To celebrate Western’s 2004-05 University-wide theme, “Now is the Time … Civic Engagement” and to educate others about the importance of civic engagement, the University Theme Committee will host the Civic Engagement Campus Dialogue lunch hour discussions each week.

Faculty, staff and community members will host and facilitate these lunch discussions, which will be held from noon to 12:50 p.m. every Wednesday in Stipes Hall 527. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch.

Topics to be covered throughout the semester include: Oct. 20 – William Maakestad, management professor and co-director, Program for the Study of Ethics, will present “Macomb Unplugged: Building Community through the Arts”; Oct. 27 – Gordon Rands, management, will present “Civic Engagement and the Workplace – the Role of Employers;” Nov. 3 – Kathleen Balderson, English and journalism, and Janice Whitfield, social work, will present “Civic Engagement in Sensible Shoes: How an Assorted Group of Women Brings Positive Changes to All Levels of Society;” Nov. 10 – Christopher Merrett, geography professor and Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs researcher, will discuss “Making a Difference Through Community-Supported Agriculture;” Nov. 17 – Frederick Isele, curriculum and instruction, will present “Fox Firing Community Education and Service Projects: The Essence of Civic Engagement;” and Dec. 1 – Sandra Waktins and Donna McCaw, both educational leadership, will discuss “How Does the Community Influence Academic Achievement K-12?”

For more information or for anyone interested in hosting a discussion, contact Dan Maxwell at 309/298-3232 or at dm-maxwell@wiu.edu. For more information on “Now is the Time … Civic Engagement” and on topics and presenters of the social dialogues, visit www.time.wiu.edu.