‘Constitution Day’ kicks off Ethics Lecture Series

A special day in American history, Sept. 17, 1787, marks the signing of the U.S. Constitution by the Founding Fathers about 231 years ago. While the date has been celebrated under several names, Constitution Day was formalized in 2004. Nationwide, cities celebrate this historic day with activities, events and parades.

The Leon S. Peters Ethics Lecture Series will start its fall 2019 lineup on Constitution Day, Sept. 17, with three different events that address the First, 14th and 19th amendments. Activist, political and community groups will be represented along with the Fresno County Clerk/Elections Office and League of Women Voters, who will offer voter registration opportunities.

Let’s Taco ‘Bout It! — Five Freedoms and First Amendment

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kennel Bookstore lawn.

Students will have the opportunity to learn about the First Amendment and earn free tacos. The Henry Madden Library will display books that have been banned and/or censored, while students will play music that has also been banned. This event is sponsored by the Fresno State Institute of Media and Public Trust. This event is also recognized and partially funded by the 1 for All Campaign of Middle Tennessee University.

Voting Rights and 19th Amendment
1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Satellite Student Union.

Celebrating 100 years of women’s suffrage and voting rights, the Department of Political Science will host a panel discussion with experts.

Racial Issues and 14th Amendment
3 to 5 p.m. at the Satellite Student Union.

The Ethics Center will host a discussion panel with Stephen Morris, CEO of the Civic Education Center, and Dan Jamison, an attorney with Dowling Aaron Law.

Leon S. Peters Ethics Lecture Series

• 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s Birth
  • Gandhi Commemoration – 6 p.m., Oct. 2, University Peace Garden
    
    
  • Gandhi’s Global Legacy International Conference – Oct. 10-11, Alice Peters Auditorium (Peters Business, Room 191), University Peace Garden, Satellite Student Union and Wahlberg Recital Hall.
    
    
  • Ela Gandhi Lecture – 7 p.m., Oct. 14, North Gym (Room 118). Mohandas K. Gandhi’s granddaughter, Ela Gandhi, is founder of the Gandhi Development Trust, a South African NGO dedicated to promoting a culture of peace, justice, non-violence and ubuntu. This event is cosponsored with the Peace and Conflict Studies program at Fresno State.

• Ethical Leadership with Luis Santana
  6 to 7 p.m., Oct. 29, University Business Center (Peters Business, Room 191). In May 2019, Luis Santana was honored with an award for ethical leadership. Santana is the director of Reading and Beyond. In his lecture he will offer wisdom about ethical leadership based upon his personal and professional experience. This event is cosponsored with the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Fresno State.

• “The Young Turks: Racism and the Construction of National Identity” by Ümit Kurt
  7:30 to 9 p.m., University Business Center (Peters Business, Room 191). This lecture by Dr. Ümit Kurt will discuss the role of racism in the construction of Turkish nationalism in the early part of the 20th century. Kurt has a Ph.D. in history from Clark University. He is a visiting professor in Armenian Studies at Fresno State. This event is cosponsored with Armenian studies.

• “Human Rights and Civil Rights”
  9 a.m., Dec. 7, North Gym (Room 118). In celebration of the United Nations’ annual “Human Rights Day,” speakers will include Dr. Clayborne Carson from Stanford University and Assemblyman Ash Kalra, chair of the California Assembly Committee on Labor Relations and Employment. This event is cosponsored with the Human Rights Coalition of Central Valley and other community partners.

Events are free and open to the public thanks to sponsorship from the Leon S. Peters Foundation. Parking is $5 in lots in P5 and P6.

The Center for Ethics, Character and Civic Education supports ethics education across the curriculum, including projects in professional ethics, character education and civic education, as well as research on contemporary social issues, ethics pedagogy and ethical leadership. For more information, contact Dr. Andrew Fiala, Ethics Center director, at afiala@csufresno.edu or 559.278.2124.