Former U.S. Reps. Sam Coppersmith and John M. Shimkus Visit Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Former U.S. Reps. Sam Coppersmith and John M. Shimkus Visit Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

October 2, 2024, 11:00 AM

As talking heads bloviate about bipartisanship and educate our kids about civics, the organization Former Members of Congress (FMC) has walked the walk for more than 40 years, through the landmark "Congress to Campus" program. Now, FMC, brings a team of former members to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Former U.S. Reps. Sam Coppersmith (D-AZ) and John M. Shimkus (R-IL) represent more than 20 years of combined legislative experience and will speak with students in classes from October 7-8. A bi-partisan conversation will be open to the public on Monday, October 7 at 7 p.m. in the Meridian Ballroom at Morris University Center.

Shimkus is an army veteran who from 2003 through 2021 served Illinois Districts 15, 19 and 20.Coppersmith is an attorney who represented Arizona's first congressional district in the 103rd Congress (1993 to 1995).

FMC has dispatched former Members of Congress, one from each side of the aisle, to meet with thousands of young Americans, at dozens of colleges and universities throughout the country.

These discussions are organic, spontaneous and completely student driven. They are laser-focused on increasing an understanding of what Congress is, why it works when it does, and how to fix it when it doesn't.

"I love Congress to Campus. In addition to the amazing students, one of my favorite aspects of the program is the opportunity to work with my colleagues from across the aisle, some of whom I did not know well or serve with, to challenge ideas and policy proposals in a respectful way and to show students that critical thinking and healthy disagreement are part of the beauty of the republic," said Donna Edwards, Co-Chair of Congress to Campus.

"In this period of high polarization, where people rarely talk with people who have different political views from their own, it's important to have former elected officials model what healthy conversations can look like between people across the political aisle here at SIUE," said Laurie Rice, PhD, Interim Chair of the Department of Political Science, and one of the SIUE Congress to Campus planning committee members.

Former Members of Congress (FMC)
FMC is a non-advocacy, nonpartisan group founded in 1970 and chartered by Congress in 1983. It is a voluntary alliance of more than 800 Former U.S. Senators and Representatives working to strengthen Congress in the conduct of its Constitutional responsibility through promoting a collaborative approach to policymaking and deepening the public's understanding of our democratic system.

PHOTOS: Former U.S. Reps. Sam Coppersmith (D-AZ) and John M. Shimkus (R-IL)