3:47 p.m., Sept. 14, 2010----Constitution Day, a national holiday on Friday, Sept. 17, commemorating the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787, will be marked this year by a special event in George Read Hall on the north campus.

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The location of the event is particularly appropriate: George Read Hall is named in honor of the Delaware founding father who signed both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Read also was one of the first graduates of Francis Alison's academy, to which UD traces its origins.

On Sept. 17, volunteers and staff from the freshman residence halls will gather at 11 a.m. in George Read Hall to participate in a special event with representatives from the New Castle County Board of Elections.

They will be trained on the voting process in Delaware and will receive instruction on operating the county voting booths. Volunteers also will learn about ways in which they can become involved as election day volunteers in the county.

New Castle County loans the voting booths to the freshman residence halls and creates official election ballots so that freshman students are able to have a realistic voting experience.

The UD residence halls' celebration of Constitution Day is part of a focus on promoting involvement in representative government systems and the civic act of voter participation.

UD residence hall civic activities have been going on since the beginning of the semester. Since residence halls opened Aug. 28, Residence Life staff members have been promoting participation in building-level, complex-level and campus-wide elected positions. This week, students who chose to become candidates have been developing campaigns and participating in public-forum “Meet the Candidates” events in their residence halls.

Residence hall students will elect representatives on Sept. 22. Polling places will feature a large poster of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights and information related to the Constitution.

Freshman hall voters also will have the opportunity to sign up as New Castle County election volunteers as a part of their voting experience. Elected residence hall students will participate in a weekend leadership retreat on Oct. 1-2 and will engage in a workshop on developing their own organization's constitution.