Wednesday, Feb. 22, 12 p.m.—NORTHFIELD—Norwich University’s Sullivan Museum and History Center will host a lunch and learn program on the First Amendment in conjunction with a national, pop-up exhibit commemorating the 225th anniversary of the Bill of Rights.
On Wednesday, Feb. 22, 12-noon, The Sullivan Museum and History Center presents, “A Living Document: The First Amendment, Past, Present and Future,” a talk by Austin Gray, attorney and longtime professor of civil liberties and Constitutional law. The event includes a light lunch and is free and open to the public.
Gray, of law firm Gray Law PLLC in Barre, has been teaching at the university level for 20 years and is one of the founding faculty of the Master of Law program at Champlain College. He also teaches Civil Liberties and Constitutional Law at Norwich University. A graduate of Temple University School of Law, Gray is a member of the Vermont, Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bar Associations.
This presentation is held in conjunction with a new “pop-up” exhibition from the National Archives, “The Bill of Rights and You,” commemorating the 225th anniversary of the ratification of this landmark document. This exhibit spotlights one of the most remarkable periods in American history, explores the origins of the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution (collectively known as the Bill of Rights), illustrates how each amendment protects U.S. citizens, and looks at how Americans exercise the rights outlined in the amendments. “The Bill of Rights and You” invites visitors to connect directly with the people, places, and events that mark this historic document’s evolution. The exhibit will be on display in the museum’s rotunda through March 15.
“The Bill of Rights and You” co-curator Jennifer Johnson states: “The Bill of Rights represents the Founder’s vision that it would be the people, through votes, that could change the Constitution with enough consensus. And when the people desired a Bill of Rights, our first 10 amendments were added to our governing charter.”
Visitors are also encouraged to engage in a dialogue by answering the question: “What Does Freedom Mean to You?” A message board in the museum rotunda is available to post personal answers.
The museum is open to the public 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday; closed on holidays. Admission is free. Norwich University is located at 158 Harmon Drive, Northfield. For more information, call 802-485-2183 or visitacademics.norwich.edu/museum.
Photo courtesy of Norwich University
AUSTIN GRAY, ESQ.
