The bill of what?

Despite existing for over two centuries, few fully understand the Constitution

It seems you can’t flip through TV news without hearing a pundit say you are being denied a constitutional right.

But how many Americans – or politicians for that matter – fully understand what the Constitution says?

For 222 years, it has been the foundation for our government, but The Red & Black’s editorial board feels it is often misquoted.

Yes, high schools require students to take a class on U.S. government/history.

Yes, you must pass a political science class to attain a University degree.

But no, we are not convinced everyone here has read the text in full.

To make the point, try to answer these sample questions from the U.S. citizenship test:

How many amendments are there to the Constitution?

What is the duty of the Supreme Court?

How old must a US Representative be?

If you didn’t say 27, interpret laws and 25, it may be time to revisit the ol’ doc.

Don’t be ashamed – you are not alone.

A poll last year found more Americans can name an American Idol judge than can name all three branches of government.

Even more surprising is that same poll – conducted by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute – found college graduates barely knew more than their non-degree counterparts.

Take the time today to lift yourself from ignorance.

We know the word “Constitution” can bring images of an old, incomprehensible text to mind, but the document is surprisingly simple. The entire thing – including amendments – is only 19 printed pages long, and written in readable wording.

That’s less than a class break of reading.

Take today to search for a copy online or (gasp) visit the library. Look at the wording to see what you are guaranteed as citizens.

Not only will it make you a more informed citizen, but it will give you a better understanding current political discussion.

- Caitlin Byrnes for the editorial board

Schoolyard wedding

Tying the knot while still in college, ‘irrevocably alters’ life for students

The institutions of academia and marriage are nothing if not taxing – just ask the developers of the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale.

According to the scale, the combination of marriage and the beginning or end of one’s collegiate career is worth 76 ‘life change units’ with more units indicating a higher level of stress.

Factor in the possibilities of pregnancy (40 units), trouble with in-laws (29 units) and change in frequency of arguments (35 units) and married students could potentially face a stress scale score of 180 units, along with the moderate risk of illness that total signifies.

The Red & Black editorial board isn’t condemning students who choose to balance marriage with college – as one member of the editorial board pointed out, “Cory and Topanga made it work!” – we merely want to point out that getting married irrevocably alters the collegiate experience.

University life provides many students with their first real taste of freedom, unfettered by curfews and parental oversight. Thus the rapid exchange of familial obligations for marital ones seems puzzling to us – it’s hard to indulge in power hour downtown when you have to make it home for dinner with your spouse. Not to mention the hassle of filling out a joint tax form or the arguments that will inevitably arise when a couple lives together.

Of course, everyone is different. Some University students may have very well outgrown their desire for wild parties and random hook-ups.

Others may have bridled their raging careerism in order to wed the person they love. Though the married college student will be forced to develop impeccable time management skills at a relatively young age, a commitment to making one’s marriage work can outweigh the social and scholastic pressures of life at the University. Just because a struggle happens to be uphill doesn’t mean it’s not worth the trek.

- Marcus Crawford for the editorial board