Campus will co-host Steamboat Institute’s Campus Liberty Tour Debate Series
Colorado Mesa University’s ongoing effort to create hands-on civic engagement opportunities for students and the community will include a policy debate on Wednesday, July 10 from 5:30 to 7:00pm in the Meyer Ball Room. The debate is part of the Steamboat Institute’s Campus Liberty Tour and is titled How Should We Elect Our President?
The debate is open to the public and will be moderated by Jay Seaton, Publisher of the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.
“CMU is committed to forming partnerships that engage students and the community in policy discussions that shape the future of civil society and democracy,” said CMU President Tim Foster. “Institutions like the Electoral College fall into that space and we are excited to provide this debate in conjunction with the Steamboat Institute.”
The debate will feature the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs Executive Director Trent England and Ted Trimpa, CEO of The Trimpa Group, LLC –a political consulting firm with offices in Denver and Washington D.C.
In 2019 the Colorado Legislature passed legislation allocating Colorado’s electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. The legislation has implications for the future of the executive branch of government in the United States. Providing thoughtful public dialogue in relation to modification of the Electoral College is the purpose of the debate.
Jennifer Schubert-Akin, CEO and Co-Founder of the Steamboat Institute believes for democracy to thrive, policy discussion and policy making must go beyond the confines of soundbites and simplistic ideologies.
“Our desire for this debate at CMU is that people from a diverse of political perspectives attend and engage,” said Schubert-Akin. “When Americans challenge each other’s perspectives, we by default celebrate democracy and learn from one another about how today’s decisions affect the future.”
In 2018 the CMU Civic Forum showcased civic engagement opportunities including hosting the U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit and the forum held for the first time a statewide gubernatorial debate produced by CMU students in partnership with Rocky Mountain PBS. In addition to the court of appeals visit, and the gubernatorial debate, the CMU Civic Forum invited a number of national speakers, civil rights leaders, policy makers, elected officials and guest lecturers. In 2019, the Civic Forum initiative hosted Equity Project civil rights leader Nita Mosby Tyler and coordinated the CMU annual Holocaust Awareness Series.
The Electoral College debate is slated as part of the Steamboat Institutes’ Campus Liberty Tour that includes a series of debates meant to educate people on both sides of timey policy discussions.
Community members interested in attending the debate should register by clicking here.