Statesmanship focus of upcoming events

Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute will focus on renewing Illinois and restoring American statesmanship with a spring program that  is scheduled to feature nationally recognized experts who will discuss leadership challenges in the state, nation and the world.

The program is scheduled to include the institute’s annual Renewing Illinois Summit April 2-3 and the release of “Restoring American Statesmanship: A Citizen’s Guide.”  

The 75-page guide, which the institute has been working on for more than a year, will offer historical case studies and provide real-world illustrations of statesmanship in American history. 

Available March 1, the book will be free and available in hard copy and online. 

The guide will be sent to presidential candidates, policymakers, political analysts, business and civic leaders, and journalists in Springfield, Illinois and Washington, D.C.

Contributing to Political Debate

The “Restoring American Statesmanship” guide can make an important contribution to the political debate in both Illinois and the nation, said John T. Shaw, the institute’s director.

Statesmanship is one of the institute’s three major initiatives.

The institute’s spring agenda was scheduled to begin Monday evening, Feb. 10, with a Pizza & Politics program, with State Rep. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, as the guest.

Thursday, Feb. 13, 6 p.m., SIU Student Center Auditorium, “Lincoln and Kennedy: Two Iconic Presidents.” Illinois State Historian Sam Wheeler and Shaw will discuss two legendary presidents.

Feb. 19, 5 p.m., Student Center, Ballroom B, “Decision 2020.” Institute Student Ambassadors will host experts to discuss election topics.

March 23, 7 p.m., Morris Library, Guyon Auditorium, Morton-Kenney Public Affairs Lecture: Christina Wolbrecht, associate professor of political science and director, Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy, University of Notre Dame.

March 25, 6 p.m., Student Center Auditorium, Former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, D-Illinois.

April 2-3, Student Center, “Renewing Illinois Summit.”

April 8, 6 p.m., Student Center Auditorium, John Cruickshank, Consul General of Canada.

April 20, 6 p.m., Student Center Auditorium. John S. Jackson, visiting institute professor and Charlie Leonard, consultant, will provide a briefing on the 2020 Simon Poll results.

April 23, 6 p.m., Morris Library, Guyon Auditorium, Amy Chua, John M. Duff Professor of Law at Yale Law School.

Summit, Simon Poll Upcoming

This year’s “Renewing Illinois Summit” theme is “One Illinois: Noble Aspiration or Impossible Dream?” 

The two-day event, which will attract college students from throughout Illinois, will consider the challenge of “forging a common identity in Illinois given the state’s regional differences and tensions,” Shaw said.

“The Renewing Illinois Summit is a signature program that has significantly elevated the profile of the Institute and SIU across Illinois, Shaw said.

The summit’s detailed program and agenda of speakers will be released in March.

The institute will release the findings of the Simon Poll later in February. The institute decided to return the poll to an annual survey rather than a twice-a-year poll.

“We are confident that the release of our annual findings each spring will become an important event on the state’s political calendar,” Shaw said.

For more information about the institute’s programs, call 618-453-4078 or visit paulsimoninstitute.siu.edu.