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.The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states
An exhibit that highlights the First Amendment will be displayed in the Student Union at Barton Community College throughout the month of September.
The exhibit, which is sponsored by the BCC Library, will feature four panels with QR codes. Director of Library and College Archives Darren Ivey said it’s part of the library’s responsibility to help educate the public about important aspects of our society. He chose this specific timeframe for the exhibit because the First Amendment and the other amendments in the Bill of Rights were approved by the first Congress on Sept. 25, 1789, and forwarded to the states on Sept. 28.
“The First Amendment is the cornerstone of what students, faculty, and staff do here at Barton,” he said. “The framers of the Constitution codified natural rights that we regularly use in our learning, teaching, and day-to-day lives. It’s important that students, and indeed employees, understand those rights and the responsibilities that come with the Five Freedoms.”
The five freedoms it protects: speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government.
The exhibit is open to the public and can be viewed from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in the upper level of the Student Union. The exhibit is free.
For more information, contact Ivey at iveyd@bartonccc.eduor 620-792-9364.
