Constitution Day exalts document

As part of Club Rush this semester, the Associated Student Union and the Financial Aid Office hosted Constitution Day Sept. 26 to remind students on campus of the U.S. Constitution’s importance.

Constitution Da­­­y, as Contra Costa College defines it, is meant to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787 by delegates present at the Constitutional Convention.

The event was held in the quad during the semiannual Club Rush to target more student interest.

ASU President Jasmine Ramezanzadeh said that because students were signing up for different clubs, they were already looking for information about the campus, which helped attract attention to the Constitution Day event.

Ramezanzadeh said, “One of the biggest reasons is that it helps with federal funding. (The government) needs events like Constitution Day. Students don’t know their rights and are only looking for certain information (about their freedoms).”

Student Life Coordinator Kelly Ramos said the event is a federally-mandated event for Title V colleges because of the financial aid dispersed to students on campus.

“Also because it’s an election season,” she said, “(Constitution Day) brings up certain questions and gets people talking about why we value our rights and freedoms.”

Biology major Susana Monzon agreed.

“We live in America and people don’t know their rights (or) about the Constitution, and (this event) informs (students),” Monzon said.

A poster board showing the Constitution gave a brief summary to students of what the historical document allows Americans to do as citizens of the country.

Ramos and Student Life assistant Jackie Trimmer handed out free notebooks with visual graphics of the Constitution on the front and the Bill of Rights on the back.

Trimmer said the poster board aided students in learning informally without the classroom environment.

“It’s informative by using fun facts and not a bunch of plain text writing. It just gives you the main points,” she said about the poster board that displayed facts about the Constitution at the event.

Students learn their rights and understand voter registration and its importance.

Bookmarks were also handed out with the Bill of Rights listed on each one and the culinary arts department provided free cookies consisting of oatmeal raisin, snicker doodle, Russian tea and brownies.

Ramezanzadeh said the ASU donated a small amount of money for the event to set up materials.

Ramos said the ASU allocated $450 for the event. Only $350 of the money, however, was used for the notebooks and printing costs.

Ramos asked trivia questions related to the Constitution during the event and gave out prizes that included San Francisco State gift bags.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) was present and helped students register to vote by handing out voting forms.