<p>Former Sen. Bob Graham is concerned that an epidemic of political apathy is spreading nationwide, and he's doing what he can to fix it at his alma mater. </p>
<p>Graham, who graduated from UF in 1959, spoke about his project, UF's Bob Graham Center for Public Service, to a packed room of business and community leaders at the Holiday Inn on Newberry Road on Thursday evening. </p>
<p>Graham said that changes in America's public school systems need to be made to combat a problem he calls "civic illiteracy." </p>
<p>He said Americans are not learning enough about politics and civic duties while in school, which leads to poor election turnout and general disinterest in politics. </p>
<p>"The average elementary student gets less than two hours a week of exposure to any of the social sciences in school," Graham said. </p>
<p>Therefore, when they become adults, they don't fully understand the impact politics have in their lives and don't participate in them, he said. </p>
<p>Graham said the center is the first step in what he hopes will be a nationwide effort to link the concepts of public leadership with the increasingly global world of politics. </p>
<p>The center will be housed in Pugh Hall, which is expected to be finished by November. </p>
<p>About 20 students are part of the center's inaugural certificate program, which started this semester. </p>
<p>Susanna Sovran, a UF political science junior and a student in the program, said, "(Graham) is just a genuine man that's willing to give back to his school." </p>
<p>Sovran said that students studying politics run into problems outside of the classroom that are hard to solve without guidance. </p>
<p>She expects the program, which entails five courses, a public service internship and lectures, to provide insight on topics that have stumped students in the past, such as complicated ethical dilemmas, she said. </p>
<p>Rosemarie Clouston, a political science senior and the communications director for the Florida College Democrats, said she wished she could be a part of Graham's program, but she's graduating this semester. </p>
<p>"I think the program's going to be awesome, and if I had time left here, I definitely would do it," Clouston said.</p>