In recognition of Constitution Day 2025 (September 17th) and the approaching U.S. semi-quincentennial, Olin Library and the Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life invite the Wesleyan community to reflect on the Constitution as a living framework that continues to shape and challenge our daily lives.
Guided by the theme, Living the Constitution: Stories, Struggles, and Possibilities, this yearlong observance highlights personal narratives, historical struggles, and future aspirations, to open space for inclusive dialogue about whose voices have been heard, whose have been silenced, and how constitutional ideals might be expanded to meet the demands of our own time. Together, we will examine how this living document shapes public life, frames debates over rights and responsibilities, and challenges us to imagine a more inclusive democracy.
To begin, message boards in the lobbies of both Olin Library and the Science Library will serve as gathering places for your reflections on the following prompts:
- Whose stories shape your understanding of the Constitution and whose are still missing?
- If you could add one amendment today, what would it be and why?
- Where do you see tension between constitutional ideals and lived realities?
- When has the Constitution mattered most in your life, your family’s history, or your community?
Your anonymous responses will be collected to form a digital archive and future exhibit. Stay tuned for information about upcoming events such as performances and colloquia that uplift shared responsibility and critical inquiry in the ongoing work of democracy.