Making democracy work—one person at a time
September 9, 2005
KOKOMO, Ind.—Allen Maxwell believes that “You can make a difference” in your community and nation. Maxwell will explain how and why in a public lecture Wednesday, September 21, in the Kelley House at Indiana University Kokomo. Free and open to the public, the 6 p.m. presentation is the first in a series called “Last Lectures,” offered as part of IU Kokomo's 60th Anniversary celebration. Persons without campus parking passes should follow signs to visitor parking for the event.
“The individual is the source of power in a democracy,” said Maxwell, who taught political science at IU Kokomo from 1972–2002. “Without individuals participating—as voters, candidates, volunteers, advocates—democracy doesn't work.”
This participation is more than simple volunteerism, Maxwell contends. “It's the concept of 'civic duty'—the obligation that a citizen has to be an active participant in the public arena,” he said. In the Kelley House address, Maxwell said, he will talk about “the importance—indeed, the obligation—of each individual performing his or her civic duty, the different forms of participation, and the difference that one's actions can make in public policy.”
True to his beliefs, Maxwell has been active in Democratic Party politics, running for Congress twice in the 1980s and serving twice as a national convention delegate. During his teaching career, Maxwell led more than 600 students and area residents on annual trips to see the workings of the United Nations and the U.S. Congress. He founded model United Nations programs for high school and college students, and supported “We the People,” a competition that introduces the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights to primary and secondary students.
Sponsored by the campus' 60th Anniversary Committee, the Last Lecture Series will continue through April 2006. In six talks, past and present IU Kokomo faculty members will address topics of personal importance, ranging from creativity and environmental concerns to living with commitment. For a full schedule of lecturers and topics, visit www.iuk.edu/events.
