By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
Fort Hays State University's Pi Sigma Alpha organized a political showdown featuring two student-led political groups.
The fifth-annual debate between the FHSU College Republicans and FHSU Young Democrats on Tuesday at the Memorial Union addressed foreign policy, abortion, immigration, gun control and climate change.
Each team had one minute to respond to the same pre-written question. Teams were allowed one 30-second rebuttal per question.
Isaac Hargett, Genesis Wilson, Sarah Braun, and Lily Nash represented the FHSU Young Democrats, and Jackson Sinsel, Mickey Mason, and Hazel Frans represented the FHSU College Republicans.
The College Republicans introduced themselves and said their commitment is upholding the Constitution while promoting economic freedom through conservative principles.
The Young Democrats introduced themselves and said their commitment is to equal opportunities for all individuals while recognizing the progress achieved during President Joe Biden's administration.
Foreign Policy
The Young Democrats' position on foreign policy and what they called rising authoritarianism is that it is essential to support allies, particularly against Russia and China. Hargett said Trump has fallen short in this regard.
"America needs to push back on that," Hargett said. "What we need to do is impose our own strong diplomacy with the support of their enemies."
Sinsel agreed to support allies abroad, such as Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel but said there is a need for transparency regarding aid.
"If we're going to support those countries, we'd like to know where that aid is going and how it's being used," he said.
Wilson said the America first movement does not aid diplomacy abroad or combat the spread of authoritarianism, saying there is transparency in using aid.
"We give older weapons to them that America is no longer using. This also helps us see how our weapons of war are working," she said.
Mason said that although supplying older weapons is a point of discussion, issuing "blank checks" requires transparency.
Abortion
Frans of the College Republicans said restricting insurance coverage for abortion services based on personal beliefs is protected by the First Amendment rights.
"What comes to mind is a Catholic institution if they are hiring and supporting these individuals. It is against Catholic morals to support abortion," she said.
Nash of the Young Democrats said employers' women are still going to seek abortions even if there are restrictions on health care access or if abortions are illegal.
"Catholic people are not the only people who are employing others. It is incredibly important to make abortion safe and readily available," Nash said.
Nash mentioned the case of Amber Nicole Thurman, who passed away after taking abortion pills in Georgia, where laws prohibit the procedure after roughly six weeks.
Frans of the College Republicans said Thurman's tragic case resulted from taking two pills as well as not receiving a procedure to remove tissue from her uterus.
"This is due to abortion laws being very vague. If there are going to be abortion laws, they need to be simple enough for everyone to understand them and so that doctors do not hesitate to provide care in terms of the life of the mother," Frans said.
Wilson of the Young Democrats added that millions of Americans depend on job-related health care, and being denied an abortion based on personal views could also result in the denial of other essential medical care.
Immigration
The Young Democrats said utilizing military resources for border and immigration is necessary during times of crisis. However, it should not be used for mass deportations and must be implemented humanely.
"Having the military at the border at times is super helpful for our country and helps us not become a failing country," Wilson of the Young Democrats said. "We should not use it to cage people, separate people from their families and children from their mothers."
Mason of the College Republicans said the border should be well-structured, and the military is commonly used to combat cartels.
"Anytime that there are military weapons used by the other side, our people need to be able to act effectively against that," he said.
Wilson of the Young Democrats agreed military use is appropriate in that situation but said Republicans, including Donald Trump, seek to use the military for mass deportations.
"We agree with [College Republicans], but the plan actual Republicans in Congress have do not align with that," she said.
Sinsel of the College Republicans said although deportation may cost millions of dollars, the primary focus should be on securing the border and dismantling cartels and trafficking rings.
Guns
Sinsel said the College Republicans' position on mental health relating to guns varies, but they do support common-sense gun restrictions.
Frans of the College Republicans said removing firearms from individuals with mental health issues would not stop them from inflicting harm.
"If they want to hurt somebody, they will use whatever they can. Gun violence is awful, but taking guns away will not stop all violence," she said.
Braun said the Young Democrats all agree guns should not be confiscated, but there should be laws in place to prevent more significant harm.
"People with mental health issues who want to hurt others will continue to hurt people, but they can hurt a lot fewer people with a knife than they can with a very large gun," Braun said.
Wilson said Democrats support the Affordable Care Act, while Trump and other Republicans advocate for its repeal, emphasizing that it helps Americans access mental health resources.
Climate Change
Braun of the Young Democrats said the government should start enacting legislation to reduce carbon emissions, warning that we are five years away from a point of no return.
"A way we can do this that won't harm citizens or impact their lives is the Inflation Reduction Act," she said. "Biden had a part in it that allowed for tax credits that would reduce the amount of money people owed if they invested in renewable energy."
Frans of the College Republicans said she does not necessarily support government regulations and would prefer to see governments invest in their own clean, renewable resources.
"This can be something that the government takes charge of as an example rather than being hypocritical and using their own nonrenewable energy," Frans said.
Hargett of the Young Democrats said the lack of regulation in energy sectors can become harmful, as the low costs of oil and gas for companies negatively impact the economy.
"It's not the state doing it. It's the companies causing that change in the climate we're seeing," he said.
Frans of the College Republicans said the government funds most scientific research and can develop methods to reduce costs and enhance the efficiency of renewable energy, which can be shared with American companies and businesses.
Audience members also had the opportunity to ask both teams questions.
Department of Education
The College Republicans said they favor reducing the Department of Education's involvement instead of abolishing it, as Trump has advocated. They also said they support school choice and believe states should determine how to manage their education systems.
The Young Democrats said they opposed abolishing the Department of Education, arguing it could eliminate essential programs like FAFSA. They also stated that school choice leads to the defunding of already struggling public schools.
Inflation
The Young Democrats said inflation is stabilizing and not at the same level as last year, with wages outpacing it. They attribute rising wages and grocery costs to corporate greed and say Vice President Kamala Harris has a plan to prevent companies from engaging in price gouging.
The College Republicans said gas and grocery prices are high. They questioned why Harris had not implemented a plan to address inflation, considering her position and close relationship with the Biden administration.
Legalizing marijuana
The College Republicans said they support legalizing marijuana for taxation purposes to fund roads and education but have skepticism, noting that Colorado had similar intentions. Yet, the results do not reflect that success.
The Young Democrats said they advocate for the decriminalization of marijuana to support marginalized communities rather than legalization, as they are also skeptical about the effectiveness of tax revenue and its allocation for infrastructure.
Extremism
The Young Democrats said extremism exists in both parties, highlighting that far-right extremism is a danger to society. They cite groups like the Proud Boys and the KKK, which they say emerge in local communities due to a lack of political dialogue.
The College Republicans said both parties exhibit tendencies toward extremism but say that such extremism is more prevalent in national politics rather than at the local level while still condemning it regardless.
Both student organizations said voting is a powerful means for change and an opportunity for students to influence their futures and the policies that impact their lives.
The attendance in the Cody Commons room at the Memorial Union was roughly half of its maximum capacity.
You can follow FHSU College Republicans and Young Democrats on Instagram.
