Affinity Group captains organized two structured conversations on campus for students to express their political beliefs while hearing from others. Inspired by “Middle Ground” videos made popular on social media, the conversations aimed to develop a deeper understanding between students with differing views.

[Affinity Group Captains] decided that what was most important was that we reached a mutual understanding of each other’s ideas and perspectives surrounding political topics that we felt we couldn’t talk about elsewhere.

-Rylee Barnwell ’26, Affinity Group Captain

During their weekly meetings, Affinity Group captains often discuss how to bring the Beaver community together and show solidarity. With the 2024 election on the horizon, captains knew they wanted to foster conversations that would allow students to express their political beliefs in a safe and productive environment. “Neal Mahidhar ’26 brought up the idea of a Middle Ground-like conversation, as we had all seen videos on social media,” Rylee Barnwell ’26 states. “We discussed what we hoped students would take away from the experience and how we would format it.”

During the first conversation, students sat in a circle in the Roger’s Room and responded to various prompts. The topics discussed ranged from reproductive rights to the economy, with differing viewpoints on several issues. Due to the success of this first conversation, Affinity Group captains planned a second event, this time focused solely on the presidential election. With a majority of participants being too young to vote, students used the conversation as an opportunity to make their voices heard.

These conversations show how students are taking the lead on creating spaces for themselves to discuss what is important to them. We as the adults are able to step aside and help them facilitate.

-Delonte Egwuatu, Chief Engagement & Inclusion Officer