Amidst a heated election cycle, a student organization at the University of Wyoming is working to cool political differences. BridgeUWYO seeks to advance this goal at their upcoming panel event, slated to take place from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11, in the East and Center Union Ballroom.
The panels will discuss patriotism and polarization, as well as foreign and domestic policy, issues highlighted by BridgeUWYO President Ven Meester. “These three categories of political and social study have changed drastically since 9/11,” he said, “and 9/11 often serves as… a landmark in time for these ideas.”
Meester founded BridgeUWYO, a chapter of BridgeUSA, last November. The university-sponsored organization became operational in January, operated by an executive team of four students. Meester told the Branding Iron that group discussions have an average turnout of 10-15 people, with over 40 interested students on the organization’s mailing list.
BridgeUWYO and its parent organization were established “to bring people together across political ideologies and social beliefs, and have them conversate in the same room,” Meester said. “The goal is to teach people how to engage in civil discussion with people they don’t agree with and won’t agree with.”
Meester and his colleagues intend for people to enter and exit meetings believing they are right. “It’s not about compromise, just hearing other opinions and still being able to have relationships with others and respect for people you disagree with.”
On this topic, Bridge Vice President of Operations Hayden Mackenzie said he joined the organization “because I could see the issue of political polarization, both on our campus and in the US at large…. I felt like I needed to do my part to help combat this polarization.” He said the upcoming event was inspired by experiences he and Meester had at this year’s BridgeUSA conference in Chicago.
Describing the event as “twofold,” he said it will bring in polarization experts to discuss nuances of the issue and draw attention to BridgeUWYO.
Mackenzie said he has enjoyed his experience and that he feels he is learning from and contributing to the people around him.
The event, in the works since late July, will feature a diverse group of speakers, including environmental politics professor Gregg Cawley; Professor of Political Science and International Studies Jean Garrison; Professor Emeritus Eric Nye; State Senator Chris Rothfuss; State Representative Karlee Provenza; Turning Point USA Chapter President Gabe Saint; Young Americans for Liberty Chapter President JW Rzeszut; former US Ambassador to Burkina Faso Tom Dougherty and a few more possible panelists. Speakers will engage in open dialogue and discussion before a crowd comprised of students and other spectators.
The event is not entirely precedented, Meester said, though those like it have usually been arranged by the political science department or university administration. “Something this ambitious has never really been seen in a single Bridge chapter’s event,” he said. “BridgeUSA is relatively new as a national [organization] and so, as a chapter, we are trying to do something that’s never been done.”
Meester and the other members of his organization hope the panel event will open UW students’ minds and encourage them to participate in BridgeUWYO discussions. “Ultimately, Bridge is a place for discussion and dialogue, but also learning,” he said. “So many people coming to college are free from their parents’ political beliefs for the first time and they wanna figure out their own.” This, he explained, leads them to politics classes or agenda-driven organizations. “It’s hard to explore your beliefs when… you have to commit to an organization that already has pre-established beliefs that everyone in the group follows. Bridge gives people a chance to hear all sides of the political and social spectrum in one place.”
