Many liberal arts institutions are often criticized for appealing to the political left and abridging students’ freedom of speech. Colorado College’s Political Science Advisory Committee is hoping to change that by providing a space for free political discourse. At the end of the last block, they hosted a speed dating event focusing on questions that were pertinent to the current political climate.
The event, complete with desserts and charcuterie, offered participants the opportunity to submit many of their own questions.
“The purpose of Dates and Debates is to foster political discussion in a way that is not restrained in the way that class discussion can sometimes be” said Kathryn Kenny ’20, one of the event organizers. “I know that I have experienced many instances where I feel as if it is difficult to express my voice in class; discussions can often be dominated by certain individuals or constrained by class readings. Dates and Debates provides a space where individuals can have face-to-face discussions with other CC students about relevant political topics for the purpose of developing and challenging their own beliefs and the beliefs of others.”
In a hyper-partisan environment, solely talking to those you agree with may make you feel good, but it does nothing to further your own arguments and hinders new ideas.
Coming out of the longest government shutdown in history, bipartisanship matters now more than ever. It may be painful to read that one particular uncle’s Facebook posts, but understanding the authenticity and validity of each individual’s opinion can be helpful when generating new ideas for compromise.
One of the most entertaining and productive parts of Dates and Debates was witnessing a clash in ideologies. “My favorite part is watching people disagree and working through the five to seven minute rotations civilly,” said participant Julia Gledhill ’20. “That is the point!”
Even if one entirely disagrees with their partner, this event provides the opportunity to see another point of view and engage with someone who you might not normally have had the chance to discuss these important issues with.
While obviously some topics, such as basic human rights, are not necessarily things that can or should be compromised, the roots of many of these issues can be taken from a much more centralist approach. Understanding the consequences of disagreement, such as thousands of government workers going unpaid for weeks, challenges one’s opinion in a way that is not normally seen on campus.
The overall goal of Dates and Debates is to involve more people outside the Political Science Department. “I hope that everyone takes away that ‘political discourse’ doesn’t have to be intimidating or mundane, but that it can be exciting and help you create relationships and learn more about the world around you,” said Carly Cribbs ’19.
Kenny echoed these goals; “Generally, I think that a lot of students at CC do not usually have to defend their perspectives to others,” she said. “By fostering political discussion, students become more equipped to fight against problematic, oppressive, and hateful points of view that should not be tolerated in productive discussions.” A productive discussion does not entail shutting down those who have differing opinions; rather it works to make you understand their perspective and attempt to educate them on yours.
By providing this space for free discussion, the Political Science Advisory Committee hopes to engage with more of the campus and diversify perspectives. They also aim to provide students with the tools to think critically, bolster their own arguments, and ensure that each student feels comfortable expressing their own views.