IPFW's Downs Center for Indiana Politics to be information clearinghouse

Online resources will honor memory of political scientist Michael Downs

Photo courtesy: "Downs Family and Nichols & Co."
Downs (second from right) with Senator Eugene McCarthy (center) during McCarthy's 1967 presidential campaign stop in Fort Wayne.

Colleagues, friends, family and students of Downs celebrated the late IPFW political science professor's contributions to the university and local politics Nov. 6—the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November—election day except in off years such as 2001. The "Apolitical Party & Community Convention," held at the Scottish Rite Center in Fort Wayne, raised money for the center and celebrated the life of Downs, who died in January.

Organizers for the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics plan to reveal a virtual, online center by early next year that eventually will contain a wealth of information for serious researchers and political junkies: precinct-by-precinct results for local, area and state elections; information on state Supreme Court decisions; legislators' votes; municipal codes; and much more. Eventually, the center will be housed in IPFW's Helmke Library and will include audio- and videotapes, political memorabilia and more.

According to Barbara Blauvelt, secretary for IPFW's Department of Political Science, where Downs taught for 35 years, there is no place in Indiana where researchers can find extensive information. "People who study Indiana politics and history will be able to go to the Web site and find volumes of information," she said. The Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics will serve as a clearinghouse for information on Indiana politics, educate citizens regarding Indiana politics and encourage their active participation, advance understanding of Indiana's role in national events, provide insight into the history of Indiana politics and the workings of local politics, and help to preserve Indiana's written and oral histories.

Additional services offered by the center include providing data searches (winners and losers of elections, General Assembly votes, quotes from politically significant people); sponsoring special guest lectures; providing communication links among Indiana scholars; making data available to researchers; providing internships for students; providing community access to Indiana books, history and art; and responding to suggestions by IPFW and the Greater Fort Wayne area to make the center a useful and valuable resource.

Though Downs was a registered Democrat, he was more interested in sparking interest in government and politics than pushing a particular agenda. For example, he was the faculty sponsor for the IPFW Young Republicans.

The bipartisan "Apolitical Party & Community Convention" reflected the respect Downs enjoyed from officials on both sides of the political aisle. Allen County GOP Chairman Steve Shine and Brian Stier, who recently stepped down as county Democrat chairman, presided. Democratic Mayor Graham Richard and his predecessor, Republican Paul Helmke, appeared together, as well as state Reps. Win Moses Jr., a Democrat, and Bob Alderman, a Republican.

The center will fill a significant void for Hoosiers, and its presence at IPFW is an appropriate tribute to Downs, a consummate teacher and student of politics.

For more information about IPFW, visit:
http://www.ipfw.edu/