University of Dallas News

Issue date: 1/29/08 Section: News

Alumnus John Aylor is active in theater, politics, and social reform. [Click to enlarge]

Most current seniors will spend the spring semester weighing their options between graduate school, the life of a responsible working adult, and living in a cardboard box. University of Dallas graduate John Aylor, class of '05, has pursued the Greek ideal of active participation in the political sphere by volunteering as the Irving Precinct Coordinator for Congressman Ron Paul's campaign.

Studying at UD changed Aylor's interest in politics. "When I came to UD," said Aylor, "I was, if not a Marxist, at least a continental socialist." In his time at UD, Aylor came to believe that conservatism could do the most good for society. "All these goals that I'd wanted to see came from conservatism."

Aylor majored in Politics with a concentration in International Studies and was one class away from a History double major (his senior thesis disappeared). After graduating in 2005, Aylor attended graduate classes that focused on dramatic literature until Spring 2007.

After that spring semester, Aylor spent time in New York where he met another UD graduate who revived Aylor's interest in the political arena. "It's kind of funny," said Aylor, "because I had invigorated his interest in politics when we were students, and he re-invigorated me then." Aylor returned to Irving where he began actively to engage the political sphere.

Aylor volunteered his services in the campaign and became a Precinct Leader in the Ron Paul Campaign, but he soon reached the position of Irving Precinct Coordinator. This entails organizing canvassing and other events in Irving, Las Colinas, and UD. Aylor has also started a Ron Paul group for the area on meetup.com.

In addition to his campaign efforts, Aylor has been active in the Risk Theater Initiative, a Dallas-based group. He worked on The Last Days of Judas Iscariot by Stephen Adly Guirgis and Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut. Aylor will soon begin working with Michael Murphy, a UD student, to write an adaptation of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. Aylor described the adaptation as "a pretty revolutionary piece." The adaptation will get people out of their comfort zones and to force them to think about the issues in front of them, according to Aylor.

He has also worked on a series airing in Houston called The Invisible People. "It has three goals," said Aylor. "It shows people the plight of the homeless, it personalizes that plight by interviewing homeless people, and it shows people how to help the homeless. For example, don't give a couple of dollars; instead you could give kits with basic supplies they don't have access to, like a clean toothbrush. It shows them that they're still human and people still care." Aylor hopes to be able to take the show to other cities soon.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools