Depolarizing America: Bridging Divides on Campus

Let's Find Common Ground

USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future

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5 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 18 March 2021

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

With American democracy in crisis, can students save the day? For college students it can be frightening to consider the prospects for a better tomorrow. But addressing the problems in our political system will require the next generation to be more engaged and less polarized. BridgeUSA was formed by college students to tackle the crisis head-on, with campus-based chapters at colleges around the country. This non-profit group hosts discussions and events, champions ideological diversity, teaches constructive engagement, and aims to promote a solution-oriented political culture. BridgeUSA’s chief goal is to develop a new generation of political leaders who value empathy and the common good. Guests for this episode are Manu Meel, a recent graduate of U.C. Berkeley and Chief Executive Officer of BridgeUSA, and Jessica Carpenter, a senior at Arizona State University, who runs brand management and communications at BridgeUSA.

Transcript

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0:00.0	American democracy is in crisis with toxic polarization and political gridlock.
0:06.0	For young people graduating college and entering the workforce,
0:10.0	it can be difficult to be hopeful about the prospects for a better tomorrow.
0:15.0	What are some new ways to think about this?
0:23.0	This is Let's Find Common Ground. I'm Richard Davies.
0:27.0	And I'm Ashley Maltite.
0:29.0	The political system will be an even more danger if the next generation is disengaged and polarized.
0:34.0	Bridge USA was formed by college students to tackle the crisis head on.
0:39.0	In this episode, we'll learn more about the goals of a group that aims to shake things up
0:45.0	and teach constructive engagement, as well as promoting a solution-oriented political culture
0:51.0	for leaders of the future.
0:53.0	Our guests are Manu Neal, a recent graduate of UC Berkeley and Chief Executive Officer of Bridge USA,
0:59.0	and Jessica Carpenter, a senior at Arizona State University.
1:03.0	She runs brand management and communications for the group.
1:06.0	There are many campus debating societies that already bring students together on a range of issues.
1:13.0	I asked Manu first, what's new and different about Bridge USA?
1:19.0	I think that's a great question, because it is what someone that is listening to Bridge would probably ask,
1:24.0	is why is a bridge discussion different than a debating society?
1:27.0	And I think the key is in that word, debate, right, Richard?
1:30.0	So the concept of debate is this idea of an opportunity cost.
1:33.0	Someone has to win. Someone has to lose.
1:35.0	Someone's experience and perspective is, quote, unquote, better or is won the day.
	...

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