The University of Missouri’s chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha hosted its fourth annual political showcase on April 17. The showcase offered a forum for productive political conversations and discussions of topics pertaining to local, state and national issues.
Mizzou College Democrats, Mizzou College Republicans and Mizzou Young Democratic Socialists of America participated in this year’s showcase. They discussed topics including diversity, equity and inclusion, immigration policy in relation to agriculture and Generation Z, among other topics. The organization’s president Logan Liguore said discussion points were chosen to balance topics students may be excited about with topics that may not be as well known.
Liguore started the showcase in 2021 to help students gain an understanding of their peers despite political differences.
“I’m glad so many people come to the showcase, but I hope they take these conversations and ideas about civil discourse with them,” Liguore said. “I sure hope that between now and the next showcase, we all have substantial political discourse beyond online conversations in the deep, dark chasms of Instagram comment sections where I feel like the discourse is limited.”
According to the Pew Research Center, 84% of adults believe political debates have become less respectful, as of 2023. Representatives from all three organizations present at the showcase said they wanted to maintain a respectful tone.
“I think that each person who spoke tonight was really composed in a really great job communicating their beliefs on all the issues in a civil way,” Cole Bower, president of Mizzou College Democrats, said.
Will Struchtemeyer, vice president of Mizzou College Republicans, stressed the importance of showing up to offer their perspective so others can learn.
“I think it’s important for people to show up so they can learn what they think and make up their own minds,” Struchtemeyer said. “I think learning to think for yourself is probably one of the best gifts that we have as humans.”
After a representative from each organization answered a prompt posed by moderators, the other groups were given a one-minute rebuttal. Speaking order rotated after each topic to ensure that every organization got a chance to speak first.
YDSA President Ian De Smet said he believed the organization was able to advocate for its party’s viewpoints during the allotted time, which differed from the other two perspectives present.
“We as an organization stand out from the norm of the two-party binary system,” De Smet said. “The fact that I had to push the topic of Palestine and Israel into a question is a good example of that there are certain topics that the Democratic and the Republican party are afraid to talk about.”
Many of the representatives at the showcase said they wanted to use the event as an opportunity to promote their organization and gain new members. Students not involved in one of the political organizations showed up to spectate the event, as well. Liguore hoped this event will involve more MU students in politics.
“I think it’s really important for Mizzou students to get involved with other Mizzou students on projects like this,” Ligoure said. “I don’t think it changes the world, but I think it’s people coming together and networking, enjoying each other’s company [and] making memories.”
Edited by Maya Dawson | mdawson@themaneater.com
Copy edited by Emma Short | eshort@themaneater.com
Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com
