Many Americans recognize the opening words to the Constitution of the United States, but fewer may know much about the document that expresses the fundamental framework of our system of government.

Saginaw Valley State University invites community members to learn more about the Constitution during a “Writing the Constitution” event on Friday, April 10, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Writing Center, Zahnow Library 250. The event is open to the campus community and the public.

Participants will have the opportunity to copy the United States Constitution by hand while reflecting on the document’s significance as part of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The event is part of a statewide series organized by Michigan Writers.

The event is sponsored by SVSU’s Writing Center and English Department, along with the College Republicans, College Democrats, the national political science honor society Pi Sigma Alpha and Cardinals Vote.

Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to attend. Light snacks will be provided.

For more information, visit .

During the two-day campaign, which took place on March 18019, donors were encouraged to give to one of 10 priority initiatives or to the purpose that mattered most to them. This year, donors supported 63 different funds, including academic programs, student scholarships, athletics and the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum.

“Within the context of a university giving day, I’m a big believer in ‘your gift, your choice,’” Vice President for Development Brian Brunner said. “We have so many meaningful ways for donors to impact student success, and it was exciting to see so many areas supported across campus.”

This year’s success was bolstered by individuals and local businesses that pledged more than $100,000 in matching and challenge gifts. In addition, a dedicated group of ambassadors helped spread the word across social media, while 65 SVSU student volunteers reached out to alumni and friends, contributing a total of 275 hours of calling.

“I continue to be impressed by the generosity of the Cardinal community, particularly our on-campus community,” Brunner said. “The support we received will have an extraordinary impact on our students.”

Oppor2nity Days 2026 at a glance

• $208,000+ raised
• 137 SVSU employees contributed $63,396
• 10 university initiatives highlighted
• 63 funds supported across campus
• $100,000+ in matching & challenge gifts 
• 30 ambassadors promoted the campaign
• 65 student callers engaged in outreach

Vedantam will present “The Challenge of Change” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required.

In the lecture, Vedantam will explore why humans — despite intelligence and ingenuity — often struggle to change behaviors, habits and systems, even when change is necessary for success. Drawing on research from neuroscience and psychology, the talk will examine how unconscious thinking shapes decisions and how individuals and organizations can overcome resistance to change.

Vedantam will address questions such as why individuals hesitate to step outside their comfort zones, why organizations struggle to pivot to new opportunities and why leaders and managers often repeat the same mistakes when implementing new initiatives.

In his reporting, Vedantam focuses on human behavior. He is the creator, host and executive editor of “Hidden Brain,” which launched in 2015 and is now one of the world’s most downloaded podcasts. The “Hidden Brain” radio show debuted in 2017 and is broadcast on more than 400 public radio stations across the United States.

He is the author of two nonfiction books: “The Hidden Brain: How Our Unconscious Minds Elect Presidents, Control Markets, Wage Wars, and Save Our Lives” and “Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain.”

The lecture is made possible through the Field/Spicer Endowment in Science and Engineering and the Dow Visiting Scholars and Artists Program.

For more information about the University Lecture Season, visit svsu.edu/publiclectures.