UAlbany Marks Constitution Day with Essay Contest, Discussions

The American Flag is seen in the foreground on a flag pole in front of a colonial-style college building against a blue sky with green lawn and trees in the background.
UAlbany will commemorate Constition Day with a series of events that encourage dialogue and civic responsibility. (Photo by Patrick Dodson)

By Michael Parker

ALBANY, N.Y. (Sept. 16, 2025) —The University at Albany will mark Constitution Day with a week of events that encourage dialogue on democracy, civic responsibility and the enduring influence of the U.S. Constitution.

“Constitution Day is not just about looking back at the founding of our democracy — it is about asking how the values enshrined in that document continue to guide us today,” said UAlbany Provost and Executive Vice President Carol Kim. “At UAlbany, we are committed to fostering an environment where all voices can be heard and respected, in the spirit of the First Amendment and the rights guaranteed in our founding documents. These conversations help us learn from one another and strengthen the bonds of our shared civic life.”

Among the events and activities, the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy is hosting a University-wide student essay competition on the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution.

The Preamble, written in 1787, reads, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” 

Students are asked to write about what changes would they make if they were writing the Preamble, or if not, how they believe the values expressed in 1787 are timeless enough to apply to today. The competition runs from Wednesday through Oct. 20.

Additionally, there will be a staged reading of Building the Wall by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan, presented by the New York State Writers Institute in collaboration with Author’s Theatre, the departments of Music and Theater and History and other campus partners. The event will take place on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.

The play, set in a near-future America, explores the consequences of fear, political division and authoritarian power. Following the 90-minute performance, audience members will be invited to participate in a discussion on the play’s legal and human rights themes, with Sociology Professor Joanna Dreby and Robert Griffin, dean of the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity.

Schenkkan, whose work includes the Tony Award-winning All the Way about President Lyndon Johnson, is known for exploring themes of power, politics and morality through theater and film.

Other Constitution Day programs include:

  • Great Dane Dialogue: UAlbany’s annual campus-wide discussion series on civil discourse and civic engagement will return this fall, offering another opportunity for students to reflect on democracy and community.
  • UAlbany Votes: Learn how to register to vote, answer trivia questions, and win prizes! You can also learn how to get involved in our voter registration and turnout campaign and help get UAlbany to a Gold Medal campus for Student Voter Engagement with the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. The event runs from 1-4 p.m. today in the Campus Center (GO Desk).
  • Discussion on Extremist Rhetoric & Political Violence: This afternoon, Rockefeller College and the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity are hosting a discussion on the causes and consequences of political violence. Faculty experts will focus on constructive ways forward, through respectful dialogue, critical thinking and shared responsibility. The program begins at 4:30 p.m. in Catskill 130.
  • Rockefeller College Essay Contest: Submissions open Wednesday and are due Oct. 20. Winners will be announced on Election Day.
  • University Libraries Marathon Reading: Members of the campus community will participate in a Constitution Day marathon reading beginning at noon on Wednesday in the Main Library.

“Each year, Constitution Day offers the valuable opportunity for everyone in the US to evaluate critically the health of our democratic republic, considering how to sustain and possibly even strengthen it,” said Rockefeller College Dean Julie Novkov.