Google Video---Bob Graham Addresses UWF Freshman Seminar on Civic Involvement on Nov 28, 07!

To see a 15 minute video of Senator Bob Graham addressing the University of West Florida, Pensacola freshman seminar on how to get college youth involved in politics and civic life, click on the video arrow at the bottom left under the screen:





A big thanks to UWF senior Journalism student CYNTHIA MUNOZ for videotaping and editing this segment, which she did as a class assignment for Professor Gary Ghioto!

Former Fla.Governor Shares Views on World Affairs
ASHLEY FAULKNER, news reporter Nov. 29, 2007, reprinted from UWF student newspaper, The Voyager:


http://media.www.thevoyager.net/media/storage/paper977/news/2007/11/29/News/Bob-Graham.Visits.Uwf-3128292.shtml

It was just another busy day at work Wednesday at the University of West Florida for former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham. Graham, a two-term Florida governor who maintained his work ethic made popular during his reign as governor in the '70s with a flurry of meetings and news conferences held in the UWF Conference Center.

Graham's day started at 8:30 a.m. in the Nautilus Chamber with the Department of Government faculty to discuss ideas from his yet to be published book, tentatively titled "What Every Citizen Needs to Know to Make Democracy Work." Later on during his series of meetings and speeches, he jokingly asked if anyone could think of a better, cleverer title, to please let him know.

From the discussion with faculty, Graham moved down the hall to the World Affairs Forum Event. Graham spoke to the campus community about democracy and world affairs, and spent almost half the lecture discussing national security.

During the forum, Graham used his 2004 book entitled "Intelligence Matters" to help answer questions from students about American intelligence in the Middle East, 9/11 and the war in Iraq. Graham maintained that one of the many reasons America went to war with Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11 was because "In September 2002, the drumbeats for war were really loud."

A problem with this, he said, was that American intelligence agencies were not prepared and not armed with adequate knowledge of the people being fought and their culture. He said that America just had "no one competent enough" to go and check out what Afghans and Iraqi's had, like possible weapons of mass destruction, ahead of time in order to better prepare for war.
Continued below...

BELOW:Former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham talks to event coordinator Chat Sue after speaking to Sue's freshman seminar class on November 28. Graham visited UWF to promote his soon to be published new book on citizenship and political participation.



Graham also talked about possible exit strategies for the war in Iraq, alluding to a slow and "honorable withdrawal" from a situation that requires more resources than the United States can commit to win.


"We can't afford to lose, but we have been distracted (by Iraq) for the last five years, so we are tottering on the verge of defeat," Graham said.

Strategically, he said, Afghanistan is where the focus of the war should have been; all the military can do in Iraq is maintain a habitat that is hospitable for the leaders of that country to try to construct a workable government.

"One country can not impose its political views on another culture," he emphasized.

Although the bulk of the questioning involved the war in Iraq, Graham also got a chance to answer questions about immigration in the United States, where he proposed his idea of "earned status." In this process, he explained, an immigrant could legally stay in the United States by fulfilling certain expectations, such as learning the English language and demonstrating a commitment to working in order to be self-sufficient.

Another big topic at the news conference later in the afternoon was education in the state of Florida. Graham is very invested in promoting institutes of higher learning in Florida, and praised UWF for its growth since his last visit in Dec. 1966.

"The dream of the University of West Florida has become such a handsome reality," Graham said, during a brief history lesson on how the 1960s provided a boom in higher learning institutions for Florida.


Graham enthusiastically made the correlation between a thriving state economy and its commitment to its universities, referring to the successes of California and North Carolina's relationship between legislation and university systems.

"I think that's what we should be doing here in Florida," he said. "Universities provide future leaders that will make businesses successful."

Graham briefly added that this could be current Florida Governor Charlie Crist's big chance to cement his place historically as a worthy leader, if Crist were to take such initiatives.

Graham concluded his visit at a forum with UWF academic advisor and instructor Chat Sue's freshman seminar class, and said that his future travel plans will take him to a speaking engagement at the University of Miami. He said that he is trying to visit as many of the universities in Florida as possible while trying to procure endowments for the Bob Graham Center for Public Service based at the University of Florida.

Super Bob Graham Gets Attention of UWF Students, Others On and Off Campus

Pictured: UWF Business Dean Ed Ranelli, SLS instructor/advisor Chat Sue, and Pensacola News Journal editorial editor Carl Wernicke share a moment with Super Bob Graham in between his numerous public appearances Nov. 28. [Photo by John Blackie, UWF]

On November 20, UF/Gainesville was willing to shell out forty thousand dollars for the controversial ex US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who appeared on campus under the watchful eyes of the campus police.
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071120/BREAKINGNEWS/71119048/1086
A week later, on Nov. 27-28,another ex federal official, former US Senator and Florida governor Bob Graham, appeared at one unpaid appearance in Pensacola, under the sponsorship of the Pensacola League of Women Voters, followed by five other pubic appearances on campus at the University of West Florida, Pensacola, speaking to at least three hundred people, with no admission charged. His only pay was for a night's stay at the Hampton Inn, compliments of the League, and having his breakfast and luncheon paid for by UWF the following day.

And really, the response that he received was like that of a conquering hero, one who has dedicated his entire adult life to serving the people of Florida and the US with great distinction as a leader's leader and populist, an opinion even shared by his political opponents from a span of over 40 years in public.

