Political Speech and the Public Square speaker series begins

Students and faculty gathered on the Diag to speak to passersby about issues related to environmental policy Tuesday as part of the Political Speech and the Public Square speaker series. The event is the first of four hosted by the Faculty Senate Office; Year of Democracy; Civic Empowerment, and Global Engagement; the Michigan in Washington Program; and the Ginsberg Center. For the next three Tuesdays, similar events will be held on the Diag, each focusing on different political topics.

Pauline Jones, event co-coordinator and director of the MIW Program, said the event was organized to prompt members of the University of Michigan community to engage in constructive political conversation, in an interview with The Michigan Daily. 

“We wanted to show that political speech and activism on the Diag are a normal, constructive, productive and positive way of communication on campus,” Jones said. “We are trying to bring our community into conversation and give people a space where they can both hear views that they may disagree with and may make them uncomfortable but also express their own views.”

Jones said that the event is being held in hopes of raising awareness about the upcoming elections.

“This is also connected to the elections and wanting particularly students, but also staff, to be aware that this is an election year,” Jones said. “We’re just hoping that it will stimulate students to think about and ask and talk about the issues that matter to them when it comes to these elections.”

Speakers were given two minutes for their speech. Samuel Stolper, assistant professor in the School for Environment and Sustainability, gave a speech on President Joe Biden’s actions concerning climate change.

“The current administration has made major strides, unprecedented legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, which sets ambitious goals for directing the benefits of federal investments to disadvantaged communities and policy design aimed at improving access to clean energy and environments,” Stolper said. “There is so much to be done to further remove barriers to environmental quality, affordable energy and, perhaps most importantly, having a say in the process of identifying and addressing problems we have.”

Stopler described how this short format forced him to choose what topics he most valued in an interview with The Daily following his speech.

“I appreciate (the format) because it forces you to boil down your thoughts to fit that time,” Stopler said. 

Business junior Ella Kaplan and LSA junior Leah Malech gave a speech together on environmental policy and business. Kaplan told The Daily she wants to encourage her fellow students to educate themselves on how climate policy has a role in the election.

“This (election) is really a chance for our generation and our campus to show up to the polls,” Kaplan said. “I think it’s important now more than ever to emphasize why you should be going to the polls, why you should be voting, and to really understand what the policies are. There is a drastic difference in environmental and climate policy (between political candidates), and that’s ultimately why we’re here today.”

According to Jones, the theme of environmental policy was chosen to promote civil debate. 

“There are different opinions and different perspectives, and that’s great,” Jones said. “We want those to be expressed on the public square, but it’s not as polarizing as some other issues that you could probably think of yourself.”

LSA freshman Emily Turvey, who attended the event, told The Daily that listening to the speeches allowed her to better understand her own role in politics.

“It made me really eager to get registered and to vote in the upcoming election.” Turvey said.  “(The event) made me realize how much power my vote does have and my voice does have.”

Daily Staff Reporter Evangeline Doolittle can be reached at evangedo@umich.edu.

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