Mia Lasic-Ellis

At the onset, political association on a college campus appears to be an effective means of expressing one’s voice amidst a group of like-minded individuals. However, I will attempt to disprove this sentiment, as I think associating oneself with a political group on campus only shields individuals on either side of the aisle from an enriching liberal arts education.

The contention can be made that college students are of the voting age, so why should they not engage in politics? I seek to argue under the narrow framework that political conversations amongst friends and in the classroom are a necessity of a liberal arts education. However, intentionally surrounding oneself with others having almost exactly similar political positions goes against the fundamental grain of an education built on curiosity—a guiding pillar of the liberal arts.

While we all have developed political stances before entering college, they tend simply to be regurgitations of the environments of our childhood. While it is imperative we assert our differing viewpoints in conversations on politics on campus, it is not conducive to the liberal arts to simply pick a side before undergoing a rigorous education. I am willing to assert that very few, if any, students who join political party campus groups switch their party affiliation during their time in college. I believe that as undergraduates, we need to embrace our education from the standpoint that we have so much to learn and that our beliefs are subject to change. This includes our political beliefs. Thus, undergraduates should refrain from locking themselves into the political spectrum by premature political party association and instead focus on questioning their own morals and beliefs throughout their college experience.

This line of self-questioning may very well come in the form of open political inquiry with peers; however, it will be hindered by a political party campus group tying one down. Furthermore, party association privileges the defense of one’s own party’s positions over genuine curiosity about others’ perspectives. While individuals may not always change their viewpoint, the mere acceptance that there is a possibility for some sort of personal change in every interaction in one’s life allows for personal growth. I believe that this is the approach to political conversation that is most consistent with the ethos of the liberal arts and cementing oneself early through a political party on campus engenders a stubbornness that hinders true intellectual growth.

I hope this message encourages first-year students to truly reflect on what they want out of their college experience. While politics are inescapable during a college education, there is something fundamentally gratifying about spending four years up in a bubble in Maine devoted to self-betterment through open-mindedness. I believe that joining a political party on campus contradicts the principle of open political discourse, something that our society desperately lacks.

Matt Brayer is a member of the Class of 2028.