You may have seen the campus-wide email announcing that, next Wednesday, Columbia will join schools across the country in celebrating Constitution Day. You might also be asking “Constitution Day? Why are we getting a campus-wide email about a holiday I’ve never heard of?”

Well, you have probably never heard of it because the day itself is not that old. Constitution Day only began in 2004, when Senator Robert Byrd stuck an amendment into a big spending bill. The amendment forces any school that receives federal money to provide “educational” materials related to the Constitution.

Once again, Columbia is rolling out John Jay’s papers to meet the requirement. Also, per the email, “for all of you who have lost or mislaid your pocket version of the constitution – copies will be available for free, while supplies last – at the Law School’s Faculty Panel and in the Government & Community Affairs Office in Low Library, Room 309.” It’s almost like they’re not taking this seriously!