First Year Book Events
Birthright Citizenship, Our Evolving U.S. Census, and the Sociological Significance of Who Gets Counted
Oct. 15 | Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Jimenez Hall 0220
This panel discussion features Senior Assistant Attorney General of Maryland Adam Kirschner, Prince George's County Council Member Wanika Fisher, and Professor of Sociology Philip Cohen. The session will delve into recent challenges surrounding Birthright Citizenship, discussions about conducting a new Census, and the implications these issues have for representation, access to resources, and research.
Dying to Vote: Film Screening and Discussion
Register
Oct. 21 at 6 p.m.
Hoff Theater | STAMP
Join us for a screening of Dying to Vote, a powerful documentary about the challenges and barriers to voting in the U.S., followed by a discussion on civic engagement and ways to make your voice heard.
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The 14th Amendment and the Crises in American Democracy with Sherrilyn Ifill
Nov. 3 | 5 to 6:30 p.m.
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Gildenhorn Recital Hall
Free ticket link coming soon!
Sherrilyn Ifill, professor of law and founding director of the 14th Amendment Center for Law and Democracy at Howard University, will deliver a Douglass Center for Leadership Through the Humanities public lecture on the 14th Amendment and the Crises in American Democracy.
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Global Health and the Legacy of Ebola: A Call for Action
Nov. 12 | 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Iribe Center, Michael Antonov Auditorium
The 2025 School of Public Health Convocation will explore public health at the crossroads of history, exploring the Constitution, U.S. Public Health Service, and lessons from the Ebola Crisis a decade later. This evening begins with a screening of “Invisible Corps.” This powerful 30-minute documentary – which aired first on PBS – uncovers the story behind the U.S. Public Health Service. The film will be followed by a discussion moderated by SPH Dean Boris Lushniak – himself a former Acting Surgeon General and retired Rear Admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps – and leading voices in the field.This event is made possible through the following collaboration and sponsorship: College Park Scholars’ Global Public Health program, Public Health Beyond Borders, Phi Alpha Epsilon, UMD First Year Book, Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS), Commissioned Officers Foundation
Do you have a programming idea? We'd love to hear from you! Please email Leeanne Dunsmore.
Past Events
We the Terps: A Day with the U.S. Constitution
Thank you for joining our civic engagement celebration on 9/17 with voter registration, book giveaways, student organizations, and a four-part, faculty-led presentation series on the Constitution!
This program was co-sponsored by: The Department of History, Division of Student Affairs, Adele H. Stamp Student Union — Center for Campus Life, TerpsVote, Leadership & Community Service-Learning Office, College Park Scholars, UMD Libraries, and the First Year Book Program
Presentations included:
• The Body of the Constitution, an introduction to the structure of the Constitution and how its design has shaped historical crises and debates across time, presented by Dr. Michael Ross
• The Bill of Rights, a look at why it was created and what it tells us about liberty and power, presented by Dr. Holly Brewer
• The 14th Amendment, a deep dive into equal protection, birthright citizenship, and the expansion of rights in the states, by Dr. Michael Ross
• The Constitution in Modern America, a panel discussion with Michael Spivey, Robert Koulish, and Patrick Wohlfarth
Thank you for joining us on Family Weekend for a Constitution Talk!
We enjoyed the conversation about the role of the Constitution in shaping civic life and public communication led by Professor Shawn Parry-Giles, Chair in the Department of Communication, and Dr. Leeanne Dunsmore, Director of Strategic Initiatives in the Office of Undergraduate Studies. We look forward to continuing the discussion about student rights and responsibilities in Artificial Intelligence (AI) use in education, which intersect with a number of rights outlined in the Constitution.
