Embracing diversity is promoted on the Cuesta College campus and throughout the student body – undoubtedly, an important concept to ensure all individuals are recognized and supported in the academic environment. Yet, political representation on Cuesta College’s campuses is one area that does not reflect this mission statement. 

The Democrat Club, spearheaded by Student President Mae Rosplock and advised by Political Science Professor Zachary Gass, carries the sole torch on campus for discussing governmental issues and policies – providing a powerful outlet for students with similar views to pursue civic involvement. However, those on the other end of the political spectrum are met only with crickets; no club or resource exists to provide support for them or their ideologies. 

The fact stands that Cuesta, as far as colleges go, is a notoriously small campus. However, is Cuesta truly small enough to excuse its lack of diversity in political representation? 

Despite their prevalence in the media, the political environment encompasses more than just Democrats and Republicans. Environmentalists, conservatives, libertarians, liberals – just to name a few – make up a large portion of views that often aren’t affiliated with the mainstream parties. All seek representation, but most will struggle to find an established community at Cuesta if the beliefs they promote do not align with a Democratic perspective. 

“If a student is politically curious but not Democratic, or not sure what they are, there are not many alternative civic spaces for them right now,” he said. “That is the bigger issue to me. Political diversity is not just about having a Democrat Club and a Republican Club staring at each other from across the quad like tiny campus versions of cable news. It is about giving students multiple ways into civic life.”

The lackluster political representation on campus also extends far beyond inclusivity. While higher education is, at its core, career- and academic-based, students are also exposed to education that teaches what it means to participate in and coexist with others in a democratic society.   

According to research, students who are surrounded by a variety of political perspectives on campus demonstrate greater maturity and tolerance when confronted with opposing viewpoints. Being exposed to diverse beliefs where society, government and policy are concerned also opens up the floor for productive conversation and even the healthy clashing of opinions. 

Though typically viewed as a negative term, debate between students, when done in a productive and respectful manner, more often than not results in either side walking away with greater knowledge, understanding and tolerance of the viewpoint that conflicts with their own.

And yet, all debate and discussion require multiple sides. 

Currently, any Cuesta College student can propose a club idea. This can be done simply by gathering a group of other interested students, finding a Cuesta faculty member to serve as the club’s advisor, and submitting an application form through the college website to have the club approved. Many clubs already exist on campus for students with a variety of interests, from creative writing to aircraft 3D printing.

So why, when we see such diversity of clubs in other creative areas, do we not experience the same in politics?

Of course, student engagement and willingness to participate are key factors in helping political diversity flourish. However, Gass described a dilemma that every college-goer attending Cuesta and beyond likely shares: “Political participation is costly,” he said. “Not just financially, though that can be true too, but in the trade-off sense. Students are busy. Many are going to school full-time, working odd hours, commuting, navigating adulthood, helping family, or all of the above. Politics has to compete with real life, and real life is undefeated.”

This is not to say that students lack interest in the political landscape. According to a CIRCLE poll, more than 76% of young adults aged 18 to 29 believe they can inspire change in society if given an opportunity or time to prioritize a political commitment. A student schedule packed to the brim is something we can all undoubtedly relate to, making it difficult to pursue other passions and activities beyond our studies. 

Regardless, Gass states that, above all, he hopes to see more outlets for civic engagement and participation on Cuesta’s campus. “I would like to see more political opportunities: more invitations, more access points and more spaces where students can discover that politics is not just something happening somewhere else,” he said. “It is something they can enter.” 

His perspective is one I wholeheartedly agree with: politics is now, always closer and more relevant than we think, and requires a variety of efforts to ensure every facet of today’s most controversial opinions is discussed or advocated for.  Perhaps it is only then that our campus can hope to achieve a more diverse, colorful and representative political voice.

Editor’s Note: Democratic Club Student President Mae Rosplock’s name was misspelled in an earlier version of this story. The spelling has been corrected. The Cuestonian regrets the error.