The USC Department of Political Science established the John C. West Forum on Politics and Policy in 2002 to enrich the Palmetto State’s political life. The intent was to create a non-partisan, nonprofit civic leadership incubator that would help foster a quality political environment in the state.
The forum, which West, the former S.C. governor and U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, helped get started, provides seminars and panel discussions about political issues, records and publishes interviews with civic leaders, and sponsors other events designed to foster civic involvement. It also includes a comprehensive Web site at http://westforum.sc.edu/.
When West died last March at age 81, some observers might have thought his passing would mark the end of the forum. In fact, the forum will continue for at least the next three years, and the site has become a unique tribute to West, a devoted USC supporter frequently mentioned as one of the Palmetto State’s most progressive governors.
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| Harvey Starr |
“I can’t recall any former elected officials who regularly taught a course in the department or who were involved in the department in the same way John West was,” said department chair Harvey Starr.
“There are other governors who have established centers at some schools, and they might occasionally lecture. But for years John West had an agreement with us to give 10 lectures each semester, and the West Foundation regularly helped us while providing fellowships for political science and international studies graduate students.”
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| Blease Graham |
The political science department is offering a West forum political science topics course this fall called “Civic Political Involvement,” taught by West Forum Director Blease Graham. The course’s study materials will be interviews with West and others, lectures, class discussion, field experiences, and guest appearances by prominent civic leaders.
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| Robert Angel |
The West Forum Web site, which is maintained by Graham and West Forum Associate Director Robert Angel, contains a large variety of materials on West, including interviews with him, photos with audio and text of other S.C. public service notables, West forum presentations by key S.C. political figures, ways to support the West forum, and remembrances of the governor from some 20 people.
The site is a unique way to honor West’s memory, said Graham, though he doesn’t think of it as shrine of little or no utility, but rather a learning resource that’s also a tribute to West.
“It’s really people talking about public service and the importance of civic involvement using Gov. West’s contributions in the political science department and his career as a model and example around which to focus that kind of discussion,” Graham said. “West is no longer here to provide lectures, but we are continuing to develop learning resources and academic field work opportunities for students that encourage the life of the citizen.”
West had been a presence in the department since his ambassadorship to Saudi Arabia ended some 22 years ago, said Graham, who noted that the former governor was unique in that he carried on a fulltime law practice but also kept his hand in academe.
“In many ways his passion was the University, learning, and political discussion to match the intellectual world with the rough and tumble world of politics,” Graham said.
Though the forum and its Web site represent a continuation of West’s interests it isn’t hero worship, Graham added. “It’s more of an emphasis on the importance of the life of the citizen from the standpoint of nonpartisan political perspectives, environments, and discussions.
“One of West’s favorite sayings,” said Graham, “was that it’s great to disagree, but it’s important not to be disagreeable. I heard him say that many times.”
8/04
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