September 15, 2015 

 

Contacts:
University Relations, 657-2266 – story by Blair Koch

 

Supreme Court's First Amendment Decision... We the Corporations...

MSUB faculty present, Political Cartoons and the First Amendment, as part of Constitution Day at MSU Billings.

 

 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — Each year Constitution Day is observed to commemorate the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787.

 

In celebration of the day the Montana State University Billings Library is proud to partner with MSUB faculty to sponsor an event honoring the sacred institution of the U.S. Constitution.

 

This year's program title is," Political Cartoons and the First Amendment."

 

"This year we are very pleased to partner with our award-winning MSU Billings faculty members to provide a great program that will stimulate thought and discussion," said Brent Roberts, MSU Billings Library Services director. "In a day and age when almost anyone can create a blog or website, free speech and the extent of first amendment rights are topics at the forefront of the news and in the front of our minds as creators of knowledge."

 

Invited to give presentations are Dr. Paul Pope, Dr. Susan Balter-Reitz, Dr. Patricia Vettel-Becker, and Dr. Sam Boerboom.

 

Pope said that political cartoons are an excellent, albeit underrated, example of political speech.

 

"There fun, they're exciting and they're underrepresented discussion in regard to free speech," he said.

 

One of the reasons for choosing political cartoons for this year's Constitution Day theme is due to the Charlie Hebdo killings in January. Gunmen identifying with the Al-Qaeda branch in Yemen took responsibility for killing 11 people and injuring 11 others at the offices of the French satirical newspaper.

 

Signed into law in 2004, Constitution Day asks that all universities receiving public funds hold an educational event honoring the Sept. 17  anniversary date that the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution in 1787.

 

The event will begin at noon of Sept. 17 in Library 148.  It is free to the public and lunch will be served.