OU Honors College students host First Amendment awareness event

The First Amendment Free Food Festival will be hosted by OU Honors College students enrolled in the class, "A Modern Look at the First Amendment." The event is designed to educate citizens about their fundamental freedoms while also having a good time and enjoying a free meal. 

Guests, however, must symbolically sign away their rights, which include freedom of speech, the right to peaceably assemble, freedom of expression, freedom of the press and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Students and community members can choose to enter the "no freedom zone" after signing a visitor's passport. Once inside, there's plenty of food, but very little freedom. Guests who fail to comply with the 'new rules' will be 'deported' to the dictator's lounge. Of course it's all in fun, but students also hope it will be enlightening.

Sponsors of the event include the Oakland University President's Office, Student Affairs, the Journalism Program, Department of Political Science, Oakland Post, Gold Key Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha and the Honors College Student Association.

The festival will be located between the north entrance of the Oakland Center and Bear Lake. Campus maps are available at oakland.edu/map, and visitors should look for the big white tent on the day of the event. Those seeking additional information can contact Kathrin Parisi at kmparisi@oakland.edu.