Graham Center
focuses on civic
engagement
In 2008, Florida
ranked 34th in voter
turnout. Some 70
percent of Florid-
ians report cutting
back on civic activi-
ties in the past year.
Our state faces a
civic crisis.
At the Bob
Graham Center for Ann Henderson
Public Service, these
statistics caused us to ask what contribu-
tion our university is making to prepare
students for active citizenship. In addi-
tion to the excellent education provided,
are we specifically training students to
become the citizens our democracy re-
quires, or do we assume that a fine but
general education is sufficient?
Derek Bok's book, "Our Under-
achieving Colleges" (2005), makes a
compelling case that colleges need to
do more. Bok will be at Digital Worlds
Institute at 3 p.m. on Feb. 23, to start
a dialogue that we hope will result in a
more visible focus on civic engagement.
The Bob Graham Center also has
received an Americorps grant, "Making
Citizens." This will assist in efforts to in-
crease the number of immigrant staff and
community members who take and pass
the citizenship exam, help new citizens
become active community members, and
train Americorps members/students to
become more engaged citizens.
For more information, visit
bobgrahamcenter.ufl.edu.
Ann Henderson,
Director, Bob Graham Center

'Extreme Makeover' has
UF connection
Most college students can't claim to
have worked on the set of a national televi-
sion show.
Ryan McGinn and Aaron Wilbur can.
Both students at the University of
Florida's College of Design, Construction
and Planning volunteered their time as pro-
duction assistants for "Extreme Makeover:
Home Edition," during its Gainesville build.
McGinn, from Sebastian, Fla., is a mas-
ter's student studying architecture. Wilbur,
from Melbourne, Fla., is a fifth-year
senior in landscape architecture.
They assisted with security, bever-
ages and food, and moving televi-
sion cameras and furniture. As fans
of the show, it gave them a chance
to see things from the other side.
"There is more to that show
than what TV viewers might think
actually happens," McGinn said.
According to Wilbur, the house
wasn't the only thing they built.
"You're around those people a lot and
you develop friendships with them,"
Wilbur said.
He is already making plans to work
with the show again someday.
By Allie Layos
UNIVERSITY of

UFi FLORIDA
The Foundation for The Gator Nation

I ONI

Students and faculty of SPOHP, (left to right) Daniel Navarette, Candice
Ellis, Khambria Clarke, Amanda Noll, Paul Ortiz and Mama Weston, pose
in front of a mural outside the B.B. King Museum in Indianola, Miss.

UF helps preserve the

Students of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, known as SPOHP,
will bring history to life in the Gainesville community during Black History Month.
"A lot of people on campus are pushing for major initiatives for black history," Paul Ortiz, director
of SPOHP, said.
University of Florida faculty and students of the SPOHP are working to preserve and promote lo-
cal history by educating the community on past projects in Mississippi, and by implementing similar
initiatives locally.
-K- Ortiz led a small group of students on a research trip this past
summer to expose them to the prominent black history of Indi-
anola, Miss. For five days, the students recorded personal anec-
dotes of locals who experienced the civil rights movement.
The public is invited to a multimedia presentation of the Mis-
sissippi project from 6 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 17 at Gainesville's Civic
Media Center, 433 S. Main St. The presentation will include a
question-and-answer session with a panel of SPOHP students.
-.-- Currently the project interviews are in the process of being
Uploaded as part of a digital library. Select narratives will be avail-
able through iTunes podcasts.
-- Candice Ellis, UF senior, conducted about five interviews
during the research trip. She said that hearing the stories really
UF students Khambria Clarke (left) brought history to life and changed her perspective.
and Amanda Noll (not pictured) in- "You can't compare reading a history book to speaking to
terview an Indianola, Miss., resident these people in person," she said.
at the town's Henry M. Seymour Because the oral histories are subjective, they provide deeper
Library. insight to history than a text book, Ortiz said.
"They can tell you what it feels like to step into a ditch
because a white person was walking on the sidewalk," Ortiz said. "Or how it feels to have to explain to
your daughter why she can't drink out of the water fountain."
By Kristie Andres

I~ UF Caena

Feb. 17
"Flori
Ga

S
4

da in World War II," 7 p.m., guest speaker
ry Mormino, Pugh Hall Ocora.

Feb. 18
"Philharmonia of the Nations," Jon Naka-
matsu, piano, 7:30 p.m., Phillips Center for
the Performing Arts.
Feb.20
"Beyond the Bog Road," Eileen Ivers, 7:30
p.m., Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
Feb.21
"Gone with the Wine," WUFT-FM and WJUF-
FM, 1 to 4 p.m., Reitz Student Union.
Feb. 23
Harvard President Emeritus Derek Bok, "Making Citizens," 3 to
4:15 p.m., Digital Worlds Institute.
Feb. 24-25
UF Water Institute Symposium, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., UF Hilton
Conference Center.
This is a sampling of events from the electronic UF calendar.
For more event details, or to submit an event to the calendar,
click"UF Calendar" at www.insideuf.ufl.edu.

II Ema-

Produced by the
University Relations Office
for faculty, staff and students
Editor Susan Stewart
February 16, 2010

Seeking Engaged Scholarship nominations
The College of Education at the University of Florida has
announced the 8th annual Engaged Scholarship award competi-
tion for faculty, graduate students and community members. The
awards are presented in the following categories: university, College
of Education, graduate student, school district and community.
Nominations are due March 15. For more information, con-
tact Jenny Palgon, jpalgon@coe.ufl.edu or 352-273-4135.

Seeking Fellows in Sustainability Prairie
Project nominations
As part of a broader, universitywide awakening to environmen-
tal and sustainability concerns, the University of Florida Fellows
in Sustainability Prairie Project focuses on curricular change to
support faculty intellectual development to address such societal
issues.
Deans are requested to submit nominations to Whitney
Sanford, wsanford@ufl.edu by March 5. For more information,
contact Jeff Burkhardt, burk@ufl.edu.

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