SUSO panelists, audience debate political party system as series celebrates 10 years

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Speak Up, Speak Out celebrated its 10th anniversary with cake, balloons and a debate about political parties.

The forum, “Have Political Parties Become Toxic for America?” brought about 140 people to the Bovee University Center Auditorium Wednesday night. A panel of six students and faculty members debated the reasons for the decline in civility between political parties.

Cherie Strachan, an assistant political science professor and moderator for the event, began the forum by emphasizing the importance of critical thinking skills in college education. She said one of the goals of SUSO has been to encourage people to respect different opinions.

“At some point, we have to recognize the legitimacy of the opposition,” she said.

Strachan said part of the problem is that voters are self-selecting news sources that reflect their beliefs.

“We’ve stopped listening to media that informs us and we’ve started listening to media that enforces us,” she said.

Christina Wickham, a Mount Pleasant graduate student and panelist, said the lack of communication between the parties is harming the democratic process.

“It feels like we’re in a bad marriage in this country,” she said. “When we stop talking, the experiment is over.”

Extremist candidates have an advantage over moderate candidates in political primaries because they rile up their base, Strachan said.

“They aren’t reaching out to moderates,” she said.

Nathan Inks, College Republicans chairman and panelist, said encouraging more voters to become informed and vote in primaries would improve moderate representation.

“That’s something that the voters have to want to do,” the Lincoln Park senior said.

Southfield sophomore Morris Love asked the panelists if they believed voter impatience was an issue. He said he has noticed voters become frustrated when they do not see instant solutions.

“Every two years, a new cycle comes in,” he said. “They’re not giving the Democrats and Republicans enough time.”

Panelist Sterling Johnson, a political science professor, said it is important for people to realize policies take time to create, especially when they involve international political and economic systems.

“We forget that (President Barack Obama) is not operating in a vacuum,” he said.

Merlyn Mowrey, chairwoman of SUSO’s organizing committee and associate professor of philosophy and religion, received an award during the forum on behalf of the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences for being a “Free Speech Warrior.”

Mowrey said it is always gratifying to see students ask insightful questions during the forum because it shows they are paying attention to the issues.

“This is really about enriching student experience outside the classroom,” she said.