It is well understood the underlying presence that politics plays in society due to its extreme polarization and division among average citizens. However in the Political and Legal Issues focus area on Murray campus, students Connor and Hunter describe it as “unifying” and “optimistic”. The unique environment of the GSP provides students with a safe environment that can be clearly seen in the Political and Legal Issues focus area.
On Tuesday, July 15th, students in the focus area became involved in class discussions and debates regarding a future project, where they will collect opinions for a curated questionnaire. Scholars discussed how to word questions together and what is important to ask. Drew Thompson, a GSP staff member for three years, explained how throughout the program, his focus area has discussed fundamental issues and varying branches of government, such as legislative and judicial. Drew also explained that his goal for his students is to have “increase[d] understanding of political and legal issues to improve democratic discourse”. Scholars Sophia and Brady, when asked to summarize their experience with the class in one word, described it as “eye-opening” and “intriguing”. Almost all scholars interviewed expressed varying descriptions of how their focus area allowed them to see the differing perspectives of the political landscape. From the discussion of current events to the organization of the government, the scholars in political and legal issues are always actively engaged in positive discussion.
Differing Perspectives
In addition to an active learning environment, the political and legal issues focus area also has a unique social dynamic. When interviewing Drew, he explains that his 2026 scholars surprised him by becoming “…best friends the first week of the program.” It is undeniable that the community that was built around this focus area only increases the positive learning environment.
When asked about key takeaways from the class, PLI students Hunter and Sofia describe how they will take away skills of healthy communication and broadened perspectives from their PLI class. The political and legal issues focus area is a foundational element to the GSP through its ability to allow students to express their ideas, themselves, and their arguments in a safe place.
