Students encouraged to participate in Madison Week

This year, Madison Week will focus on getting students more involved with James Madison’s birthday celebration.

"We want students to show their Madison pride and school spirit by wearing purple and gold and coming to all the events," said senior Tara Breslin, a member of the events planning committee.

Madison Week events will be held after spring break from March 14 to 18.

Events will include speaker Stanley Klos who will present a speech entitled "President Who? Forgotten Founders" Tuesday, March 15 at 11 a.m. Taylor Hall, room 404.

There will also be a James Madison Commemorative Debate and Citizen Forum where university debate teams from all over Virginia and the United States will debate whether the draft should be reinstated.

Teams will compete for the Madison Cup.

The debate will take place Wednesday, March 16.

A Wreath Laying Ceremony will take place Wednesday, March 16 at 11 a.m. in front of the James Madison statue in front of Varner House, with free birthday cake to celebrate James Madison’s birthday. Student body president Tom Culligan will speak, along with Senior Vice President of Student Affairs and University Planning Mark Warner and James Madison.

The main James Madison Day Ceremony will take place Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in Wilson Hall Auditorium. The Honorable Nicholas Katzenbach, former United States Attorney General, will give the Madison Day Lecture. Katzenbach is famous for helping to integrate schools in Alabama. He will discuss "The Constitution in Times of Crisis with emphasis on Brown vs. Board of Education."

"This year is the first step in trying to make Madison Day a big holiday event and to get more support," said senior Tori Doyle, committee member.

To encourage students to attend the events, the 50 first people to arrive to both the debate and the Madison Day Lecture will be given a free limited edition Madison Pride shirt, said senior Mike Keown, member of that committee.

"We want to create a sense of ownership with Madison Day. We want students to understand that this is our holiday," Keown said.