September 10, 2008

Institute’s fall schedule offers variety of events

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Theodore C. “Ted” Sorensen, the former speechwriter for President John F. Kennedy, and a discussion about the prospect of a constitutional convention in Illinois are among the highlights of the fall 2008 schedule for the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

In addition, Doyle McManus, Washington bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times, will offer his insights into the 2008 presidential election.

Here’s the current schedule:

  • Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 13-14 -- SIUC Touch of Nature and campus locations, Paul Simon Leadership Conference.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 23 -- 11:30 a.m., Student Center Ballrooms, “The Future of Race and Immigration in America: Where Are We Headed?”
  • Monday, Sept. 29 -- 11:30 a.m., Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center, 2300 Reed Station Parkway, Carbondale, Harry G. Miller, former dean of the SIUC College of Applied Sciences and Arts, “Globalization of Higher Education: American Style Higher Education in the Middle East and North Africa.”
  • Wednesday, Oct. 8 -- 7 p.m., Student Center Ballrooms, Theodore C. “Ted” Sorensen, counselor, adviser and speechwriter to President John F. Kennedy, delivers “A Life at the Edge of History,” at the Morton-Kenney Public Affairs Lecture Series.
  • Thursday, Oct. 9 -- 4 p.m., University Museum, reception for Jerome M. “Jerry” Mileur, who donated his political memorabilia collection to the institute.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 15 -- 10 a.m., Student Center Ballroom D, “Is It Time for a Constitutional Convention?” Featuring Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn and former Illinois state Rep. Jeff Mays, R-Quincy, president of the Illinois Business Roundtable, and a group of delegates from the state’s last Constitutional Convention in 1970.
  • Monday, Nov. 17 -- 11:30 a.m., Student Center Ballroom B, Doyle McManus, Washington bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times.

The Paul Simon Leadership Conference brings high school students from the Metro East area to campus. In its sixth year, the conference focuses on enhancing leadership qualities of African-American young men through reinforcing positive qualities, building skills and increasing career awareness education. The keynote speaker on Saturday, Sept. 13, is Carbondale native and SIUC graduate the Rev. Archibald Mosley, one of the first African Americans in the U.S. Marine Corps to fight at Iowa Jima in World War II. Mosley is featured in the PBS film, “The Marines of Montfort Point: Fighting for Freedom,” which tells the story of nation’s first African American Marines training from 1942 to 1949 in segregated facilities at Montfort Point, N.C.

The approximately 40 high school students will also hear from James E. Scales, director of SIUC’s Career Services, about career planning and from current SIUC students about the importance of planning for college and staying in school. The leadership conference, first held in November 2003, honors institute founder and former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, who died in December 2003.

Sorensen, a prominent international attorney who served as special counsel, adviser and primary speechwriter to President Kennedy, presents the Morton-Kenney Public Affairs Lecture. He is author of several books on politics and foreign affairs, including the 1965 book, “Kennedy.” Sorensen is of counsel with the law firm, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP after practicing international law for more than 36 years as a senior partner. Sorensen’s autobiography, “Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History,” was released in May.

The fall schedule also includes luncheon events. Admission to these events is also free, but registration is required for meal considerations and seating is limited. To register, contact institute project coordinator Christina Rich at 618/453-4078 or by email at clrich@siu.edu

Diversity Forums, in association with the Barat Education Foundation, are co-sponsors on the conference on race and immigration issues in America. Forum speakers include the Rev. Joseph W. Daniels, Jr., senior pastor, Emory United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C.; Raj Jayadev, executive director of De-Bug, Silicon Valley; Robert Kallen, visiting professor in the Department of Economics at DePaul University and founder of RSK Strategies, LLC; and Arlene J. Mayzel, vice president and dean, Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.

The forum will engage the University and community audience to help recognize ways to tap potential in our diverse society. Founded in 2000 prior to the sale of Barat College in Lake Forest to DePaul University, the foundation continues to develop and support educational programs reflective of the college’s values. Barat College closed in 2005. Simon’s late wife, Jeanne Hurley Simon, graduated from Barat College in 1943.

Harry G. Miller retired as a professor of education at SIUC in 1995. He is an expert on adult education, adult literacy and education in developing nations. After joining SIUC’s faculty in 1970, Miller variously served as dean of the College of Applied Sciences and Arts, and chair of the departments of secondary education and educational leadership. He also helped guide cooperative education ventures linking SIUC with Saudi Arabia, Korea, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Nepal, and other developing nations. He also served as associate vice president for academic affairs and research, and left in 1992 to head The American University’s adult and continuing education center in Cairo, Egypt.

The prospect of a constitutional convention in Illinois features the perspectives of four delegates to the state’s last constitutional convention in 1970 -- Marion Mayor Robert Butler, SIUC political science professor emeritus and author David Kenney, Springfield attorney Mary Lee Leahy, and John Alexander, who served as a vice chair at the convention. The event also will include a discussion of opposing views by Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn and former state Rep. Jeff Mays, R-Quincy, on whether Illinois voters should vote for calling a constitutional convention.

Less than two weeks after voters select the next president, McManus will provide analysis of the 2008 presidential election during his appearance at the Student Center. A veteran reporter on national and international issues for more than 30 years, McManus joined the Los Angeles Times in 1978, and has covered every presidential election campaign since 1984. He is a four-time winner of the National Press Club’s Edwin Hood Award for reporting on U.S. foreign policy. He is a frequent guest on PBS’ “Washington Week,” CBS’ “Face the Nation,” and NPR’s “Weekend Edition Sunday.” Learning in Retirement and SIUC’s School of Journalism are co-sponsors.

On Oct. 9, a reception honoring Mileur features the political memorabilia collection he donated recently to the institute. The University Museum exhibit, “Winners & Losers: The Presidential Campaign Memorabilia of Jerome M. Mileur,” features close to 1,500 objects, including historic buttons and ribbons, 135 framed works from political cartoons to posters, and other items. Mileur, an SIUC alumnus and professor emeritus in political science at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, will be present to deliver brief remarks about the collection. In 1995, Mileur established the Morton-Kenney Public Affairs Lecture, a series that brings speakers to campus in the spring and fall of each year. He established the series in honor of two of his political science professors -- Ward Morton and David Kenney -- who inspired him as a student.

The institute anticipates announcing at least two additional programs for this fall in the coming weeks. For more information, contact Matt Baughman, assistant director of the institute, at 618/453-4009, via email at Baughman@siu.edu, or visit www.paulsimoninstitute.siuc.edu.