LSUS celebrating Constitution Day with three days of events

LSUS celebrating Constitution Day with three days of events

SHREVEPORT - George Washington is a common answer to the question of: "Who would you want to have dinner with, dead or alive?"

Students from LSUS and local K-12 schools as well as community members have that chance in real life on Tuesday at the George Washington Day Lunch, which starts at 11 a.m. in the LSUS Ballroom.

Tuesday's lunch is one of a series of events over three days in recognition of Constitution Day, which is next Thursday to celebrate the signing of that foundational American document on Sept. 17, 1787.

Historical interpreter Brian Hilton will appear as George Washington and engage in a real-time conversation with historian Dr. Edward Lengel.

The conversation will take the audience through different points in the life of the American Revolution war hero turned first president of a fledging nation.

"Together, Hilton and Lengel will elicit not only the truth about Washington's historical deeds and struggles but reveal the qualities of his character that made ultimate victory possible," said LSUS history professor Dr. Alexander Mikaberidze, who organized the series of events.

LSUS, with sponsorship from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, will take part in events Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this coming week.

On Wednesday, LSUS is teaming up with the Robinson Film Center for a screening and discussion of the movie "Selma," which depicts Martin Luther King Jr. and the push for legislation that eventually became the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Retired LSUS professor Dr. Kenna Franklin will lead a community discussion in connection with the film. The event begins at 7 p.m.

Constitution Day is Thursday, which features a flurry of events on campus and at the Spring Street Museum.

The Museum will feature an exhibit detailing Shreveport's role in the Civil Rights Movement as the city was an early hotspot of inspiration where the movement's leaders, including King, visited multiple times.

LSUS is hosting an event titled "Bring it to the Table," which features Emmy-winning documentarian Julie Winokur and her project that encourages Americans to stop bickering about politics, examine their own assumptions, and truly engage in civil discourse.

The 11 a.m. event in the LSUS Theatre will include an excerpt from her documentary followed by discussion and tabletop exercises designed to develop civil discourse skills.

The LSUS Political Science Club is leading a voter registration drive from 10-noon in the University Center lobby.

The week is capped off by a dive into Spanish Louisiana's role in the American Revolution by Dr. Frances Kolb Turnbell, an Early American historian who teaches at North Alabama.

Major changes within Louisiana itself contributed to the formation of the American Revolution and the shape that the country took within its first decades.

That event will be Thursday at 6 p.m. in the James Smith Noel Collection on the third floor of the LSUS Noel Memorial Library.

"As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, we have a clear responsibility to reflect on our nation's progress and to ensure each generation upholds our democratic values," said Leigh Chambers, chief extension officer at LSUS. "Benjamin Franklin's words, 'A republic, if you can keep it,' remain relevant today and remind us that democracy relies on active, informed citizens.

"We appreciate the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities for their support, which has enabled us to launch programming that highlights the essential role of the humanities in understanding our history and civic life. Through these programs, designed for both K-12 students and the broader community, we create opportunities for engagement, learning, and meaningful dialogue. America 250 is not only a celebration; it is a chance to reflect, learn, and participate."

K-12 groups interested in attending any of the events should contact Mikaberidze via email at [email protected].

All events are open to community members with the only ticketed event being Wednesday's movie screening at The Robinson Film Center.

Constitution Day Events

Tuesday, September 15 | 11 a.m.
George Washington Lunch | UC Ballroom
Explore George Washington, the founding era, and the beginnings of American democracy.

Wednesday, September 16 | 7 p.m.
Screening of Selma | Robinson Film Center
Free for LSUS students.

Thursday, September 17

• 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Shreveport in the Civil Rights Movement - Spring Street Museum Exhibit
• 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Voter Registration with the Political Science Club - UC Lobby
• 11 a.m. | Bring It to the Table - UC Theatre
• 6 p.m. | Spanish Louisiana and the American Revolution - Noel Collection