Most are not aware it is actually a federal mandate that all institutions receiving federal funding honor the event in some way. Maybe many do in small ways I'm not aware of. I doubt most comply.
This year, Grand Rapids Community College stepped up thanks to members of the student newspaper The Collegiate. The paper has been on a roll under editor-in-chief Lonnie Allen. A non-tradition student, Lonnie has led the Collegiate from an inexperienced staff two years ago to winning the prestigious Apple Award and now making the finalist list for the Pacemaker Award. Those are both notable achievements for any staff.
What I'm most impressed with, however, is the level of passion exhibited by stepping up to the plate with an event like Collegiate staff organized for Constitution. The event was modeled after one started by students at Florida Atlantic University, known as Free Food, Free Speech. Students willing gave up their First Amendment rights during the event in exchange for a free lunch.
What's amazing is how few people realize what it would really mean to give up those rights. I don't ever want to find out.
4 comments:
I've made the unfortunate observation that far too many Americans take our basic rights and civil liberties for granted. Although it is important to enjoy the freedom provided to us by our men in women in uniform; every US citizen owes them an irredeemable debt of gratitude. In addition, I think that the least we can do to ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain, is to remind ourselves daily of how fortunate we are to .
Andy,
Well put.
how did the Free Food Free Speech event work? Im curious as to the logistics of the game. If its like what im thinking, then it sounds like a neat interactive way to get students involved with knowing the actual liberties that the first amendment provides.
And, there was free food, which always wins.
-stacy b
Stacy,
You can learn more about it by doing a search for Florida Atlantic University Free Food Free Speech. That's the school that first launched this project - it has spread to a few others, including GRCC. The concept is as you imply: Take away basic First Amendment rights in exchange for some food. It is a really in-your-face event to show exactly how we take for granted our rights on a daily basis.
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