Are Denisonians in a Political Bubble

By Miles D. Williams and Paul A. Djupe – WE ARE DPR College students often get knocked for being out of touch, isolated on their pretty campuses inside a political bubble only talking with people who agree with them. Some students claim to be in a bubble themselves and that it needs to be popped….

Do Denisonians think the United States is becoming less democratic?

By Will Duquette It is no secret that the United States of America is becoming increasingly polarized, which presents all sorts of problems for the political process – engendering hate, undermining compromise, and encouraging people to skirt processes that might benefit the other side. Given this, we thought it prudent to analyze the thoughts of…

Are there Partisan Rebels Anymore? Whither Alex P. Keaton

By Paul A. Djupe A hundred years ago in the 1980s, Alex P. Keaton was the Wall Street-worshipping, Republican child of reformed hippies on the sitcom Family Ties. Played by Michael J. Fox, Alex was a mystery to his parents – where did he come from? But the 1980s were a different time, when partisan…

Denisonians Are Divided over Economics, Politics, and the US Itself

By Max Dehon Both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders offer unique critiques of the United States from their ends of the political spectrum. President Trump emboldens the idea of capitalism at the core of the United States, whereas Bernie Sanders is a self-proclaimed socialist. How do Denison students feel about these economic models and how…

Partisan Polarization on Campus Too?

By Paul A. Djupe A defining feature of American politics is the deep animosity partisans have for those of the other party. They don’t like each other, they won’t date each other, and they’d be unhappy if their offspring married someone with another party affiliation. Recent research, however, questions some of these findings, suggesting that…

Do Denisonians Value Democracy Over Party?

By Eizo Lang-Ezekiel The death of democracy does not always occur with a coup d’état or a revolution. Instead, it often decays one small step at a time, with gradual norm breaking by politicians while people stay passive or even supportive.[1] Democracy has weakened in many countries, such as in Turkey, Hungary and Brazil, but…

Democrats and Republicans Disagree About A Lot More Than Just Trump

By Oliver Gladfelter Because Denison is a residential campus, we spend the vast majority of four years in close proximity to one another, creating an abundance of opportunities to develop relationships that will provide support, cultivate learning, and promote growth. Yet relationships do not always entail admiration and fondness – some that we learn and…

Advice For Holiday Harmony: Debate, Denison Style

By Eric Buehler and Paul A. Djupe Winter break is upon us and with it the risk of political debate with relatives, be it your uncle, who is convinced the government is trying to take his guns, or your vegan cousin, who insists on the curative properties of Bragg’s Liquid Aminos. We’re aware of this…