Maddie Colbert ’26 became aware of intense political polarization within the United States during the 2016 presidential election, finding discussions to be more about candidates’ personal traits than the issues at hand. Now a proud resident of Lyons Hall, the global affairs and theology major sought out a space to have a peaceful, nuanced conversation that emphasized understanding over simple debate.

Cade Czarnecki ’26 followed a similar path, recognizing the need for multiparty forums, especially in the social environment of a college campus. Upon enrolling at Notre Dame, the Fisher Hall resident looked to use his political science and economics majors to foster multipartisanship in his new community.

Now, together, Colbert and Czarnecki serve as the presidents of BridgeND, the Notre Dame chapter of BridgeUSA that fosters productive and civil conversations on current political issues across party lines. In their bi-weekly meetings, the club gathers for a short presentation by a board member about a political topic and then discusses the topic in small groups that consist of members with beliefs across the political spectrum. Their annual event, ConvergeND, pairs students with peers across the political divide to have a fruitful one-on-one conversation about their respective political beliefs. Supplemented by guest speakers and discussion guides, ConvergeND is one of the highlights of BridgeND’sprogramming, say Colbert and Czarnecki.

With the 2024 presidential election quickly approaching, Colbert and Czarnecki agree that respectful political discourse is more important than ever. Czarnecki describes civil political discussion as “the very core of American democracy,” which “does not function if the people cannot have their voice heard and have an equitable consensus be arrived at.” Colbert adds that holding these difficult conversations in a respectful manner facilitates progress in building real solutions.

When it comes to disagreement in political discussion, Colbert’s advice is to “...[S]tart with listening to listen rather than to respond,” as it “sets the right tone for the conversation.” After this, she recommends asking questions to understand the roots of disagreement, as the topics themselves are more important than their party affiliations. In fact, Czarnecki states that this crucial step is the beginning of finding common ground among all parts of the political spectrum.

For this year’s Notre Dame Forum, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., asks “What Do We Owe Each Other?” Each year, the forum invites campus-wide dialogue about issues of importance to the University, the nation, and the larger world. Colbert and Czarnecki say that BridgeND’s mission aligns well with the theme and offers a potential answer. According to Czarnecki, members of “the broader campus community owe each other the respect of closing their mouths and opening their ears” when it comes to political discourse since everyone has a unique voice to share. Colbert replies with a similar sentiment: “The reality is that we are all part of one human family and our country’s public policy should reflect the desire to care for every member of our community, despite disagreements about how to do so.”

Learn More

• Notre Dame Democracy Initiative
• A Q&A with Chemistry Major Zachary Koh '26 on Pursuing Undergraduate Research at Notre Dame
• Economics Major Abbey Donahue '25 on her Research of Poverty Solutions in Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities