The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies, or Di Phi, is looking to bring national issues to the forefront of campus thought at today’s Campus Crossfire debate.
The College Republicans, Young Democrats and Young Americans for Liberty will debate issues such as gun control, immigration, criminal justice reform and student loans at 7 p.m. in Gardner Hall room 105. The event will include an open forum for audience questions.
“We wanted to make sure that we were covering everything that students were interested in hearing about, so that is why we are opening it up to the floor,” said Tyler Clay, joint senate president of the Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies.
Clay said in addition to the range of topics, Di Phi wanted to make sure there was diversity in the groups represented.
“I wanted to be as inclusive as possible and make sure that all three groups were represented, not just the College Republicans and the Young Democrats,” Clay said. “It is going to be harder to structure, but it is going to be a much better debate because of it.”
Stormie Baker, president of the Young Americans for Liberty, said she is happy her group is included.
“Our goal is to let people know that there is a third way, an alternative way, to think about recent political conflicts,” Baker said. “I think it is easier for millennials to get caught up in the bipartisan monopoly and feel like they have to go one way or the other.”
Frank Pray, outgoing chairperson of the College Republicans, said he had similar goals in getting his party’s platform out in the open.
“It is a rare occasion where we get to talk about our platform in its entirety,” Pray said. “We are hoping to show why our platform is superior to the Democrats’ platform in this debate, and, you know, the libertarian platform as well.”
