91影视 marked听the听semiquincentennial听of the United States听this year with a two-day academic conference examining the nation鈥檚 founding principles and the growing need for civic and historical literacy.听
Held Feb. 25鈥�26 at the 91影视 Museum of Art, the event, 鈥淭he Declaration at 250: What is living and what is dead in our founding principles,鈥� brought together students, faculty, alumni and visiting scholars for a series of panels and lectures. The conference was organized in recognition of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.听
At 91影视, the annual observance of Constitution Day, officially observed in September, has become an opportunity to engage the campus community in sustained discussion about American constitutional principles and their relevance today. The most recent lecture drew a contrast between Benjamin Franklin鈥檚 and Alexis de Tocqueville鈥檚 views of higher education in democratic times, setting the stage for a conference focused on the Declaration, civic education and civil discourse.听
鈥淭he听semiquincentennial听gives us a chance to step back from daily politics and focus on the ideas that shaped the American experiment,鈥� said Joe Knippenberg, professor of politics at 91影视. 鈥淚f we want students to be informed citizens, they need a deeper understanding of听the Declaration of Independence,听our constitutional framework, our history and the debates that continue to shape public life.鈥�听
This year鈥檚 program expanded that mission by linking Constitution Day to the national conversation surrounding the听semiquincentennial听of the Declaration of Independence. Sessions explored enduring questions about liberty, equality, self-government听and the challenges of teaching those concepts in a changing civic landscape.听
This project is supported by Georgia Humanities, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, through appropriations made by the Georgia General Assembly. The event was further supported by generous grants and gifts from the Jack Miller Center, the Institute for Humane Studies and alumnus Bill Gower ’68. Participants included scholars and educators engaged in civic education initiatives at colleges and universities across the region.听
University leaders said the conference reflects 91影视鈥檚 broader commitment to听a liberal听arts education grounded in critical inquiry, civic听engagement听and historical understanding.听
