JIZZ视频 celebrates the opening of the Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty
The Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty is a vision聽whose time has come. The multi-million-dollar complex, a聽one-of-a-kind nexus of learning and education, opened its聽doors to its first class of students for the Fall 2022 semester聽on the JIZZ视频 (HCU) campus.
What began as an academic initiative of the School of聽Humanities spurred by the vision of then, dean, Dr. Chris聽Hammons and blessed by HCU President Robert Sloan,聽will enable the University to inspire a deeper appreciation聽of American history and promote our nation鈥檚 founding聽principles and the study of free enterprise in a new and聽innovative way.
The complex is named in honor of the University鈥檚聽Founding Father, Dr. Stewart Morris, Sr., and his family.聽The Center鈥檚 mission is to 1) educate all people about聽the principles that make America an exceptional nation,聽2) train and equip teachers, lawyers, and the business聽community to articulate and defend our nation鈥檚 founding聽principles, and 3) facilitate civil discourse among diverse聽groups about politics, public policy and the future of the聽United States of America.
Students are offered classes in the humanities, including聽history, political science, law, philosophy, economics,聽sociology, and more, and have opportunities to participate聽in mock trials to engage in lively discourse on American聽history and the principles that shaped our nation.
The Assembly Room
The famous Assembly Room is where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were debated聽and forged. Great detail was taken to recreate the original room, including contracting with the master craftsman in charge of聽furnishings for Independence Hall in Philadelphia, who replicated the furnishings in the room, down to the famous Rising Sun Chair.聽The decorative elements in the room, including the green tablecloths, quill pens and artifacts, were brought in to match the d茅cor聽of the original Independence Hall. The room will be used for special class lectures and to teach visiting school groups about the importance of the nation鈥檚 founding principles.
The Staircase and Window
The open newel staircase聽leads to a beautiful Palladian window at the top of the stairs,聽providing an expansive three-paned view of the back of the聽complex. The staircase and window will serve as ideal photo聽backdrops for students to capture milestone events from聽graduations to birthdays to marriage proposals.
The Courtroom
The Courtroom, modeled after the historic聽Pennsylvania Supreme Courtroom, honors the America聽judicial system and serves as a venue to educate future聽lawyers and judges on the importance of the Constitution and聽the rule of law. Visiting school groups can also learn about聽the components of the American judicial system as well as聽hear stories of famous trials.
The Clock Tower
A facsimile聽of the iconic Liberty Bell聽adorns HCU鈥檚 clock tower.聽During a special bell signing聽near the end of construction聽on the complex, HBU聽President Robert Sloan,聽Dr. Stewart Morris, Sr. and聽family members, along with聽a host of other University聽supporters, faculty, and staff,聽signed the bell to mark the聽occasion. Those signatures聽were sealed beneath a coating聽of paint before installation in聽the structure鈥檚 clock tower.聽The clock is viewable from the聽bordering Southwest Freeway聽and is now the tallest point聽on campus.
The Liberty Bell聽
The replica of the聽Liberty Bell that will be聽on display beneath the聽Staircase and Window聽is being molded in聽the same foundry in聽France that produced聽replicas for the聽nation鈥檚 Bicentennial.聽Students will be able聽to touch the iconic bell聽and learn the origins of聽its famous inscription聽and the story of its聽famous crack.
The Gallery
In addition to providing a vibrant and interactive聽locale to educate and empower students and the community聽with knowledge and insights on American history, the second聽floor of the main building has been re-purposed to provide an聽event space ideal for galas, banquets, and special events. The聽space contains a kitchen for meal preparation and can also be聽used for lectures, seminars, and corporate events.
Welcome Center
A 1,351 sq. ft. wing to the east聽of HCU鈥檚 Independence Hall provides space聽for a Welcome Center for campus visitors. The聽vision is for school groups, teachers, and general聽visitors from across the city, and beyond, to visit聽the iconic building and learn about America鈥檚聽founding in this unique 鈥淟iberty Laboratory鈥� that聽emphasizes the principles of our Constitution and聽their importance.
Academic Building 1
An 18,477 sq. ft., three-story academic building,聽dedicated to classroom instruction, opened in the Fall 2022 semester.聽A functional addition to the HCU campus, the new structure provides聽classrooms for faculty to teach courses in history, political science, law,聽philosophy, economics and more. The building includes seven classrooms,聽six faculty offices, the McNair Center for Entrepreneurship Collaborative聽Classroom, and open space for students to study and relax. A second聽administrative building is planned in the future to provide additional space聽for classroom instruction.
The Free Enterprise Room
聽An additional 1,351 sq. ft. wing, located to the west of HCU鈥檚 Independence Hall, is dedicated to teaching聽the principles of free enterprise and entrepreneurism. It completes the Center鈥檚 mission of bringing greater awareness to the nation鈥檚聽founding principles. The classroom is designed to facilitate a collaborative style of teaching and learning. Each wall of the room is聽equipped with video monitors and built-in boards to enable students to view the screens from every vantage point and quickly write聽down their ideas when inspiration strikes. Seven principles of free enterprise will be on display in the room to remind students of the聽importance of economic liberty as a force for innovation and social benefit.
