The RD Seal
As more students join River Dell High School’s Political Club, the officers work harder to bridge the gap of political extremism.
No one on social media is safe from political discourse these days. From democrats to republicans, the loud and in-your-face debates cannot be ignored. Everyone is reposting, liking, and commenting on politics. While this does affect the broader communities and the United States as a whole, the discourse also has a profound impact on our own River Dell community.
Run by Mrs. Lauterhahn and its presidents, Katelyn Nippes and Robert Belson, RDHS’s Political Club provides a safe space for students to respectfully debate current events and political actions. The teacher advisor, Mrs. Lauterhahn, spoke about the benefits of having such a club at our school, stating “Students are free (of course using appropriate educational boundaries) to share their opinions, thoughts and ideas with others.”
The format of this club has not changed, however coming off an election year, the presidents were expecting the number of people to sign up for the club to decrease, as no national election would be taking place, nor could any seniors take part in any political processes besides local elections such as the gubernatorial election taking place this November.
The number of people, this year, that have signed up for The Political Club nearly doubled, skyrocketing from about 30 people to 56. While this came as a shock, there does seem to be an obvious reason for it: the political rhetoric that contributes to the political polarization and social divides in the country. With the clear divisions on social media, the students are joining the political club to debate these issues and gain a more clear understanding of the government and general political atmosphere.
While political discourse and partisan divides are nothing new in the United States, the emotions, escalation, and extremism of these arguments and actions have been especially significant and relevant to the people of the United States. The River Dell community could certainly feel and see its effects. From the murders of Charlie Kirk to the shooting of the Democratic Senator from Minnesota, John Hoffman, a morbid trend of political violence has been revealed.
The River Dell High School political club is an effective method to bridge the gap between students with disparate stances and promote education and understanding on all sides of the political spectrum.
As the Co-President of the club, Robert Belson, pointed out, “Students can talk about politics, educate themselves, and be exposed to new and differing opinions. This can help spread diversity of thought and allow for civil discourse and discussion with those whom we disagree with.”