October 14, 2026
Linda Blaser
Bringing consequential voices to campus ahead of midterm elections
Associate Professor of Politics Ajar Chekirova chats with community members during one of the pre-event networking sessions. | Photo by Julieta NAME ’2X
From national security and political leadership to voting rights, Lake Forest College connects students and the broader community with influential voices shaping the nation’s most pressing debates.
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, questions about political leadership, voting rights, civic engagement, and the strength of American democratic institutions are taking center stage. At Lake Forest College, students and community members have opportunities to explore these issues firsthand through conversations with former and current elected officials, diplomats, and leading scholars.
These events demonstrate how the liberal arts bring historical context, political experience, and rigorous inquiry to issues that can otherwise be reduced to partisan talking points.
Sponsored by the Department of Politics and International Relations, a series of campus events this fall has brought nationally recognized voices to Lake Forest to share their experiences, examine pivotal moments in American history, and consider the challenges facing the country today.
“As we approach the 2026 midterm elections, questions about leadership, voting rights, civic engagement, and the strength of our democratic institutions are at the forefront of our national conversation,” said Professor of Politics and International Relations Jim Marquardt.
For students, these encounters provided an opportunity to ask questions, test assumptions, and hear directly from people who have helped shape public policy and national debate. For community members, they offered access to substantive conversations about issues with consequences well beyond Election Day.
“As a liberal arts college, we have a particular responsibility to create opportunities for thoughtful inquiry, civil discourse, and serious engagement with differing perspectives on these consequential issues,” Marquardt said. “These events give our students—and our entire community—the opportunity to do exactly that.”
“We are privileged to welcome individuals of this caliber to Lake Forest College and to give our students the opportunity to learn from and engage with them firsthand.”
The conversations reflect the College’s role as a place where students and the surrounding community can move beyond headlines to gain a deeper understanding of the people, policies, and historical forces shaping public life.
September 11: From Memory to History
Former U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois and current U.S. Sen. Todd Young of Indiana offered perspectives on the lasting consequences of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, drawing on their experiences in Congress and their work on national security and foreign policy. Their discussion connected a defining moment in recent American history with the policy decisions and international challenges that continue to shape the nation a quarter-century later.
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The World Needs Leaders
Former U.S. Ambassador Jeff Flake brought another perspective on public service, discussing leadership and the importance of reaching across political divides. Flake, who represented Arizona in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate before serving as ambassador to Türkiye, has experience navigating political differences at the highest levels of government.
"Add quote from Flake. Add quote from Flake. Add quote from Flake. Add quote from Flake. Add quote from Flake," Flake told the audience in the Tarble Room on September 23.
MLK Jr. and the Voting Rights Act
Voting rights and the evolution of American democracy were also at the forefront of the series. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and biographer Jonathan Eig explored the efforts of Martin Luther King Jr. to secure voting rights for African Americans and subsequent developments involving the Voting Rights Act under the Roberts Supreme Court. His work offers an opportunity to examine the history of the civil rights movement alongside ongoing debates about access to the ballot and the role of the courts.
"Add quote from Eig. Add quote from Eig. Add quote from Eig. Add quote from Eig. Add quote from Eig," Eig told the audience in the Tarble Room on September 28.
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