Politics on college campuses
*Audio Clip is the voice of Damon Cann, USU political science professor.
In recent years politics, local and national, have become a sore subject for many Americans and families.
A Pew research study showed that 45% of Americans have opted not to talk about politics with someone and another 85% of Americans believe that political debate has become less respectful and fact-based.
“I think we have seen over the last several decades an increasing trend and polarization in politics with Republicans and Democrats getting farther and farther apart, especially among elites,” said Damon Cann, a political science professor at USU.
Cann explained that it can even lead to extremes with unnecessary consequences.
“Accompanying that is an escalation in incivility, and even to some extent, dehumanization of people who hold different political views than we hold,” he said. “That has led to deadly escalations in acts that we might consider on some level just discourteous or uncivil, but we’re also even seeing ticks up in levels of political violence.”
However, the average American family isn’t the only group who has seen a lot of political unrest and incivility. In a Sage Journal titled “Chaos on Campus: Universities and Mass Political Protest” it stated, “Universities are hotbeds of political protest.”
Currently, Utah State University’s free speech rating from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression sits at 53.66 out of 100. The report also ranks USU’s openness and students’ perceived ability to have hard conversations on campus at 124th.
Drew Eden, a USU student, described his experiences talking about politics.
“I think that trying to share your political ideals with others who disagree with your political ideals just turns into a big argument,” he said. “However, I think people at USU try to be broadly welcoming and we can all look past our differences for an activity, class.”
Cann also shared his thoughts on the political climate at USU.
“One of my greatest hopes for the future comes from my experiences here with USU students in every class that I teach,” Cann said. “I have a wide range of students on the political spectrum and I am always heartened by the way that the students are respectful to each other. If our students continue to model that behavior after they leave USU it gives me a tremendous amount of hope for the future.”
When asked how students can better engage in uplifting political discussions, Cann offered advice.
“I think one thing that really helps is when we have shared experiences and things happening in our lives that give us ways that we can connect with things in common, even though we have other differences,” Cann said. “Don’t be afraid to change the conversation topic and find something where you can connect as opposed to feeling like you have to hash out this particular battle.”
-Alivia.Hadfield@usu.edu
Featured graphic by Bailey Rigby