Inside Iowa State

April 1, 2005

Take part in campus First Amendment events

The Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication will kick off a celebration of its centennial with First Amendment Week activities April 11-15. Planners have set aside one day for each of the five freedoms in the amendment -- speech, petition, press, assembly and religion. A list of events follows.

Monday, April 11

freedom of speech

• 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Public debate, debate issues of the day on soap boxes, includes exhibits and "You Be the Judge" contest, central campus.
• 7 p.m. Discussion, the First Amendment as the foundation of our nation's freedom and how that freedom is endangered by a lack of education about this founding principle, Gene Policinski, executive director of the First Amendment Center, Vanderbilt University, and Michael Kent Curtis, law professor at Wake Forest University, Campanile Room, Memorial Union.

Tuesday, April 12

freedom to petition

• 7 p.m., Discussion, "Petition -- the Forgotten Freedom?" a review of three recent instances in Iowa in which citizens successfully petitioned for a redress of grievances: seven citizens in Cass County challenged and unseated the county's sheriff and attorney for improper activities involving plea bargains and handling of cash; two citizens challenged the ISU Foundation to open its records; and ISU students petitioned the city of Ames for a special election seeking shorter city council terms, Sun Room, Memorial Union.

Wednesday, April 13

freedom of expression

• 7 p.m., Lecture, "Freedom of Expression in an Age of Fear," siblings Mary Beth and John Tinker, the Tinkers and a third student were suspended from their Des Moines schools in 1965 for wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam War, four years later the Supreme Court ruled against the school district, Great Hall, Memorial Union.

Thursday, April 14

freedom of assembly

• Noon, Large group reading, attempt to establish a Guinness book record for the most people reading simultaneously (minimum of 1,111 people are needed to read John Kennedy's inaugural address), central campus.
• 7 p.m., Lecture, "Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist," Dan Barker, Freedom From Religion Foundation, Madison, Wis., former ordained minister and author of Just Pretend: A Freethought Book for Children, Great Hall, Memorial Union.

Friday, April 15

freedom of religion

• 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Public debate, debate religious tolerance, the Ten Commandments in courthouses, gay marriages and other current topics on soapboxes, includes exhibits and "You Be the Judge" contest, central campus.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

-- first amendment to the U.S. Constitution