Past Initiatives
Archived Initiatives
2008-2020
Public Opinion Polling
Public opinion polls addressed Illinois voters' opinions on public policy issues and were conducted from 2008-2020.
2017
Rex Parker’s “Integrity” Poster Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Paul Simon Public Policy Institute
Carbondale, Illinois USA — Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute has announced the recent acquisition of Rex Parker’s Paul Simon “Integrity” Poster.
The Paul Simon “Integrity” Poster depicts a resolute Paul Simon behind his trusted Royal typewriter, with his signature bow tie and beaming smile. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, other visual elements in the poster highlight the Senator’s passion for journalism, foreign policy and politics.
“We are delighted that Rex Parker has created this wonderful tribute to Paul Simon’s memory in time for the 20th anniversary of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. It will displayed in a place of honor here at the Institute for the enjoyment and education of our many visitors,” said Interim Director Jak Tichenor.
“In 2002 I finally got to meet Paul Simon, while organizing a breakfast event in my current town of Park Ridge, where he was the special guest of honor. Retired from politics, Mr. Simon still drew a bipartisan, overflowing crowd. The elder statesman shook every hand, took all the selfies and delivered a great speech,” said Parker. “It was so inspiring I decided to run for city council. I won the race and got the chance to improve people’s lives through public service.”
“I humbly hope the “Integrity” Poster captures Paul Simon’s boundless energy for life and is an inspiration for a new generation of public service,” added Parker.
About Artist Rex Parker
Rex Parker is an American artist, designer and illustrator based at his award-winning design firm in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, Illinois. His graphically bold, icon-infused artworks include the “Games On!” poster series for Chicago’s Olympic bid, the mid-century road trip “Route 66 Rocks” poster series, and the dynamic, Deco-inspired poster series for the Park Ridge Civic Orchestra. Rex’s work is on display at number of Museums and Libraries across the United States including the William Morris Society Museum at Kelmscott House in London, England. To learn more about the artist and view his works, visit rexparkerdesign.com or contact rex@rexparkerdesign.com.
2016
Durbin, Wicker introduce legislation to promote study abroad
Senators Say Study Abroad Prepares U.S. College Graduates to Compete Globally
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) today introduced legislation that creates a competitive grant program for colleges and universities to expand study abroad opportunities for American college students and encourage more minority, low-income, and non-traditional students to spend part of their undergraduate experience abroad. The Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act seeks to bolster young Americans’ foreign language skills and cultural competency. Named after the late Illinois Senator Paul Simon, who preached the value of international education as a means to strengthen the United States’ position in the world, this bill aims to increase the number of undergraduate students studying abroad annually to one million within ten years. Currently, less than two percent of all enrolled post-secondary students in the U.S. study abroad.
“Senator Paul Simon understood the importance of fostering global awareness and understanding in an increasingly complicated and interconnected world. The next generation of American leaders will have to navigate a globally competitive economy and work with people from vastly different cultural backgrounds to tackle the world’s problems,” said Senator Durbin. “By investing in international exchange, we can better prepare our youth and our country for the world of tomorrow.”
“Our nation benefits in the long run when students have the opportunity to study abroad,” Senator Wicker said. “No one can predict what the world will look like in 10, 20, or 30 years. A better understanding of global issues and the global economy helps prepare our young leaders to succeed, regardless of what the future holds.”
Senator Durbin first introduced this legislation in 2006 as the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Act based on the recommendations of the Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program – of which Durbin was a member. Today’s bill is supported by NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, Partners of the Americas, the American Council on Education, the American Association of Community Colleges, the Forum on Education Abroad, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and the Association of American Universities.
--- Sept. 22, 2016 – Press release from U.S. Senator Dick Durbin’s office
2014
Water for the World Act - December 9, 2014
UPDATE 12/27/14 - The Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2014 has been signed into law.
UPDATE 12/15/14 - The Senate unanimously passed The Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2014,bipartisan legislation to significantly improve access to clean water and sanitation around the world. The bill is sponsored by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bob Corker (R-TN), and cosponsored by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ). The bill was passed earlier this month by the House of Representatives, where it is sponsored by Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Ted Poe (R-TX).
Senator Durbin's Press Release
Senator Corker's Press Release
The legislation is important to the world and the U.S. for moral and international security reasons because it presents an opportunity to bring water and sanitation to 100 million people.
Learn more about Water for the World.
SIU Alumni Carbondale Community Survey - July 18, 2014
Results of the 2014 SIU Alumni Carbondale Community Survey:
Protecting Our Children: Using Data as the Foundation - June 7, 2014
In June 2014 the Institute hosted, in partnership with SIU School of Medicine and SIU Center for Rural Health, a symposium examining in how new data can improve the functionality of Illinois' child welfare symposium.
