CARBONDALE - The first of three candidates to interview for the director's position at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute says the center should play a role in federal policy and outreach to students.

David Yepsen, a political columnist for the Des Moines Register, said the institute could be used as a means to explore national issues, like combating racial prejudice, studying women in politics, government spending and debt, health care in rural America and campaign finance reform.

Many of these topics have entered the public limelight lately because of President-elect Barack Obama's victory and the prominence of U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Yepsen said it's important to not lose sight of late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon's vision of the institute as a "do-tank" rather than a "think-tank." It could be used as a way to educate the public, garner public opinion and even go so far as to draft legislation to send to lawmakers, he said.

"I think it's important for the institute to always be doing what it can to take it to the next level," Yepsen said. "It's okay to do some things locally, but this is a state university, this is a nationally recognized institution.

"If you want an Illinois-oriented director, I'm not it. I think we need to be focused on something bigger," he added.

While focusing on a national scope, it's also important to remember the institute's role in helping students. In that regard, Yepsen said he would like to use several ideas he learned while spending a semester teaching at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

He would like to create a "pizza and politics" atmosphere during an informal study group that would teach students the foundations of becoming involved in politics. Yepsen also suggested starting a mentoring program with students that would help university faculty and others in the community trying to become U.S. citizens.

adam.testa@thesouthern.com

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