First Amendment Days

First Amendment Days

22nd annual First Amendment Days coming April 16-20, 2024

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 21st 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.

Our 21st annual First Amendment Days, April 10-14, 2023

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First Amendment Campus Collaborations

First Amendment Days: Design Challenge

Working in multidisciplinary teams, Iowa State students from across the university were challenged to design and construct five displays representing the rights enumerated in the First Amendment. To see these displays, first stop into the Parks Library, where you can pick up a “passport” that lists the locations of each display. Once you’ve seen them all, you can return to the library and get your First Amendment Days sticker! Here are the locations:

  • Freedom of assembly: Enrollment Services Center
  • Freedom of petition: Parks Library
  • Freedom of the press: Beardshear Hall
  • Freedom of religion: Parks Library
  • Freedom of speech: Lawn south of The Hub

Ames Public Library

The First Amendment is the cornerstone of American freedoms.
In celebration of First Amendment Days, the Ames Public Library will have five exhibits scattered throughout the library building. Each exhibit explores one of the five freedoms enshrined in the First Amendment. Visit all five and earn a prize!

Iowa State University Library First Amendment libguide

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

Available Always

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.

students marching with flag of Iowa
Students march during the 2004 First Amendment Day celebration.

FAD Through the Years

The inaugural Iowa State University First Amendment Day celebration took place in 2003 and was organized by Mark Witherspoon, Iowa State Daily emeritus editorial advisor and former Greenlee faculty member. The Greenlee School has organized a celebration every year since. See how First Amendment Days has evolved through the years.

Past Celebrations