins and Ryan Kerney.
Wednesday, Sept. 17, Adams County Court of Common Pleas Judge, the Honorable Christina M. Simpson will deliver the annual Constitution Day Lecture at 7:00 p.m. in Mara Auditorium; her lecture is titled “The Constitution in Everyday Life: How Courts Shape Families, Communities and Justice.”
On Thursday, Sept. 18, veteran journalist and Gettysburg Connection reporter Alex Hayes will moderate a forum at 7:00 p.m. in Mara Auditorium for candidates for four open seats on the Gettysburg Area School District Board; invited candidates include Julieta Booz, Dale Brennan, Donna Harrison, Michelle Smyers, Kathleen Pratt, Justine Sieg, David Sites, and Charles Weise.
The week concludes Friday, Sept. 19, at 4:00 p.m. with a screening of the documentary Join or Die in Mara Auditorium; the film examines the decline of civic engagement in America and how that trend has contributed to a growing national crisis.
The scheduled events pay tribute to President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Proclamation 3151, which designates a week in September as Constitution Week to commemorate the historic acts that led to the formation of the U.S. Constitution; Constitution Day and Citizenship Day are observed nationwide each Sept. 17 to mark the signing of the United States Constitution in 1787. The Democracy Week events are also part of the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Event Series, and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion is a co-sponsor.
The Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College connects aspiring young leaders with public policy experts to help them discover their passions and tackle society’s most challenging issues; grounded in President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s legacy of leadership, the Institute promotes nonpartisan discourse and critical analysis through competitive fellowships, access to renowned experts, and symposia.
For more information, contact Diane Brennan at dbrennan@gettysburg.edu or 717-337-6825.
Photo Caption: Judge Simpson