The Kennesaw State Political Science club is a bi-partisan student collective that aims to give students opportunities to become politically active and involved at KSU.
Meeting every other Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Social Sciences building on the Kennesaw campus, Political Science Club members deliberate on how best to drive student involvement in politics. A typical club meeting consists of a group discussion about recent news, political event recaps, goal setting and plan-of-action implementing.
The club’s current goal is to foster student interest in politics even though the presidential election has passed. Last spring, members held a “Three Months of Trump” event that brought several KSU professors together to dissect the first 90 days of the Trump administration and how it aligned with President Donald Trump’s 100-day plan. The event allowed KSU professors that professionally analyze political discourse to honestly voice their opinions in front of an audience of students.
“Politics affects everyone, so we welcome students of all majors,” said Mikayla Moreau, club president and a junior at KSU. “Politics is most effective at the local level, so we hope to serve our community through volunteerism and by engaging in local politics. I believe that politics should not fall into the shadows of our everyday routines.”
Throughout the Trump administration, the club has pursued its focus on politics and not just the leaders that are involved in said politics. The club keeps its momentum going by locating opportunities for members to gain beneficial experiences, such as campus events and peer discussions.
Alongside events featuring professors from KSU, the club also hosts student-led discussions regarding presidential candidates and the important decisions that government officials make daily.
“By allowing open dialogue, one day we’ll get to a point where politics doesn’t have to be a fight between friends, family and strangers,” Moreau said. “It won’t seem like a scary subject. If you want to affect change you have to start getting involved and speaking up. That is the goal of the Political Science club on the KSU campus.”
Dr. Andrew Pieper, political science club coordinator and an associate professor of political science, helped start the club in fall 2016. Since then, the club has maintained traction.
“I recently had a conversation with one of the current members, Sydney Palmer, who said that, although she is not a political science major, she wanted to be involved in a club that allowed her to be around people who don’t always see things the way she does,” Moreau said. “She wanted to get out of her bubble of like-minded people.
“I believe that sums up exactly what makes this club different than other clubs. We have one common interest, politics, but we are so diverse in how we view it,” Moreau continued.
The Political Science Club is open to all students, and students can inquire about getting involved by contacting Moreau at mmoreau3@students.kennesaw.edu.
