Buffalo-born reporter to examine hidden narratives of the Constitution at SUNY Fredonia
SUNY Fredonia will host a Constitution Day program on Wednesday, Sept. 16, that spotlights often-overlooked voices in American history and considers the role of public media in fostering civic knowledge. The free event brings Buffalo-Toronto Public Media (BTPM) producer and reporter Cory McCants to campus for a mid-day presentation and audience Q&A.
The program begins at 11 a.m. in the Williams Center Multipurpose Room and is organized by the university’s American Democracy Project. McCants will present a talk titled “A Compact History of the Constitution: A Different Perspective,” drawing on themes from his public media work that reframes traditional textbook narratives.
- What: "A Compact History of the Constitution: A Different Perspective"
- Who: Cory McCants, producer and reporter with BTPM; host of "Compact Civics" and "Compact History"
- When: Wednesday, Sept. 16, beginning at 11 a.m.
- Where: Williams Center Multipurpose Room, SUNY Fredonia
McCants, a native of Buffalo and a Niagara University alumnus, has a varied background that includes work in entertainment and education. Before joining BTPM, his experience ranged from positions in New York City to teaching performing arts in Buffalo for six years. He has combined those interests—education, storytelling and community engagement—into short, nonpartisan public media series designed to increase civic understanding.
“Cory’s work is such a natural fit for Constitution Day because it makes history and civic life accessible while also encouraging us to think more deeply about whose stories we tell.”
— Dr. Angela McGowan-Kirsch
The presentation will examine voices commonly excluded from dominant histories of the nation’s founding. Among the subjects McCants will explore is the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and its system of governance, and how those models have been discussed in relation to the development of American democratic ideas. Attendees can expect discussion that links local historical events and civic memory to national conversations about democracy.
McCants produces two related short-form series for public media. "Compact Civics" focuses on practical aspects of civic life—how government works, voting and civic responsibility—while "Compact History" aims to take audiences beyond familiar textbook accounts and surface lesser-known episodes and perspectives.
Local relevance and public engagement
The visit by a Buffalo native who now works with a regional public media organization underscores local ties to broader civic conversations. For Buffalo-area residents, the program offers a chance to hear a hometown voice address questions about representation in historical storytelling and the influence of Indigenous governance on American political thought.
The event is organized by SUNY Fredonia’s American Democracy Project, which aims to promote civic learning and engagement on campus. The combination of historical reframing and public-media practice is intended to foster a more inclusive understanding of the Constitution among students and community members who attend.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | Wednesday, Sept. 16 |
| Start time | 11 a.m. |
| Location | Williams Center Multipurpose Room, SUNY Fredonia |
| Speaker | Cory McCants, BTPM |
Organizers say the session will include a question-and-answer period following the presentation, giving students and attendees an opportunity to engage directly with the material and ask about the research and storytelling choices behind the series. The program is part of a wider set of Constitution Day observances across campuses and institutions that aim to encourage reflection about civic institutions and historical memory.
For Buffalo-area residents interested in civic education or the intersections of local history and national narrative, the event provides a tangible way to participate in a conversation about whose stories are emphasized in the teaching of American democracy.
