Reed, Feingold to speak on citizen participation in politics

Ralph Reed, a presidential campaign advisor to Gov. George Bush, and Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) are among speakers during a three-day program entitled “Participatory Citizenship: First Steps into Politics.” Reed will speak Thursday, March 16, and Feingold will speak Friday, March 17, both at 7 p.m. in Sayles Hall. All events of the three-day program, sponsored by the Robert Values Initiative, are free and open to the public.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Addresses by political strategist Ralph Reed and Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) will highlight a three-day program of speeches, panels and roundtable discussions called “Participatory Citizenship: First Steps into Politics,” sponsored by the Stephen Robert Initiative for the Study of Values at Brown.

Reed’s address, “Values and Politics,” will deal with the assumption that America is a great nation because of its economy. He will suggest that it can become an even greater nation through encouragement of values and morals. Reed will speak Thursday, March 16, at 7 p.m. in Sayles Hall, located on The College Green.

On Friday, March 17, at 7 p.m. in Sayles Hall, Feingold will speak about “A New Currency for the Body Politic: Students Changing the Face of Political Involvement.” Feingold will address various ways he has seen young people influence politicians about issues.

Other topics to be covered during the three-day program include student voter registration, student activism, party values, and the responsibilities of particpatory citizenship. All events are free and open to the public.

Thursday, March 16

7 p.m. Political strategist Ralph Reed will deliver an address titled “Values and Politics.” Sayles Hall.

Friday, March 17

2 p.m. Roundtable discussion: “Student Voter Registration: Stakeholders and Community Responsibility,” chaired by Ross Cheit, associate professor of political science. Wilson Hall, Room 102.

4 p.m. Roundtable discussion: “The State of the Parties: A Discussion of Democratic, Republican and Third Party Values,” chaired by Wendy Schiller, assistant professor of political science, and Jim Morone, professor of political science. Wilson Hall, Room 102.

7 p.m. Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI) will speak about “A New Currency for the Body Politic: Students Changing the Face of Political Involvement.” Sayles Hall.

Saturday, March 18

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Academic Symposium in Leung Gallery in Faunce House on The Main Green. The following panel discussions will run consecutively:

Panel 1

Benjamin Barber, Walt Whitman Center, Rutgers University: “The Arduous Apprenticeship of Liberty: What We Must Know to be Citizens!”

Harry Boyte, Hubert Humphry Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota: “Civic Education as a Craft not a Program”

John Tomasi, Brown University Political Science Department, moderator

Panel 2

William Galston, University of Maryland, “Civic Education and Political Participation”

Jane Mansbridge, Kennedy School of Government, moderator

Panel 3

William Damon, Stanford University: “Restoring Civil Identity Among the Young”

Fayneese Miller, Brown University Education Department: “Crossing the Racial Divide: An Examination of Friendship, Values, and Social Engagement Among Youth”

Jin Li, Brown University Education Department, moderator

Panel 4

Kay Schlozman, Boston College: “Why Can’t They Be Like We Were: Understanding the Generation Gap in Participation”

Margaret Conway, University of Florida: “Patterns of High School Education and Consequences for Young Adult Participation”

Marion Orr, Brown University Political Science Department, moderator

The Stephen Robert Initiative for the Study of Values was created by a gift from Chancellor Stephen Robert ’62 and funding from the Hewlett Foundation. This program is also sponsored by The Presidential Seminar and Campus Compact