Symposium Agenda/Featured Speakers
If you have any questions about this conference, please contact Dr. Linda Baker at 618-453-4009.
Building a Creative Economy In Southern Illinois - April 29, 2014
In April 2014, the Institute conducted a day-long conference concerning the future of southern Illinois' economy by focusing on the idea of a creative economy. A creative economy is based on the principle that human creativity is the ultimate economic resource. Creative economy industries include education, advertising, architecture, art, crafts, design, fashion, film, music, performing arts, publishing, R&D, software, toys and games, and broadcasting. Traditional manufacturing and service industries also benefit by having their employees participate in these activities.
We invited experts in campus-community engagement, collaborative strategies for talent retention, and community-based regional development to present their viewpoints and recommendations to rejuvenate southern Illinois.
Featured speakers included:
- Dr. Sean Creighton, The Creative Class Group & Executive Director, Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education
- Jim Zumwalt, Former City Manager, City of Paducah, Kentucky
- May Louise Zumwalt, Former Executive Director, The National Quilt Museum
Graduate student papers presented:
Expanding the Economy in Southern Illinois through Creative Placemaking - Kent Dolezal, Ph.D. Candidate, Paul Simon Graduate Research Fellow
Term Limits for Illinois - April 7, 2014
In April 2014, the Institute co-sponsored an event with the Better Government Association, examining the topic of whether term limits in Illinois government would work.
“Legislative term limits have long been a popular response to perceived corruption or inaction in politics. Almost eight in ten (78.7 percent) favor, and more than half (54.0 percent) strongly favor a proposal to limit state representatives to five consecutive terms and state senators to three consecutive terms.”
“Less drastic is a proposal to limit how long legislators can serve in leadership positions, such as Speaker of the House or President of the Senate. This has been just as popular in the three years we have been testing it; this year more than half (53.8 percent) strongly favor and another quarter (24.1 percent) somewhat favor legislative leadership term limits.”
The 2012 Simon Poll on Ethics and Reform in Illinois
Presentations:
1. The Effects of Term Limits, Karl Kurtz, National Conference of State Legislatures
CAN TV's Term Limit Coverage
17-Year-Old Voting in Illinois - January 1, 2014
Tools, Tips, and Information about 17-year-old Voting in IllinoisStarting on January 1, 2014, Illinois residents who are 17 years of age and will be 18 years old by the general election will be allowed to vote in Illinois.
The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute will offer links to various resources to encourage more young adults to play a role in Illinois elections.
Information on how to register to vote in Illinois:
https://www.elections.il.gov/votinginformation/register.aspx
Locate your Election Authority for more specific information on registering to vote and voting in your county:
https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionAuthorities/ElecAuthorityList.aspx
2013
Redistricting in Illinois - April 30, 2013
Who Holds the Crayons? How Other States Draw Their Legislative District Lines - a symposium by the Institute, held April 2013
Simon Review #35
There's Nothing Fair About the Illinois Map: An Examination of the Reapportionment Process in Illinois - Craig Curtis, Bradley University; Brad McMillan - Bradley University; Don Racheter - Public Interest Institute (Iowa)
Campaign Finance Reform in the Wake of Citizens United - Emily Carroll, Graduate Research Fellow - Paul Simon Public Policy Institute
How to Draw Redistricting Plans That Will Stand Up in Court - Peter Wattson, former Secretary of the Senate of Minnesota
Presentations (Powerpoint)
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Preclearance - Colleen Mathis, Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission
Redistricting, Reapportionment and Reform - Morgan Cullen, National Conference of State Legislatures
The 2012 Redistricting in Florida: The More Things Change... - Seth McKee, University of South Florida
The Garden State Model? Redistricting Commissions and the New Jersey Experience - Nicholas Stephanopoulos, University of Chicago Law School
Illinois Voters and Map Reform - Charles Leonard, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Better Maps for Illinois - Peter S. Wattson, former Secretary of Senate of Minnesota
2012
Ethics in Illinois - September 27-28, 2012
What's in the Water in Illinois? Ethics and Reform Symposium on Illinois Government
Academic Papers from "What's in the Water in Illinois?" Ethics and Reform Symposium, September 2012
Foreword by David Yepsen & Introduction by John S. Jackson
Papers Given at the Conference
- Charles Leonard, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, “Paul Simon Public Policy Institute White Paper: The 2012 Simon Poll on Ethics and Reform in Illinois.”
- Dick Simpson, University of Illinois at Chicago, “Chicago and Illinois: Leading the Pack on Corruption.”
- Jim Nowlan, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, “Corruption in Illinois: An Enduring Tradition.”
- David Hamilton and Dwight Gard, Texas Tech University, “Politics in Small Town Illinois: Is It Similar to Chicago and Illinois State Government.”
