Daily Egyptian
Fall '03 Edition
Good bye to a mentor
Daily Egyptian
Paul Simon was such a fixture at this University and in the development of our nation that many of us just assumed he'd always be here. Yesterday was a firm reminder that none of us will.
Yesterday the region, state and nation lost a great man and a great leader. But his life is one that should be remembered, not mourned. What we at the DAILY EGYPTIAN will remember is his commitment to public service and to this University.
During his tenure in the U.S. Senate, the 75-year-old Simon held more than 600 town meetings throughout the state, more than any senator in the state's history. Since his arrival at SIUC, he has brought a collection of celebrated speakers to our campus while continuing to tackle crucial topics such as world hunger and unemployment. Most recently, he began spearheading an effort to create a new government-funded study abroad program.
He was an icon in every sense of the word, but his persona was far from larger than life. His presence was one of calm and comfort, much like his demeanor. Standing no taller than 5-foot-6, he was not an overpowering man. But his stare and personal experience made him appear a giant. Simply listening to him speak in a manner that was not of any average oratory flair was enough.
He did not pierce your mind with loaded spin-ridden words; he spoke as if he had never been a politician. Perhaps that is because he was a journalist before anyone in Washington knew his name.
He was a man who believed in breaking barriers and shattering prejudices. He was a testament to peace. His determination to see those who had been dealt a hand of misfortune succeed was a reflection of his past, constructed of the virtues of an honest journalist.
After the events of Sept. 11, Paul Simon did not want to rush to conclusions. He did not want to label. He did not want to strike in vengeance. His presence was identical to his demeanor. As he walked down the halls of the Communications Building, he would always have a story to tell.
"Egypt you say," he would always initiate the conversation. "You know, when I first went to Egypt, and met Anwar Sadat," he would tell DE reporter Moustafa Ayad, who is from Egypt. "He would always say I must come see this place they call Little Egypt.
"He was such a good man, determined for peace."
And then they killed Sadat. Simon would forever carry that moment, when a man rejected all popular opinion to strive for peace, in his heart. At times he defied popular opinion, never pandering to political clout. Even when his staff told him, as he ran for president, to do away with his famed bowties, he stood in defiance.
"Of course, I didn't," he said. "In the end, what we thought was a liability turned out to be an asset."
He was anything but a liability. He was an asset to America, and a demagogue of democracy. Mere words cannot explain his subtle defiance, his warming smile and his testimony on the behalf of mankind.
He issued a challenge to both our University and our nation to never stop growing and never stop striving to reach our full potential. His savvy, knowledge and ambition were what defined him as a politician. But it was his integrity, trust and compassion that defined him as a man.
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