Student Voice: MSU Middle Ground offers space for civil political discussions

Liam Connor is a graduate of Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, Maryland. He is majoring in political science pre-law with minors in law, justice and public policy and environmental social science, and he expects to graduate in December 2026.

In a climate of political violence, hateful rhetoric and high levels of polarization, I wanted to find a middle ground. But I couldn’t find a place to calmly and safely discuss the top issues facing the nation — topics like climate change, gun rights and abortion. So, I created one.

I just wanted a safe, judgment-free space where people could talk about politics in an age when it’s very hard to do. That’s why, as a political science pre-law junior, I started the student group MSU Middle Ground after the 2024 presidential election.

I remember seeing all the recruitment tables for political parties and voter registration on campus, but I thought something was missing. No one was talking with each other about their different political views, especially online. Instead, we get stuck in echo chambers that can be harmful to our political climate.

I looked into different student groups, hoping to find a place where people were calmly discussing political differences, but I came up empty. There were the MSU College Republicans and the MSU College Democrats, but they rarely talked to each other. I wanted to create a space where people with differing viewpoints could come together and, through a mediated process, talk about politics.

Before joining MSU Middle Ground, members must agree to suspend judgment and promise to respect everyone’s thoughts. Each meeting begins with a five-minute slideshow introducing that evening’s topic. I’m deliberate about getting my news from multiple sources to offset bias and cross-reference information to help me mediate the discussions.

I guide our discussions by ensuring conversations remain respectful, accurate and civil, and that everyone has a chance to speak. Participants raise their hands to share, and I address any unproductive comments with a warning or, if needed, removal, though that has not been necessary so far. I also pause discussions to invite quieter members to contribute, with the goal of creating balanced dialogue.

I haven’t had to do much mediation. By the end of each meeting, the group usually comes together to form a compromise on what we can all agree on.

In this new semester, I’m focused on heavily recruiting members to continue the discussion. I’ve been reaching out to all political groups on campus to grow our diversity of cultures and political views.

We’re building something that matters — a place where Spartans can practice civil dialogue in an era when it often feels impossible.