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.

It”s the basis of U.S. democracy.

‘The reason we have this democracy is those five freedoms. If people don”t appreciate what those freedoms are or don”t know what those freedoms are, they”re going to lose them,’ said Mark Witherspoon, co-organizer of First Amendment Days.

In honor of these freedoms and those who fight to protect them, Iowa State is celebrating its first weeklong celebration of the First Amendment.

‘We are celebrating its significance to Americans — we are also celebrating its strength,’ said David Bulla, assistant professor of journalism and communication. ‘Because it”s in strong condition, the whole world sort of looks up to it.’

For the past two years, the celebration of the five freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment had been limited to one day. This year, each freedom gets its own day. Thanks to an $80,000 donation by Lee Enterprises, the fourth-largest newspaper company in the country, the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, in conjunction with the Iowa State Daily, is celebrating First Amendment Days throughout this week leading up to the Greenlee School”s Centennial celebration Saturday.

‘What better way to kick off the 100-year celebration of a journalism school?’ Witherspoon said.

The week of events officially started Sunday at the Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave.

Michael Bugeja, director of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, said at a First Amendment panel discussion Sunday he was worried about support nationwide for libraries. ‘Technology can give us information, but it cannot replace a library,’ he said, saying that a robust public library was a strong indicator of a community”s health.

One of the highlights of the week is a presentation at Wednesday”s Freedom of the Press day on Tinker v. Des Moines, a landmark case providing greater protection for the freedom of expression. Siblings John and Mary Beth Tinker will speak about their case.

In 1965, the Tinkers, along with Christopher Eckhardt, wore black armbands to their Des Moines schools to protest the Vietnam War. After being suspended, they sued the school district and the case went to the Supreme Court, who ruled in their favor.

‘If it weren”t for them [John and Mary Beth Tinker], students would not have their First Amendment rights,’ said Witherspoon, who is also the editorial adviser to the Daily and lecturer of journalism and communication.

Another highlight is the Freedom to Petition Day on Tuesday. Three groups of speakers are scheduled to speak about how they exercised their right to petition, which caused government action. Speakers include Mark Gannon, Arlen Nichols, the Cass County Seven and Government of the Student Body Speaker of the Senate Henry Alliger.

Gannon, Ames real estate agent and former land manager for the ISU College of Agriculture, is an open-records advocate who sued the ISU Foundation to require it to release documents to the public.

Arlen Nichols, a retired Des Moines businessman, is co-plaintiff with Gannon in the lawsuit.

The Cass County Seven are seven citizens of Atlantic who petitioned to have the county sheriff and the county attorney ousted because they believed they were abusing authority by downgrading traffic violations in return for bribes.

On Thursday, an assembly on Central Campus is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. to read President John F. Kennedy”s 1961 inaugural address. Organizers said they are trying to get 1,111 people to read simultaneously for five minutes.

A group from Gary, Ind., holds the Guinness Book of World Records mark for reading. More than 6,000 people read simultaneously for the recently approved record.

First Amendment Days schedule of events:

Monday, April 11 — Speech

• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central Campus — Feast on the First Amendment

Free food on Central Campus and soapbox debates on issues of the day by various ISU and city personalities. Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco and ISU President Gregory Geoffroy will open festivities with special guest George Washington.

• 7 p.m. Campanile Room of the Memorial Union — The First Amendment: Past! Present. And Future?

Gene Policinski, executive director of the First Amendment Center; Michael Kent Curtis, law professor at Wake Forest University; and Judith Krug, executive director of the Office of Intellectual Freedom for the American Library Association, are scheduled to speak about the history of the First Amendment.

Tuesday, April 12 — Petition

• 7 p.m. Sun Room of the Memorial Union — the Forgotten Freedom?

Arlen Nichols and Mark Gannon, Government of the Student Body Speaker of the Senate Henry Alliger and the Cass County Seven are scheduled to discuss how they have successfully petitioned the government for a redress of grievances.

Wednesday, April 13 — Press

• 7 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union — Freedom of Expression in an Age of Fear

Mary Beth and John Tinker are scheduled discuss the significance of their historic Supreme Court case, Tinker v. Des Moines.

Thursday, April 14 — Assembly

• Noon to 1 p.m. Central Campus — Guinness Book of World Records

Attempt to break the record of most people reading simultaneously. First Amendment Days organizers will try to get a minimum of 1,111 people to read John F. Kennedy”s inaugural address at the same time.

Friday, April 15 — Religion

• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central Campus — A Religious Feast on the First Amendment

Free food on Central Campus as students from various faiths represented on campus will come together for an interfaith dialogue.

Saturday, April 16 — Awards

• 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. 179 Scheman Building, Iowa State Center — 100 years of Journalism Serving Iowa & the World

The Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication will celebrate its centennial by honoring students in an annual award ceremony. Hugh Sidey, the latest Schwartz Award winner and former White House correspondent for Time magazine; Karol DeWulf Nickell, editor of Better Homes and Gardens; and David Stoeffler, vice president of Lee Enterprises Inc., are scheduled to be featured guests.