20th Annual UW Constitution Reading

Thursday, October 9, 3-5PM

Allen Library North Lobby (Ground Floor), University of Washington

And LIVE STREAMING ONLINE/ZOOM

Meeting ID: 975 9004 0701   Passcode: 841440

Join your fellow students, faculty, staff, community members and distinguished guests for the 20th annual US Constitution Reading! Participants read a short selection of the full text of the Constitution – approximately 1 minute of reading time. Readers can request a specific section, or opt to have one assigned. This is a public event, open to all–instructors are encouraged to bring their classes, and staff are welcome to attend and participate with friends, family, & coworkers! This community-led event is intended as an opportunity to critically examine the historical and contemporary significance of this document, and its importance within our society. UW Libraries hosts this annual event as part of  the Federal requirement to provide educational programming on the US Constitution aligned with the National Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.*

• READER SIGN-UP and Instructions 

• ADD TO CALENDAR

Exhibit: Banned books and the First Amendment

September 17 – December 12

Location: ground floor Suzzallo Library

Our first amendment right protects our freedom of speech, but what about our freedom to read? The exhibit Right To Read: Banned books and the First Amendment discusses the complex nature of banned books in the United States. Get to know your UW libraries while learning about censorship in your own life.

Free Workshops

Introduction to Text Mining with Government Documents Thursday, Oct 16, 2025, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Join us for a hands-on introduction to text mining using U.S. government documents. Inspired by the annual UW Libraries Constitution reading, this workshop will explore how computational methods can help uncover patterns, trends, and insights in large collections of legal and historical texts. Whether you’re new to digital scholarship or looking to expand your research toolkit, you’ll gain practical skills and ideas for analyzing primary sources in new ways.  IN PERSON  and ONLINE The People’s Data Workshop: Accessing and Analyzing Government Data Sources Thursday, Oct 23, 2025, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m Unlock the wealth of information held in government datasets! In celebration of the UW Libraries’ Annual Constitution Reading and as part of Open Access Week, this hands-on workshop explores the public records and datasets that help us understand government, policy, and civic life.  IN PERSON    and  ONLINE

Freedom of the Press and Student Journalism:  a panel discussion

Wednesday, October 8, 3:30-5PM  (COMPLETED)
Location: CMU 226

Campus newsrooms are on the front lines of battles over free expression. Join us for a panel that brings together student journalists, legal experts and university faculty to discuss the legal rights, ethical responsibilities and practical realities facing student journalists today. Panelists include

• Mike Hiestand, Senior Legal Counsel at the Student Press Law Center
• Matthew Powers,a professor in the Department of Communication and co-director of the Center for Journalism, Media and Democracy
• Morgan Bortnick is editor-in-chief of The Daily, UW’s student news outlet.
• Piper Davidson, former editor-in-chief and current reporter with The Daily

Learn more about the panel

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