The Northern State University Center for Public History and Civic Engagement (Center) - through programming, research, and archival preservation - encourages public interaction with history and history education while promoting greater civic knowledge of an active citizenry. Dr. Jon Schaff, Center director, said Northern already does a lot in terms of public history and civic engagement; now, the Center formalizes these efforts under an actual institution. The center also promotes the importance of historical and civic knowledge as the foundation for a sound republican form of government, hoping to inspire greater appreciation for American history and American constitutional forms. It does so through the South Dakota State Legislative internship program, sponsored programming such as Constitution Day, National History Day, and campus speakers who promote historic and civic literacy and engagement, and activities in archival work and research on collections such as Germans from Russia, The South Dakota National Guard, and regional Native American history. Constitution Day was celebrated in September 2022 with voter registration, U.S. military recruitment, distribution of free pocket U.S. Constitutions, and displays from the Multicultural Office and Dakotah Prairie Museum in the Student Center. There was also special food at the “Wolves den,” U.S. flags placed around town and on campus, and offices and people decorated across campus, including two dressed as Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty. Northern State University hosted and the Center sponsored the regional judging for National History Day on March 8, 2023. We had visiting our campus 178 middle and high school students from 12 schools who brought 178 projects. In addition to National History Day, the Center also sponsored and invited the following speakers: DR. LEILA BRAMMER, a Northern State University graduate (1988), now an assistant professor of communications at the University of Tampa, spoke on “Reclaiming Public Discourse on Campus and in Civic Life.” PARTNERSHIPS AND ACTIVITIES Uncle Sam and military recruiters celebrating Constitution Day. Dr. Ric Dias (left), a student (middle), and Ms. Dominika Blum (right) celebrating Constitution Day. The Center for Public History and Civic Engagement Dr. Jon Schaff DR. JOSEPH BOTTUM, the director of the Classics Institute at Dakota State University, and DR. LYSBETH BENKERT, a professor of English at Northern State University, both read and discussed poetry. The talk was entitled “An Evening with South Dakota Poets.” MR. LEE SCHOENBECK, the President Pro Tempore of the South Dakota State Senate, spoke to students about careers in the law.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzkyNTY=