During the fall semester, there is one specific day that helps teach students about our constitutional heritage that many people do not know about, and that is Constitution Day.

September 17, 1787, was the day that the U.S. Constitution was approved by the Constitutional Convention. In honor of the day, federal law requires that any institution that receives direct or indirect federal money (for example: guaranteed student loans) must hold an event to show the importance of Constitution Day. This day is September 17 of every year, or a substitute day if it falls on a weekend.

Since 2011, the Stover Scholars have overseen the event day planning here at Waynesburg. This year, the event committee decided to perform a drama to honor the day. Dr. Lawrence Stratton, director of Stover Scholars, worked mainly behind the scenes during the production of the drama.

“… if the Stover Scholars put on a drama about some aspect of America’s constitutional history, it would be more of a learning experience,” Stratton said. “This is the way people digest information now, so it will appeal to them more.”

The chair of the constitution day committee, Ethan Lown, along with Elliot Kimball, Becky Shank, Kim Trump, and Micah Leith filming, wanted to create a drama that students would enjoy. 

“We put on a play about McCulloch vs. Maryland, which is one of the biggest federalism cases in U.S. history,” Lown said, “We dealt with the question of whether Congress had the power to create a national bank, and if so, do states have the power to tax that bank?”

The goal of the drama for the committee was to help students grasp an idea, and also a drive to want to learn more about the constitution. 

“We wanted to perform this in a fun, yet informative way,” Lown added. “We were hoping that this was a way for people to be introduced to the constitution. We have hopes that the video taken could be sent to other people and schools so it can be used to inform, and also create publicity for Waynesburg.”

The completed drama was recorded and sent out online for anyone to see. People from all over the country have viewed it; even top Ivy League schools. 

“It made my day when Professor Hamilton at the University of Pennsylvania emailed me and told me that she showed it to her law class,” Stratton said.

With Constitution Day being an annual event, it is not long before the committee reunites again for the next year’s planning. With the intent to inform, the group will continue to work and build up the knowledge of what Constitution Day represents.