Students with opposing political views come together in the Political Science Club to discuss current affairs and plan events to inspire others to pay more attention to politics.

The club wants to raise political awareness, get students involved in politics and raise awareness of the many opinions people have, President Alexandra Stephens said.

The club has about 15 active members and meets once a week with adviser and Political Science instructor Joseph Martorana.

At the meetings, members discuss current events and ask the adviser about things they need further explanation on. They plan events and discuss how to reach out to students.

Member Tom Smith said most political viewpoints are represented in the club with democrats, republicans, libertarians and independents working together.

There’s lot of mutual respect in the club and it’s good to practice to discuss with people you don’t agree with, Stephens said.

“For students who want a career in politics, it’s good to know how to debate without loosing your head,” she said. “The health care debate has been a big thing.”

The week before the Mayor and City Council election, the club organized a forum where local politicians running for office held a panel to inform the students.

“It was our most crucial event of the year,” Martorana said.

The club works to inform students about why it’s important to engage in politics. “Often people don’t really think about politics even though it’s there every day,” Stephens said.

The most important thing is to vote and we want students to know that, she said. “Young people tend to think that their vote doesn’t matter which is wrong.”

Stephens thinks it’s important that students talk about politics with friends and teachers, not only their parents.

Smith said adviser Martorana wants them to think critically about what he says and what the parents say, and question everything before buying it.

To reach out to other students the club has – in addition to hosting the election forum – had political articles on display for students to read on Club Day. They have also shown political movies in the Student Services building.

“I think we should have more events,” member Charley Kausen said. He and other members have been mulling ideas for more club events.

Members also have different aspirations for the future.

“I want to learn more about the political process and maybe be a campaign manager for candidates,” Secretary Dane Larson said.

“I plan on going to Law school,” Ian Cogswell said.

Stephens started taking Political Science 101 and realized she wanted to change her major from social welfare to political science. “Now I want to go to law school,” she said.

As a last event for the semester, the club plans on showing a political movie in November, but hasn’t decided on a date and movie yet.

“It’s probably going to be something about sustainability and environmentalism,” Stephens said.

To make it easier for other students to find the club, a Facebook page was created that Larson oversees.

The club currently lacks active international students as members, something Stephens would like to change.

“I’d love to have people from other countries join the club,” she said.

The Political Science club meets every Thursday at 2.15pm in the cafeteria on East Campus. Students who want to join do not have to be political science majors and can simply come to a meeting to introduce them.