Lebanon Valley College engages with community members on Constitution Day

On Wednesday, Sept. 17, Dr. John Hinshaw, chair of social sciences and a professor of history at Lebanon Valley College, presented “The Right to Vote: 350 Years of Voting in Pennsylvania” in the Vernon and Doris Bishop Library atrium.

The presentation, which marked the 238th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution, attracted more than a dozen attendees, including LVC students, professors, and president Dr. James M. MacLaren, as well as community members.

“Our goals of our education are really to create engaged citizens as well as critical thinkers, and that’s in our mission statement,” MacLaren told LebTown. “So, part of these kind of events, on Constitution Day as an example, is to just have those conversations with our students and community, allow them to ask questions, to think critically.

“We don’t want to sway them one way or another, but we want them to have information so they can sort of think about and come to their own decisions.”

Hinshaw told LebTown he became interested in the topic of voting because of “the proposed bill about changing election law,” as he wanted to educate himself on how voting has changed in Pennsylvania over the centuries.

He consulted various sources, mentioning to LebTown RealClearPennsylvania’s two-part series and 20th-century newspaper articles, in his research. Equipped with three decades of experience teaching college students, the historian was led to educate others on the topic.

In the Constitution Day presentation, Hinshaw provided attendees with pocket Constitutions and directed them to the four references to elections and voting in the U.S. Constitution — Article I, Section Five; Article IV, Section Four; the 14th Amendment, Section Two; and the 15th Amendment.

The historian also discussed the Revolutionary years, the Early Republic, the post-Civil War era, the post-World War II era, competitive authoritarianism, reforms, mail-in ballots, the lived experience of voting, and threats to voting rights, but ended on an optimistic note. A Q&A session followed the slideshow presentation.

When asked what he would say to people who have not exercised their right to vote as the Nov. 4 municipal election approaches, Hinshaw responded, “It’s important. It’s your civic duty. But also, if you don’t vote, you’re letting somebody else decide the election for you and decide the rules that you will have to live under. So, I think, generally, I would rather be part of that or make my voice heard.”

MacLaren echoed this sentiment: “You have to exercise your right to vote. Become informed about the issues. I think Dr. Hinshaw mentioned there are a number of really sort of neutral-type factual-based reporting. But exercise that right. I mean, there are plenty of countries where the electorate doesn’t have that right, so don’t take it for granted. Go out. It doesn’t take long. It’s a pretty easy process. Go out and vote and make your voice heard.”

The Constitution Day event at the college concluded with a viewing of a Constitution-themed display and continued conversation over light refreshments, which included soda, water, bruschetta, fruits, vegetables, and cookies.