BridgeNCSU promoted civil discourse among students in its kick-off event, Puppies and Politics, on Tuesday outside Witherspoon Student Center with therapy dogs and moderators to aid political discussion.
Katie Schwartz, a second-year studying international studies and vice president of BridgeNCSU, said the organization’s mission is to create a safe space for students to discuss sensitive topics.
“A big part of it is trying to make space for voices and opinions where a lot of people feel that, in our current culture and environment, it can be really hard to voice your opinions without offending others or others pushing back on your beliefs or your ideas,” Schwartz said.
The event included stations that fostered conversations around the upcoming general election, true crime and the destigmatization of violence, conspiracy theories and America’s legacy.
Schwartz said the purpose was to invite students to engage in conversations that mimic BridgeNCSU meetings.
“The goal is to have discussions on issues that may be controversial and to do it in a way that’s curious about other people’s viewpoints and ideas, and that’s friendly over defensive,” Schwartz said. “So the goal of the event really is to just create a space that’s going to foster those kinds of feelings of acceptance, or at least curiosity to listen to the ideas of others and to have those kinds of civil discourse.”
Rylee Teed, a second-year in design studies and vice president of communications at BridgeNCSU, said the therapy dogs were meant to draw people to the event who might not otherwise be interested in the organization.
“BridgeNCSU could be a hard sell, just because, on paper, it’s a club about political depolarization,” Teed said. “I think a lot of ways we’re just trying to use the appeal of dogs to grab in a lot of different types of people who we might not otherwise.”
BridgeNCSU focuses on bringing an array of perspectives to the conversation that people can learn from. Teed said her experience in the club has allowed her to broaden her horizon regarding political discourse.
“It’s been a great opportunity for me to talk to people who I would never have otherwise talked to about anything relating to politics,” Teed said. “I typically lean more left, and I’ve been able to talk to a bunch of people who’ve been more right and actually listen to them for once, which is something that I’ve not always been able to do.”
Elizabeth McKay, a fourth-year studying political science and vice president of external affairs at BridgeNCSU, said it’s important to provide people with a space where they can converse about controversial topics without fear of repercussions.
“A lot of the time, topics are perceived as black and white or right or left or Republican or Democrat,” McKay said. “It can make it hard to get to the root of the conflict and harder to find a solution when it’s so easily affiliated with something different. We want to give everyone a chance to voice their opinion and kind of learn about others’ opinions without feeling constricted or concerned.”
At its weekly meetings, BridgeNCSU tackles issues such as affirmative action, gun rights, abortion and the Israel-Hamas war. McKay said promoting conversation about these issues is especially important during the election year.
“We also try to use these events to increase awareness and education,” McKay said. “For example, why voting down the ballot is maybe not a good thing or just voting for all one side without thinking necessarily. Especially in an election year, voting is such an important right that we have and so is making sure people remember to vote and remember why it’s important.”
Brandon Leach, a third-year studying animal science, said he stumbled across Puppies and Politics on his way back from class and decided to stop to pet the dogs. He ended up staying for a conversation about the upcoming general election.
“I just got enthralled into it and I feel like it’s nice to have conversations like these, especially where it’s nice and calm,” Leach said. “… I feel like my takeaway from this is to be aware of what is happening in the world around you or in this specifically the area you are in, and to pay attention to the things that will impact you, your people, your community, your country, so you know how to stay most informed and how to help, but to also to listen to others and to understand them.”
