Citizenship and Democracy Week Starts September 17th

From September 17-21, Miami University Regionals is hosting the fourth annual Citizenship and Democracy Week on the Hamilton and Middletown campuses and at the Miami Regionals Hamilton Downtown Center. Timed to coincide with the nation's annual commemoration of Constitution and Citizenship Day (September 17th), the Week's events provide Miami students and local residents with a broad range of opportunities to learn about American democracy and to see their government 'in action.'

Citizenship and Democracy Week in 2018 features the following programs (all free and open to the public):

Sept. 17 - Sept. 21, Democracy Wall, Hamilton campus. Stop by the Democracy Wall outside of Rentschler Hall to give your thoughts on "What does it mean to be a good citizen?" Also, you can register to vote in November's election in 105 Mosler Hall on the Hamilton Campus.

Sept. 17, "Share Your Story" - Oral History Project, 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., in the Miami Hamilton Quad. What does citizenship mean to you? Share your thoughts in this oral history project aimed at capturing a diverse array of personal narratives. This event is sponsored by the Miami Regionals Office of Diversity and Multicultural Services.

Sept. 17, Naturalization Ceremony - U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Ohio, 10:00 a.m., in the Miami Hamilton Quad. Join us as we celebrate with approximately 100 new U.S. citizens and their families! Miami Hamilton is hosting the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio for a formal naturalization ceremony at which new citizens will take their oaths of citizenship. With music provided by Miami's Men's Glee Club, this celebratory event will be held outside on the main quad of the Miami Hamilton campus. (Rain location: Parrish Auditorium).

Sept. 17, "Read a Line, Get a Slice!" and Distribution of Free Copies of the U.S. Constitution, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., on the Schwarm Hall Patio on the Hamilton campus and in Hawk Haven at the Middletown campus. Take part in a public reading of the U.S. Constitution -- and enjoy a slice of free pizza! Sponsored by the Miami Regionals Center for Civic Education.

Sept. 18, Ohio Court of Appeals for the 12th District - On-Campus Public Session, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. in the Harry T. Wilks Conference Center, Hamilton campus. Come and watch your government in action! Observe as the Ohio Court of Appeals for the 12th District hears oral arguments in a special on-campus session.

Sept. 18, Free Speech and Democracy - Faculty-Led Discussion, 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m., on the Middletown campus in Hawk Haven. Join faculty from the Department of Justice & Community Studies for an interactive discussion of the First Amendment and the freedom of expression.

Sept. 18, Faculty Lecture: "How Thomas Edison Invented @realDonaldTrump", 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Miami Hamilton Downtown Center, 221 High Street, Hamilton. In this lively presentation, Dr. Susan Spellman (Department of History) will explore how presidential candidates' use of the phonograph in the early 20th century presaged the rise of modern mass media campaigning. Light refreshments will be served.

Sept. 19, Rapid Rights! - Student Presentations, 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. in Jack Rhodes Study in Mosler Hall on the Hamilton campus. Join Miami Hamilton students as they present brief, 'rapid fire' talks on a variety of controversial civil rights and liberties issues. Moderated by Dr. Daniel Hall, Department of Justice & Community Studies

Sept. 19, Beyond Borders Film Showing & Discussion, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. in 114 Rentschler Hall on the Hamilton campus. Sponsored by the Miami Regionals Office of Diversity & Multicultural Services.

Sept. 20, "The State of Civic Health in Ohio" Public Discussion, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in Harry T. Wilks Conference Center on the Hamilton campus. Join Dr. Theresa Conover and Dr. John Forren, the co-authors of the National Conference on Citizenship's Ohio Civic Health Index Report, for an interactive discussion of civic engagement in the Buckeye State.

Sept. 20, "Journey to Islam" with Nicole Reckner, Miami Class of 2015, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in Room 114 Rentschler Hall at the Hamilton campus. Sponsored by the Miami Regionals Office of Diversity & Multicultural Services.

Sept. 20, "The 2018 Midterm Elections: What's at Stake?" Faculty-Led Discussion, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. in Hawk Haven on the Middletown campus. Join Miami faculty for an interactive discussion of the upcoming election and its likely consequences.

Sept. 21, "Social Media and its Consequences for Democracy" Faculty Presentation, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. in the Harry T. Wilks Conference Center, Seminar Room 3 on the Hamilton campus. Professor David Woods, Department of Computer and Information Technology.

These events are supported by Miami Regionals' Department of Justice and Community Studies, Miami Regionals Center for Civic Education, Miami Regionals Office of Diversity and Multicultural Services, the Department of History, the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Department of Humanities and Creative Arts, and the City of Hamilton.

All events are free and open to the public. No tickets required. For more information on these events, contact muhcce@MiamiOH.edu or call (513) 785-7702. Miami University Regionals Hamilton campus is located at 1601 University Blvd. Miami University Regionals Middletown campus is located at 4200 N. University Blvd. Miami Regionals Hamilton Downtown is located at 221 High Street.