The Soles Lecture this year launched a three-semester teaching initiative at UD, "Our Vote: History. Advocacy. Justice."
In
introducing Weiss as the speaker at the event, Anne M. Boylan,
professor emerita of history, also introduced "Our Vote." The initiative, she
said, "is focused on the power and privilege of suffrage, the right to
vote."
The initiative, which seeks to engage students and the
campus community in learning more about the power of voting, coincides
with two milestone anniversaries in 2020 — the centennial of the 19th
Amendment allowing certain women the vote, and the 150th anniversary of
the 15th Amendment, which allowed non-white men the vote.
As plans for
the initiative develop, possible activities include themed courses,
guest speakers, musical and theatre performances, film series, a
community reader series and student research and writing projects.
"Our Vote" is expected to extend well beyond the milestone anniversaries to more broadly encompass democracy and civic engagement.
James R. Soles Lecture on the Constitution and Citizenship
The lecture honors the late James R. Soles,
who was a faculty member in political science for more than 34 years,
in addition to commemorating the signing of the U.S. Constitution in
Philadelphia on Sept. 17, 1787.
Prof. Soles, who died in 2010,
received the University's Excellence in Teaching Award twice and its
Excellence in Advising Award, as well as the University's Medal of
Distinction. He received many honors and recognitions in his
distinguished career, but he is still best remembered for his personal
dedication to teaching and to his students.
The James R. Soles
Citizenship Endowment supports a named professorship, undergraduate
citizenship stipends and graduate fellowships.
The first stipends
were awarded more than 10 years ago, and recipients have used that
support in a wide range of accomplishments. To see more about recent
recipients and the work they have done, visit this website.
Article by Ann Manser; photos by Kathy F. Atkinson
Published Sept. 20, 2019