Photo courtesy of The Harvard Crimson
By Alim Useini, Staff Writer
Across the country, conversations about politics have become increasingly charged—often turning social media platforms into battlegrounds rather than spaces for dialogue. Yet on college campuses, where the exchange of ideas forms the core of learning, debate remains not only valuable but essential. Moraine Valley Community College, like institutions nationwide, stands at a unique crossroads: it can either shy away from political discourse out of discomfort or embrace it as a vital part of education and democracy.
The role of debate in education
Debate teaches far more than argumentation; it cultivates empathy, research skills, and intellectual humility. When students defend their perspectives, they are challenged to think critically, listen actively, and support claims with credible evidence. They also learn the discipline of hearing opposing views without hostility—an increasingly rare skill in today’s polarized climate.
Professor Krista Applequist of MVCC’s Speech & Debate Team notes that the roots of civil discourse go back thousands of years. “The ancient Greek and Roman philosophers, Cicero and Aristotle, believe that human intellect and reason are what separate us from the lower animals; through reason we can build the best version of our society,” she explained. “But that cannot happen if we cannot test out our ideas with each other.”
Still, Applequist acknowledges that political conversations can be challenging—not because of the topics themselves, but because of emotion. “People feel personally attacked when you question norms or values they’ve come to normalize,” she said. Logic and emotion often collide, making some discussions feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
Dialogue, not division
True debate is not about “winning”; it is about understanding. Civility and dialogue must form the backbone of political engagement. Applequist emphasizes that maintaining respect requires effort from both speakers and listeners.
“To the listener: be open to being offended,” she said. “Hold offensive or frightening ideas in your mind long enough to question and dismantle them with logic and evidence.”
“To the speaker: listen first. Ask yourself—what is the worldview or experience of the person you disagree with? Can you claim some empathy before speaking?”
On campus, structured debates, civic forums, and roundtable discussions can offer spaces where students sharpen their reasoning while strengthening community bonds. Even more importantly, as Applequist notes, communication education itself plays a crucial role. “We rip students out of the algorithmic silos they’ve been trapped in online. You have to look a real human in the face and articulate yourself—not from an anonymous comment section, but to a real person.”
Rebuilding trust in a polarized era
Political polarization has become so pronounced that many families and classrooms avoid the topic entirely. “My family has a rule for Thanksgiving: no politics,” Applequist shared. “My students ask if we can ‘please not be political.’ It’s so damaging—it’s broken up families, friendships, and divided the country.”
But the solution, she argues, is not silence. In fact, silence is dangerous.
“NOT speaking about what our leaders are doing is antidemocratic,” she said. “We can only deliberate in echo chambers now, where everyone agrees. There’s a lack of challenging arguments.”
She urges students to recognize how mass media and social media fuel this polarization. “They directly profit from dividing us. Don’t take the bait,” she said. “Nobody is destroying the country. You’re being told that so you’ll click and share.”
Instead, she calls for intentional environments where people feel safe to question, disagree, and even be wrong. “We have to create spaces where you won’t be ridiculed or labeled for your opinions. A space where it’s safe to be wrong.”
Applequist herself teaches one such space: COM 204 Argumentation, a class where students debate controversial topics within a respectful, supportive environment.
A call for civic engagement at Moraine
As future leaders, MVCC students bear the responsibility of carrying forward the principles of democracy—critical inquiry, tolerance, and participation. When they engage in political discussion, they are not merely debating issues; they are practicing citizenship.
The classroom, student clubs, and campus events are ideal places to model the civility our nation desperately needs. The more we debate with respect, the more we prove that differences of opinion do not have to lead to division.
May our campus remain a place where ideas can clash without contempt, where truth is pursued with honesty, and where every voice—conservative, liberal, or independent—is heard with dignity. Political discussion does not threaten the college environment; it enriches it, strengthens it, and prepares us for the challenges of the world beyond it.