The highlight of his appearances had to be his interaction with 27 freshman students in the Freshman seminar course, SLS 1109, entitled Academic Foundations Seminar, at the Commons Conference Center, UWF. For someone who is seventy years old, as well as retired for two years plus, he is indeed Super Bob Graham, with more kinetic power than the Energizer Rabbit!

Super Bob Graham's true Identity...

Bob Graham Biography

After earning his bachelor’s degree from UF in 1959 and a law degree from Harvard in 1962, the Miami Lakes native served 12 years in the Florida Legislature while working in his family’s cattle business and community development businesses. In 1978, he was elected Governor of Florida and served two successful terms. His passion for education was apparent, and in 1986 the Council of Chief State School Officers recognized him for his national leadership in education.

Graham was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986, serving three consecutive terms. One of his most important contributions came during his last term, when he was named chairman on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He co-sponsored the bill to create the Director of National Intelligence position and co-chaired the “Joint Inquiry into Intelligence Community Activities Before and After the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001.” Graham later authored 2004’s Intelligence Matters, revealing serious faults in the U.S. national security system.

Since retiring from public office in early 2005, Graham spent the 2005-2006 academic year at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He now plans to focus his efforts on training the next generation of public leaders by mobilizing the academic resources of the University of Florida to solve public policy challenges facing Florida, the nation, and the Americas.

If you wish to contact Former Senator Bob Graham, please write or call:

Senator Bob Graham
6843 Main Street
Miami Lakes, FL 33014
Office: (305) 817-4060

TOMORROW, WED, NOV. 28, SUPER BOB GRAHAM AT UWF...

Wednesday, Nov 28, various appearances at UWF, Pensacola, Commons Conference Center.

*10-11:30am [Commons: Conference Center, Room C, World Affairs Club Forum Event --address the campus group, the campus community and the Pensacola community on national security, democracy around the world.
(Open to public)

*11:45-1:00pm Conference Center Room B--Lunch – Invitees only, including UWF student leaders, SLS class members, members of the local media, as well as campus media, including Voyager student newspaper and journalism students. [Open to public also, but only special guests invitees will have lunch provided]

*1:15- 1:45pm Press Conference, UC Conference Center, Faculty Lounge. (Open to public, students, including UWF journalism students]

*2:30—3:30pm Conference Center Room B--Speak to Chat Sue’s Freshman Seminar class. Besides the 27 class members, other members of the campus community are invited to attend and observe. (Anyone can attend, but the main goal of the seminar is for Senator Graham to interact with the students in this SLS 1109 class about how to get college students 18-21 involved in politics/civic affair}


Of course, Senator Graham will also discuss his favorite quotation on civic involvement in a democracy:

“The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment.”

Robert Maynard Hutchens

SLS 1109 Class Project---UWF Voter Drive/Forum Nov. 13

Editor's note: The SLS 1109 class, which is completing tasks for its Bob Graham Civics Education Project, sponsored a Voter Registration drive and Political forum Nov. 13 in the UWF Commons Auditorium.


UWF College Democrats' President Dave Robau, Goleft TV's news host Farron Cousins (Golefttv.tv), freshman Matt Wallett, SLS class leaders Sydney True and Nick Wilson,discussed what is at stake for youths 18-21 in the 2008 presidential election, and why college students need to discard their cynicism and get involved, rather than merely "waiting for the world to change."

Freshman class members formed committees, purchased food and beverages for guests, and generally did an excellent job in this prelube to the main, event, the appearance of Senator Graham in their class seminar discussion ON Wed, Nov. 28, from 2:30-3:30 in Conference Room B of the Commons.

Super Bob is coming, minus his cape,Wed Nov 28 to UWF!

Editor's Note: Obviously, Senator Graham has a sense of humor! The many ambitious projects that he has undertaken since his retirement from public life and politics belie his commitment to his state and its citizens, and to the many "pet projects" that he is continually working on! If not
traveling the state and the world, he is busy directing the Graham Center for Public Service at UF/Gainesville, his alma mater:
Graham Center, located at the University of Florida, Gainesville:
Http://www.graham.centers.ufl.edu/


Thanks so much to talented graphic artist Oliver McKinney, from UWF's Student Activities office, for the Super Bob image, which is wonderful!

So that's why his many admirers, regardless of their political persuasion---be they conservative, liberal, or moderate---feel that he is the epitome of the political statesman, as active in retirement as he was as Florida governor and US Senator, a rare breed nowadays.

Senator Graham to speak to SLS Academic Foundations Seminar

On Wednesday, Nov. 28, UWF will host for the second time in three years an on-campus visit by former US Senator and Florida Governor Bob Graham, who is as busy in retirement as he was while in public office serving his beloved Sunshine State.

One highlight of Graham's visit will be his ideas on what young people, including those in Chat Sue's Academic Foundations seminar class, can do to be more actively involved in government, politics, and civic life in their communities.

The mostly freshmen students in the class, SLS 1109, who have discussed why their peers seem to eschew anything having to do with politics and government, say that many students are cynical and see these topics as being so unpleasant that they avoid them like the plague.

In preparing for this session with Senator Graham, the class has joined a American down-up youth movement, called Democracy 2.0, aimed at reinventing politics just as if it were a new version of a software program that needs upgrading, or reinvention, rather than be followed because it is the status quo.

The Democracy 2.0 movement is the brainchild of a national youth movement, started on line in early October, called Mobilize.org

The class discussion with Senator Graham will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 28, from 2:30 to 3:30 in Room B of the UWF Conference Center. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to observe and take part in the class discussion.

For further information, contact csue@uwf.edu, 850-474-3177,in the UWF Advising Center.