MEDIA CONTACT: Wendy Leopold at (847) 491-4890 or at w-leopold@northwestern.edu

May 7, 2002

Paul Simon to Discuss Death Penalty Work

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Former U.S. Senator Paul Simon will discuss his work as part of the Illinois Death Penalty Commission at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, at Northwestern University. Simon is co-chair of the commission appointed by Gov. George Ryan to look into the capital punishment system.

Simon's speech, titled "Capital Punishment in Illinois: Can it Be Fixed?" and part of the Northwestern Medill School of Journalism's Crain Lecture Series, will take place in the auditorium (Room 217) of Fisk Hall, 1845 Sheridan Road, on the University's Evanston campus. It is free and open to the public.

The Illinois Death Penalty Commission is part of Gov. Ryan's review of the Illinois justice system and his moratorium on executions. The two have helped spark national debate on the issue of capital punishment.

Simon, who now teaches journalism at Southern Illinois University, is a long-time death penalty opponent who has said that the commission is likely to be unable to give Gov. Ryan and "iron-clad guarantee" that, even with extensive legal reforms, no innocent person would be convicted of a capital crime. He has said that it is possible that the commission will conclude that there is no way to salvage the death penalty.

The Crain Lectures feature journalists, newsmakers and others discussing current events and the ways in which the news business affects them. Call (847) 491-5401 or visit the Medill Web site at http://www.medill.northwestern.edu for the most up-to-date information about the lectures.