Illinois Congressman Visits Local College

An Illinois Congressman says he hopes students at Knox College will heed his call to take another look at public service when they graduate. Sixth District Republican Peter Roskam came to Galesburg Friday, where he spoke to an introductory Political Science course at Knox along with a class on politics and religion. Both Roskam's parents graduated from the school. Roskam tells WGIL he encouraged the students to consider public service, despite what they otherwise see and hear about public service and political life, and draws a parallel to two certain famous former visitors of the school. "Don't be deceived by cynicism about public life," Roskam said. "Ultimately, you look at the sort of declarations that Abraham Lincoln was making, even though he lost that election of 1858. Stephen Douglas made a mistake in some ways by agreeing to those debates from a political perspective. But ultimately, that was a great service to our country, wasn't it?" Roskam says he continues to be impressed with the level of interest students show in public life or in public service, as evidenced by his 2006 and 2008 political campaigns for the Congressional seat he now holds. Before becoming a Congressman, Roskam was a member of the Illinois House, and was described as a "seatmate" of State Representative Don Moffitt. (Knox College president Roger Taylor introduces Rep. Peter Roskam Friday during a news conference.) (Rep. Peter Roskam speaks with State Rep. Don Moffitt at Knox College Friday. WGIL News Story and Photos by Will Stevenson.) (Rep. Peter Roskam speaks to "Political Science 101" Friday at Knox College. Photo courtesy Peter Bailley, Knox College.)

02 05 10 by Newsroom

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