The Importance of Political Debate on College Campuses

Democracy is in crisis in the United States of America. The house of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, the New Mexico Republican Headquarters and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, representations of the left, right and center of our democracy, all fell victim to political violence in 2025. Charlie Kirk and Melissa Hortman, two figures on opposite ends of the political spectrum, both tragically fell victim to political violence in 2025.

Today, the space between Republicans and Democrats, previously filled with respectful political debate, is now filled with bullets and fire. 

On Sept. 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was assassinated. Kirk was a right-wing political activist known for his presence on college campuses across the nation. Kirk’s open debate forum, Turning Point USA, was rooted in the slogan “Prove Me Wrong,” which aimed to create a space for students to have uncomfortable conversations with individuals they disagree with. Whether or not you subscribe to his values and rhetoric, he created a platform that resonated with a large portion of the young generation of voters. 

Young Voters Need To Have A Political Voice

Political debate for young voters is crucial. It gives space to share opinions, debate, possibly disagree and still recognize what’s important: that we are all Americans. A college campus, filled with diversity of backgrounds, experiences and beliefs, creates a perfect climate to engage with and learn from political debate.

In the 2024 election, the youth voter turnout was 47%, 3% lower than it was in 2020, according to Tufts College. That is less than half of America’s young voters, an alarming statistic for the next generation of policy makers. 

Although Kirk’s beliefs were extremely conservative, his platform for conversation encouraged college students to openly discuss their beliefs and why. Disagreeing with the person you sit next to in class is okay, and having those difficult conversations is extremely beneficial. It allows peers, friends and even strangers to better understand what informs one another’s opinions. 

Being educated is better than being ignorant. 

The Future Of This Country

Today’s students are America’s future, and being able to have political debates at a stage in life where there is time to gain new perspectives is beyond important. In a time when this country seems so set on tearing itself apart, respectful political debate between young voters can lay the groundwork for an era of civil discourse, not political violence. 

Suppressing political debate will only make this country more polarized. Instead, celebrating open conversation on campuses ensures that students are increasingly engaged in their communities. Respectful political debate gives young voters a reason to speak up, listen and become more civically engaged. Not only will young voters be more educated, but they will also care more about what policies affect them personally. 

Today, even as bullets fly and fires rage, words still hold more power. Having tough conversations leaves space to understand the person next to you. There will never be an instance in which every American agrees, and the vast majority of debate topics have no simple solution.

Not only should college campuses be a safe place for students to express their opinions, but they are also a representation of this country. For students at Penn State and Americans alike, understanding doesn’t always mean agreement. Engaging in healthy discourse will help prevent escalating political disagreement from turning into political violence.

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