This Monday, I stood alongside Middlebury College Democrats co-presidents Erik Ghalib ’28.5 and Lucas Basham ’28 and fellow College Republicans leader Ignacio Gamero ’26 as we were recognized for organizing a series of joint meetings between our groups—conversations focused on fostering civil, productive political dialogue that, not long ago, would have felt unlikely on this campus. It’s the kind of dialogue I set out to make possible when I restarted the Middlebury College Republicans (MCR) in 2024 — building space for healthy discourse across differences, grounded in the belief that viewpoint diversity and free expression are fundamental to a liberal arts education.
What led to that moment wasn’t inevitable — and it would certainly take more than restarting a club. There was a clear absence of spaces where students could engage in substantive political discussion across differences. Addressing that began with building a presence that would broaden the range of perspectives on campus. It didn’t take long to see how quickly labels can shape expectations — or how difficult it can be to build something that challenges them. Doing so required becoming comfortable being uncomfortable, but I pushed forward, trusting that the organization would be judged by what it built, not what it was assumed to represent.
I was disappointed when I came to campus and found that free speech and viewpoint diversity were frequently paid lip service but rarely pursued. MCR became an organization focused on strengthening those values in practice. We created an environment where difference is not just expected, but encouraged — and where independent thinking matters more than partisan alignment. Many members, myself included, hold views that do not fit neatly into partisan boxes. What defines MCR is not uniformity, but a shared commitment to respect and civic engagement. Many students who aren’t Republican have remarked that our meetings are the best place to find robust debate on campus.
Responsible political leadership requires a willingness to engage across differences. Too often, we are encouraged to see those we disagree with as threats rather than classmates. I’ve seen firsthand how quickly disagreement can harden into division—and how often outrage is rewarded over understanding.
I’ve found that the most effective way to begin bridging that divide is through conversation. Conversations grounded in genuine engagement were consistently more productive than those grounded in assumptions. I’ve learned that being well-intentioned in creating change is only effective when you do your best to bring others in and work towards a common goal together. Coming together across differences to rally behind shared ideals is a classic American tradition — I’ve been fortunate to share a strong relationship with the College Democrats' leadership, and both the leadership and membership of the clubs frequently attend each other’s meetings.
I’m proud to have organized the five joint Republican-Democrat meetings this school year in tandem with Ignacio Gamero’26 and the co-presidents of the College Democrats, key collaborations that brought together students who might not otherwise have engaged directly. Party affiliation is secondary to something more important — our country and shared humanity. MCR’s mission became more than just balancing political discourse — it became a mission to improve it.
It’s easy to remain in echo chambers that reinforce our own assumptions. In recent years, elite higher education has been criticized for doing just that—and Middlebury is no exception. However, institutions like Middlebury are worth engaging with precisely because of their potential. This experience has reinforced that meaningful change comes from holding institutions accountable instead of writing them off. At their best, they are places where ideas are tested, challenged, and refined through open inquiry — a strong culture of free speech and viewpoint diversity is essential to making this a reality.
Like anything valuable, such a culture requires careful cultivation and, at times, uncomfortable change. Nothing worth having comes easy — active effort from students, faculty, and the administration alike is required. As I’ve written before, the true promise of graduating from Middlebury is the ability to thrive in a diverse and challenging world. I’m proud of what we built and confident in the foundation that remains.
Vermont’s former governor and MCR’s advisor Jim Douglas ’72, reflecting on his time as president of the club when he was a student, opened the first joint meeting with “People didn’t always agree with me, but they never thought that I should not be heard.” This standard is one worth maintaining. I’m happy to report that our school is closer to that standard now than it was in 2024, thanks to students and faculty who are willing to engage across differences. The work is not complete — but the foundation is laid. Thank you for having the conversation — and for continuing it.
