Let's talk politics / LJWorld.com

Many adults could learn something from Free State High School students when it comes to talking politics. While ranting and vituperation may pass for political discussion on cable news stations, the students in Free State's Social and Political Awareness Club discuss politics in order to learn from one another about issues.

The group meets Wednesdays after school to discuss topics such as the accuracy of recent political polls, the reliability of electronic voting machines, and of course, the presidential debates that took place in September and October.

These were just some of the topics the club members discussed at a recent meeting.

Junior Laura Kelly, the club's president, said, "The point of the club is for people to be able to come and talk about what's on their minds."

Tiffany Kwak, a junior and a vice president of the Social and Political Awareness Club, said, "We don't advocate for one party or another, and there haven't really been many heated arguments."

That might be partly because Democrats far outnumber Republicans. Out of about 20 students at the meeting, two said they were Republican.

One of the two, John Murray, a sophomore, said he didn't like to argue.

"But I sometimes get mad when I argue with my friends," he said. "They're all liberals."

Fellow Republican Nicolle Wilson, a junior, said, "My most important issue is homeland security. If we can't protect ourselves, then none of the other issues matter."

"One of the club's goals is to get a wider range of people from different political affiliations," Kelly said.

Free State High School students discuss political parties during the school's Social and Political Awareness Club meeting. The students are, from left, Dan Smith, junior; Dan Stemmerman, sophomore; Laura Kelly, junior; Lauren Bornstein, senior; Dwayne LaForce, sophomore; Christie Swarm, junior; Caitlin Head, sophomore; and Emily Knight, junior.

Club member Joel Brummett, a junior, agreed with her. "SPAC is really cooperative," he said. "The idea is not to be brainwashed."

Jason Pendleton, U.S. government teacher and sponsor of the club, said more sophomores and juniors were involved in the club this year, and "they're more fervent about politics," to which he attributed the war in Iraq.

The Social and Political Awareness Club does more than just discuss politics. In efforts to register voters, the group has set up a table in the school cafeteria during lunch, and members stood outside the stadium during football games with voter registration forms.

As for regular meetings, there are no formal rules, Kwak said. "It usually ends up free-form," she said.

The advantages of the club's informal atmosphere could be seen in the Sept. 29 meeting, when Emily McEnroe, senior, came to the defense of the Electoral College in the course of a lively discussion on its merits. Dissatisfied with her own explanation, McEnroe left to find a teacher who could clarify what many people find a confusing topic. Minutes later, McEnroe returned with Kelly Barker, teacher of comparative international politics and U.S. politics. Barker held forth for several minutes on the logic, advantages and disadvantages of the national electoral system. Students listened attentively and asked questions throughout the impromptu lecture.

Afterward, Barker said, "I've always felt that kids are more politically active than people give them credit for. Since 9-11, kids have taken it more seriously, and this election has really got them interested."