First Amendment Days is a weeklong celebration of our First Amendment freedoms – religion, speech, press, assembly, petition. A diverse assortment of speakers, events and activities are offered on campus every spring as a creative way to engage students and the entire Iowa State community to better understand the power of free expression. First Amendment Days is also designed to provide opportunities to exercise our five freedoms.
Now in its 24th year, First Amendment Days is the longest-running continual student-led First Amendment celebration at any university in the U.S. The celebration is organized by the First Amendment Committee, which is made up of members of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication and the Iowa State Daily Media Group.
Schedule of Events
Tuesday, April 14, “Book Discussion: ‘The Year of Living Constitutionally,’” Danfoss Room, Ames Public Library, 7-8:30 p.m.
In The Year of Living Constitutionally, author A.J. Jacobs dons a tricorn hat and sets out to understand what exactly the Founders were thinking when they wrote the U.S. Constitution. Join us for a discussion of his hilarious and surprisingly educational book in advance of his visit to Iowa State University on April 21.
Tuesday, April 21, “Exploring Originalism: A Year of Living Constitutionally,” A.J. Jacobs, best-selling author, Memorial Union’s Sun Room, 6 p.m.
A.J. Jacobs is a best‑selling author and famously adventurous “human guinea pig” whose immersive, often hilarious experiments explore the edges of behavior, belief, and culture while uncovering deeper insights about how we live and learn. Blending philosophy, Gonzo journalism, and performance art, he has outsourced his entire life to a team in Bangalore, attempted Radical Honesty, read the entire “Encyclopedia Britannica,” lived for a year following every rule in the Bible, and conducted countless other curiosity‑driven quests. His books combine sharp wit with thoughtful reflection, revealing what these extreme experiments teach about gratitude, creativity, empathy and human nature. A sought‑after speaker, Jacobs brings humor, insight and a spirit of playful inquiry to audiences of all kinds.
Wednesday, April 22, documentary screening of “Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely,” 192 Parks Library, 6 p.m.
“Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely” explores America’s dedication to the foundational principles of free speech and free press through the groundbreaking work of attorney Floyd Abrams. A biopic of the First Amendment told through Abrams’ important cases, we reveal how this legal giant helped transform the First Amendment from an often ignored principle into a bulwark of American democracy. As the nation grapples with issues such as hate speech, book banning, the impact of money in politics, artificial intelligence and the dangers of boundless internet communication in a rapidly changing media ecosystem, Abrams continues to advocate for broad First Amendment protections.
Discussion moderated by Teaching Professor Brenda Witherspoon will follow the movie.
Thursday, April 23, Feast on the First, Central Campus, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Feast on the First continues its presence on Central Campus, mixing food and frivolity in celebration of the First Amendment. Free T-shirts will be available, along with food prepared by student group Block & Bridle. Annie’s Foundation will be handing out free banned books.
First Amendment collaborations
Iowa State University Library First Amendment libguide
Always available
Want to study up on the First Amendment? Check out the extensive resources available in this Iowa State University Library First Amendment libguide curated by Charles Yier of the Iowa State University Library in conjunction with First Amendment Days.
Iowa State Daily – Letters to the Editor
Always available
We encourage students to exercise their freedom of the press by writing letters to the editor to the Iowa State Daily and other news organizations. See the Iowa State Daily’s policy for letters to the editor.