Courtesy of Elizabeth Lee

Despite some complaints about limited dialogue on campus, there are a fair amount of clubs worth parsing through that have been created to provide a space for people to discuss ideas freely. Due to the nature of this column, I’ve spent a lot of time scrolling through the student events tab on CampusGroups, examining all of them. Every Monday, I see “Free Radicals: An Anticapitalist Reading Group” listed—and, if I’m being honest, I usually scroll right past it. It’s not that I’m a staunch capitalist (though those students are more than welcome at Free Radicals meetings, and some have attended to great effect). I was simply intimidated. I felt like I knew the type of person who goes to these meetings, and they scared me: exceptionally well-read, somehow aware of Kim Jong Un’s shoe size and probably moderators on r/Socialism_101. However, I decided that, since this is my final article of the year, I ought to face my fears before I run away to Granada, Spain.

I’m very glad I did. Free Radicals may be the least intimidating, most welcoming group I’ve encountered on campus. When I walked into their 5 p.m. meeting and settled onto the very comfortable couches in Ladd’s basement, we introduced ourselves and shared a “rave or a rage” from the week (the rave: Dash Rumble ’27’s mom had sent them a particularly excellent pair of socks). I was immediately drawn into a thoughtful discussion of the video “Imperialism 2: Scratching the 80-Year Itch” by Mordecai Ogada.

Club leader Mina Shenoy ’27 described Free Radicals as “a sort of self-guided political education … not trying to convert anyone—we’re trying to learn together.” That description feels exactly right. The group meets to discuss readings and videos, which are chosen week to week based on members’ interests (typically labor history, imperial history and political theory), so you can join at any point without feeling behind. The meetings also extend beyond discussion. Right now, the group is planning a “Soon-to-Be Renters Forum” in collaboration with Professor Jack O’Brien and the Brunswick Renters Organization, aimed at helping students (especially seniors) better understand their rights as tenants. More than anything, though, the meetings felt like a space where people genuinely cared about one another. Conversations ranged widely: from abstract questions about weaponry to critiques of the United Nations’ hypocrisy to debates over whether international law can remain effective.

It’s so tempting to write off people who are deeply passionate about something, especially when that passion feels intimidating. There’s something unsettling about realizing that other Bowdoin students are actively trying to expand their own thinking, engage with the world and support their community. It forces a type of self-reflection I’d often rather avoid. But after taking the time to get to know The Free Radicals club and its members, I’ve realized how wonderful it can be to try to understand our world and embrace education and community freely and brazenly. I try not to get too political here, but you can call me a Free Radical.