Students enjoyed pizza with a side of politics when the political science department kicked off the semester with the first ever meeting of the Political Science Club on Sept. 20.
The theme of the meeting was, “What should the government be doing, and is it living up to that goal?” Guests from both sides of the political aisle spoke to the group of students in a roundtable discussion format: Autumn Lee, the chief of staff to the president pro tempore of the Colorado Senate, and Mara Brosy-Wiwchar, the district director for representative Jared Polis.
“It is easy to get caught in talking points (on either side) when discussing policy implementation, and yet these students provided a fresh perspective on how it affected them and what was most important to them,” said Lee. “It reminded me why we get involved with politics to begin with: to make a positive impact on the world.”
The club was founded by two freshmen political science majors, Tim Lovewell and Madi Smith. The founding officers were thrilled that so many students attended the inaugural meeting and engaged in the discussion.
“I hope the club is an intellectual opportunity for people who, like me, are intimidated by the often vicious nature of hardcore ideologists,” said Smith. “There is so much we can learn from people who believe different things than us and I want this to be a place for people to explore new ideas and ways of thinking.”
The catalyst for the club’s creation started in February after the political science department held meetings with undergraduate students to discuss ways the department could enhance their experience as a political science major. Several students expressed a desire to have an opportunity to get to know their fellow majors outside of the classroom, as well as have more interactive experiences with professionals in the discipline.
“The great thing about political science is that we get to engage with big, societal questions every day,” said Matthew Hitt, the club’s faculty advisor. “Our students wanted to keep that conversation going, so they created a new community where thoughtful, fun, respectful, and insightful conversations can happen. The club provides a new outlet for anyone interested in political science to make connections outside their courses.”
The Political Science Club will meet monthly and offer both intellectual and social events throughout the year. The next meeting is Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in New Stadium Room 1215. The focus for discussion will be “Sports and Politics.”
For more information about the club and how to get involved, please email polisciclubcsu@gmail.com.
