Building Bridges: U of A Students Promote Political Dialogue After Chicago Summit

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Kate Tandy, Bridge Arkansas president, meeting with other SEC BridgeUSA chapters.

Last month, Kate Tandy and Maddie Gwinner had the honor of attending the 2024Bridge USA Summit in Chicago. Bridge USA is a national, non-partisan organization dedicated to fostering constructive political dialogue on college campuses across the nation. The two, along with Lily Beck, are bringing this initiative to the U of A.

During the summit, they had the opportunity to connect with established chapters across the country and exchange ideas and strategies for promoting civil discourse on increasingly polarized campuses. One highlight of the event was training on discussion moderation with CEO Manu Meel, where they gained valuable insights into facilitating productive conversations.

The summit also featured a discussion panel with Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and former Congressman Peter Roskam, who emphasized the critical need for bridging political divides in today's society. Their perspectives underscored the importance of the work that BridgeUSA is doing.

BridgeArkansas kicked off the semester with its first event at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, in GRAD 115. The focus was on U of A's most controversial topics. Additionally, they will host a "Debate Debrief" on the presidential debates at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, in GRAD 115.

Students interested in attending these events should follow @bridgeuofa on Instagram or check out the HogSync page for more information.