U.S. Senator Paul Simon, D-Illinois, will have some free time on his hands after his retirement in January 1997. SIU officials are trying to see that Simon spends it at the University.
August 22, 1995
SIU Chancellor Ted Sanders said Simon has been a significant force and figure in Illinois and the country, and his presence would benefit SIU and Southern Illinois, but the SIU Foundation does not have the resources to manage it.
Simon’s coming here and speaking out on public policy would prove to be a major coup for SIU, Sanders said.
Simon, who announced his retirement plans in November of 1994, is the author of recent legislation setting public policy on literacy. He instituted the 1975 Civil Rights Act for the Disabled and was a journalist and presidential candidate.
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Students, especially in political science, would encounter someone with vast experience and presence, Sanders said. Simon would provide an opportunity to learn from a master.
Jack Dyer, executive director of University Relations, agreed with Sanders and said Simon’s presence at SIU would prove beneficial.
Simon has been a prolific writer, Dyer said. In those terms alone he would be important to SIU.
Sanders said SIU is trying to attract Simon to the University as a place to for him to teach, lecture or write a news column.
SIU would be close to home for Simon, Sanders said, but Simon has connections with other institutions who are seeking to employ him.
We have negotiations going with Senator Simon, but it is pretty clear we would have a difficult time matching the endowments of the other institutions courting him, Sanders said.
Sanders said he and his committee are seeking to raise the money to endow the chair Simon would occupy at SIU as the first director of a public policy institute.
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We would not start the fund raising for that position until Simon agreed to come here, Sanders said. We are hoping for an answer sometime this fall.
This is a very important decision for him because he will spend the next phase of his career in public service, Sanders said.
Christopher Ryan, spokesman for Simon, said Simon has several things in mind after he retires but he does not expect Simon to announce his decision until next year.
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