U.S. Rep Bill Foster (D-Ill.), who was elected in a heavily Republican district to replace former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, spoke Saturday to an audience of 11 state chapters of College Democrats during the group's annual convention.
In his keynote address, Foster urged students to get involved in politics.
"The way things are done around here is too often to maintain the status quo," Foster said. "When people tell you that things can't be changed, don't accept it."
He emphasized U.S. Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's message of change, saying the Obama campaign has been possible only due to the hard work and passion of college students.
"Change starts now," Foster said. "Change starts with you."
The U.S. Representative, who was elected to Hastert's seat in a March 8 special election after the former Speaker of the House resigned, was presented with the 2008 Jane Addams Political Courage Award.
"(Foster) took a stand and voted affirmative on a piece of ethics reform legislation, which would make the government more transparent to the people," said TyJuan Cratic, the vice president of political affairs for College Democrats.
The fact that Foster cast such an important vote on an issue opposed by many politicians showed courage, said SESP senior Andrew London, president of the Illinois Federation of College Democrats.
"Ethics reform is really about making sure that everyday people are the ones represented by congressmen and representatives," London said while presenting the award to Foster.
Foster discussed his background as a scientist, a businessman and a politician. He began his career by designing numerous scientific research machines. He also founded a business with his younger brother at the age of 19. Now, the company makes more than half of the theater lighting equipment in the United States, he said.
After his youngest child left for college, Foster decided to enter electoral politics in the 14th District, where he raised his family, Foster said.
"Those of you who do take up corporate careers, maybe after you become rich and successful, perhaps half or two-thirds of the way through your career, you will stop and think and go back to politics," he said.
Foster also joked about the Republican Party.
"My legal name is George William Foster, but you can't run as George W. anything," he said.
State Rep. Ken Dunkin and 13th District Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin also spoke at the convention.
The federation is a coalition of 17 College Democrats chapters at colleges across the state, and is affiliated with College Democrats of America, the youth outreach arm of the Democratic Party. It works with the Illinois legislature, helping push through legislation and registering voters.
Weinberg junior Ryan Erickson, a member of College Democrats, said he was impressed by the event, and has been running a small campaign of his own for Foster.
"What strikes me is that he's a citizen," Erickson said. "He went out, did something in the world and came back into politics."
a-kolisetty@northwestern.edu
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