- Raymond Scheele, Joe Losco, and Steven Hall, Ball State University, “The Illinois Culture of Corruption and Comparisons with Indiana.”
- Michael G. Miller, University of Illinois Springfield, “Public Education Funding after McComish.”
- Scott A. Comparato, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, “On the Challenges Facing State Supreme Courts; Campaign Finance, Judicial Speech and the Appearance of Impartiality.”
- Timothy Krebs, University of New Mexico and Fraser S.Turner, Loyola University Chicago, “Campaign Finance Reform in Illinois: An Examination of the 2011 Chicago Mayoral Election.”
- James L. Merriner, Writer and Editor, Chicago, “Undoing Reform: Personal PAC v. State Board of Elections.”
- Richard F. Winters, Dartmouth College, “Unique of Typical: Political Corruption in the American States…and in Illinois.”
- Robert F. Rich, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, “Public Learning: Transforming Beliefs and Attitudes.”
- Cynthia Canary, Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Task Force on Ethics, City of Chicago and Kent Redfield, University of Illinois Springfield, “Lessons Learned: What the successes and failures of recent reform efforts tell us about the prospects for political reform in Illinois.”
Papers Accepted for the Proceedings
- Ryan Burge, Eastern Illinois University, “The Effect of Religion and Demographics on Support of Reform Proposals.”
- Earl Hopewell, CPA, Chicago, “Investigating the Invested Employee: The other side of the fraud equation within the State of Illinois.”
- Chang Sup Park, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, “How the Media Frame Political Corruption: Episodic and Thematic Frame Stories Found in Illinois Newspapers.”
- Maya Pillai, University of Chicago and South Asian American Policy and Research Institute, Chicago, “Social Capital in Illinois: Potential and Pitfalls.”
- Lillard E. Richardson, University of Missouri-Columbia,”Political Corruption and Its Effects on Civic Involvement.”
- Dante Scala, University of New Hampshire, “Toward a Typology of Super PACs.”
- Leah Williams, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, “How Rod Blagojevich Manipulated the Media Before, During and After His Federal Trials.”
Transcripts
- Michael Josephson, Founder and President, The Josephson Institute of Ethics,
“The Problems of Ethics in Government.” - Peggy Kerns and Natalie Wood, Center for Ethics in Government, “National Conference of State Legislatures Presentation.”
- Paul Green, Roosevelt University; Brian Gladstein, Illinois Campaign for Political Reform; Andy Shaw, Better Government Association; Brad McMillan, Center for Principled Leadership; Terry Pastika, Citizen Advocacy;, Panel 1 – “What Have Been the Problems in Illinois and How Should We Fix Them: Where Do We Go From Here?”
- Linda Baker, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute; Dick Simpson, University of Illinois-Chicago; Richard Winters, Dartmouth College; Jim Nowlan, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; David Hamilton and Dwight Gard; Texas Tech University; Raymond Scheele and Joe Losco, Ball State University;, Panel 2 – “Academic Papers and Discussion.”
- John S. Jackson, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute; Michael Miller, University of Illinois-Springfield; Scott Comparato, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Timothy Krebs, University of New Mexico; Fraser S. Turner, Loyola University- Chicago; James Merriner, writer and editor;, Panel 3- “Academic Papers Discussion Continued.”
- Mike Lawrence, retired director Paul Simon Public Policy Institute; Kent Redfield, University of Illinois-Springfield; Cindi Canary, Chair of City of Chicago Ethics Reform Task Force and Former Director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform; Robert F. Rich, University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign; Natalie Wood and Peggy Kerns, National Conference of State Legislatures; Chris Mooney, University of Illinois-Springfield;, Panel 4 – “The Policy Change Panel: What is to be Done?
2011
What the Survey Says: A Briefing on the 2011 Statewide Polling - November 2011
Putting Action in Civic Education - October 26, 2011
Civic Education Resources
The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute is committed to civic education efforts both for young people and the community. We think that it is vital for the health of our democracy to prepare our young people to be competent and engaged citizens.
Informed and empowered citizens understand how to effect change when problems arise, they know how to get involved in their community, and run for elected office. Responsible citizens can see beyond their own personal interests and demand good ethics in government and business.
Browse our website often for new resources and programs as we continue to provide opportunities for students and the public.
Curriculum and Online Resources
Need new ideas on how to incorporate civics into your classroom?
2010
2008
2007
2006
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
- Genocide in Rwanda - November 14-15, 1999
- Role of Desalination in Averting a Global Water Crisis - September 19-20, 1999
- Literacy - March 26-27, 1999
1998
1997
Occupation and Environmental Health - October 6, 1997
Social Security System Review - May 22, 1997