Bipartisan cooperation is focus of Chiesman Democracy Conference at USD

VERMILLION, S.D. – Former members of Congress and the South Dakota Legislature will be among those taking part in a daylong conference Tuesday, March 26, at the University of South Dakota that will focus on bipartisan cooperation.

The annual Chiesman Democracy Conference gives people the chance to explore research and public service projects that are devoted to improving democratic governance and civic education. Attendance and lunch are free for all attendees, but registration is required.

The annual conference, sponsored by the Chiesman Center for Democracy at USD, begins at 8:30 a.m. on March 26 and runs until 3:30 p.m. Central time. It will be held at the Muenster University Center (MUC) ballroom on the USD campus.

The schedule:

• 8:30-9 a.m.: Welcome and coffee
• 9-9:30 a.m.: Report on the state of Democracy in South Dakota
• 9:30-10:45 a.m.: Chiesman-supported faculty research
• 11-11:50 a.m.: Announcement of democracy project sponsored by Chiesman and South Dakota News Watch
• 11:50 a.m.-12:40 p.m.: Lunch
• 12:40-1:50 p.m.: Congress to Campus presentation by former congressmen Republican Tom Petri of Wisconsin and Democrat Dave Loebsack of Iowa
• 2-2:50 p.m.: South Dakota policymakers bipartisan panel discussion
• 3-3:30 p.m.: Closing remarks

Click this link to register or scan the QR code in the image below.