Press Releases 2007

CONTACT: Mary Planding, Director, Marketing & Communications
(831) 479-6158
mary.planding [at] cabrillo.edu

Sept. 4, 2007

Did the Founders Overlook Oversight?
Constitution Day at Cabrillo College
Monday, September 17, 2007, 3-5 p.m. at Sesnon House

APTOS, CA— Join Cabrillo College’s Constitution Day celebration by engaging in a lively discussion on “Did the Founders Overlook Oversight?” with political scientist Ryan Coonerty and historian Rosemary Brogan on Monday, Sept. 17 from 3-5 p.m. at historic Sesnon House on the Cabrillo Aptos campus. Cabrillo emeritus faculty Morton Marcus and Sandy Lydon will also participate in this special event. All members of the public and the Cabrillo College community are invited to take part in this important civic event. 

Lee Hamilton, former U.S. Representative (D-IN) who currently serves on the President’s Homeland Security Advisory Council, writes, “Good oversight stands at the core of good government.”  But not everyone agrees. Representative Ray LaHood (R-IL.) says “I don’t know if they’d be doing all this oversight if their guy was in the White House.” 

Although Cabrillo’s Constitution Day program was originally created as a response to a congressional mandate, it also allows the college to partake in The September Project, which encourages citizens around the world to gather and discuss important civic issues. Since 2005, Cabrillo College has combined the two events.

In December 2004, Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV), the Senate’s unofficial constitutional scholar, inserted language into an omnibus appropriation spending bill language requiring that “each educational institution that receives Federal funds...shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17.” 

David Silver, a professor of media studies at San Francisco University, started the September Project with his partner Sarah Washburn in 2004.  The September Project encourages libraries to sponsor programs every September so that citizens can gather and talk about issues important to their communities. It’s grown to be an international effort -- last year there were over 500 events in 30 countries. Silver’s mother, Sandy Silver, lives in Santa Cruz. 

Cabrillo College is a leading California community college serving Santa Cruz County with locations in Aptos, Scotts Valley and Watsonville. It is ranked #1 in transfers to UC Santa Cruz. Founded in 1959, the college offers over 100 academic and career technology programs that serve multiple educational goals such as A.A. and A.S. degrees, certificates of proficiency, skills certificates, transfer to 4-year institutions or for lifelong learning and personal enrichment. Our mission is to enhance the intellectual, cultural, and economic vitality of our diverse community by assisting all students in their quest for lifelong learning and success in an ever-changing world.

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