Former Members of Congress Share Their Story with SIUE Students in Effort to Encourage Next Generation of Leaders

Former Members of Congress Share Their Story with SIUE Students in Effort to Encourage Next Generation of Leaders

October 8, 2024, 4:29 PM

Audience members in attendance for the October 7 public forum, Congress to Campus at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, included everyone from constituents to SIUE Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD, Southern Illinois University System President Dan Mahony, PhD, and esteemed members of SIUE student government. Organized by Former Members of Congress (FMC), former U.S. Reps. Sam Coppersmith (D-AZ) and John M. Shimkus (R-IL) wrapped a day-long campus visit of classroom discussions and a lunch dialogue with the evening program"Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power: A Bi-Partisan Conversation with Two Former Members of Congress," moderated by Nic Guehlstorf, PhD, professor of political science.

Both former Congressmen generously shared details of their lives as politicians in U.S. government.

"I encourage everybody to look at public service at some time in their career," said Shimkus, who recognized some of his former students in the audience.

Coppersmith agreed and encouraged students to go even further and explore opportunities abroad.

"Promise me you'll take the Foreign Service Officer exam for the U.S. State Department," said Coppersmith. "If you could find a way to do productive work for a year or two that puts you outside of your comfort zone, outside of what you know, it not only expands your horizons, but you're meeting people who have no idea who you are, what your background is, and that's like a mirror, showing you how you've changed over the course of your college education."

He added, "There are a few things that make you appreciate being an American, as much as seeing the United States from overseas, understanding our huge cultural footprint, and getting a clearer eye view of what we do well and what we do less well."

The Congressmen validated the fact that tough conversations often occur while sitting on opposite sides of the aisle, but in the end, everyone must find a way to work together.

"I was one of the Republicans that did not vote for the bailout of Wall Street banks-the big banks," said Shimkus who also acknowledged that he voted for two wars, which ended up claiming lives.

"And that's the burden of leadership, that if you want to get in this business, that's the challenge, right?" said Shimkus. "As I've learned from Sam, you know, we're pretty good at looking in the mirror. We're not that good at looking into the future, and we cast votes."

Photos by Howard Ash.