Posted: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:53 am

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America
In recognition of Constitution Day, Dyersburg State Community College, the college will focus on how the First Amendment has been applied to the written word.  Author Mark Twain is just one of many well known writers whose works have at one time been banned from public libraries and schools. The ghost of Twain (as portrayed by actor Ken Teutsch) will appear in the Learning Resource Center on the Dyersburg campus and expound upon how his constitutional rights to free speech and free press had been violated by the banning of his books.
The presentation will take place at 11:20 a.m. on Sept. 17. In addition, there will be displays of various authors’ previously banned books.  DSCC students will also present selected readings of constitutional amendments.  The event is open to the public and free of charge.
There will also be displays of banned books at the Peter and Gracey McNeely Fyfe Learning Resource Center at the DSCC Jimmy Naifeh Center at Tipton County and at the DSCC Gibson County Center.
For more information, please contact Dr. Mary Ann Sellars at 731-286-3322.
wcp 9-15