22
January / February 2013
All photos: Audrey Lamb.
we love a parade!
W Former Illinois Governor Jim Thompson (left) discusses the state of Illinois politics with senior TV producer Jak Tichenor in a WSIU InFocus interview taped in October 2012. Photo: Monica Tichenor.
50
Years of Illinois Politics
Former Governor James R. Thompson Visits WSIU-TV, SIU Carbondale
SUNDAY, JANUARY 6
1:30-2pm • WSIU InFocus Special 2-3pm • SIU Public Lecture
F
ormer Illinois Governor James R. Thompson shared insight and often funny tales about Illinois politics over the past 50 years during a visit to the Southern Illinois University Carbondale campus last October. Gov. Thompson’s visit marked the conclusion of WSIU Public Television’s 50th anniversary year, which wrapped up in November, and the 15th anniversary of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. In a one-on-one interview for WSIU InFocus with senior TV producer Jak Tichenor, Thompson talked about the state’s recent public corruption scandals, worsening fiscal situation, public employee pension crisis, and the need for bipartisan leadership in the Illinois Statehouse. The Chicago Republican served as the state’s chief executive from 1977 to 1991 and was widely respected for his ability to work with Democrats and Republicans alike in forging consensus on tough
issues like the state budget, taxation, and growing jobs during his record-breaking tenure as the longest-serving Governor in the state’s history. During the WSIU InFocus interview, Thompson discusses the need for Illinois to broaden its tax base by considering a tax on services as a way to bring muchneeded revenue into the state’s coffers. Despite the fact that the state’s last two former Governors had been sent to federal prison on corruption charges, Thompson believes the vast majority of public officials in the state are honest and get a bad rap from the few who can’t follow the law. WSIU-TV also taped former Gov. Thompson’s public address, “Perspectives on Illinois Government: Past, Present and Future,” which was delivered to a large audience at the SIU Student Center on October 25 as part of the Lecture Series of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIU Carbondale.
SIU staff and students, along with PBS KIDS character SuperWHY and students from the Southern Illinois University (SIU) Student Registered Organization Educ8kd , marched in the annual SIU Homecoming Parade on October 13 in Carbondale (photo above). Children enjoyed hugs and photo opportunities with SuperWHY, who was accompanied by WSIU outreach student Lindsay DuBois (below). WSIU and Educ8kdz handed out free PBS KIDS children’s books along the parade route (bottom photo). Children also had fun identifying the PBS KIDS characters on WSIU’s Literacy Van, presented in partnership with John A. Logan Childcare Resource & Referral.