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Frankly, Isha Parkhi ’21 was there partly for the food, but she was looking also for more than good Indian take-out at her first meeting of a new student group called Bridge. Its ambitious mission is to foster dialogue across political differences. “That’s a great concept, and we need more conversations,” Parkhi says.

The College has received funding to supplement the series by stimulating discussion of pressing social issues across a wide range of subject areas.

Hamilton community members were transported across party lines on April 11 as Jim Messina, former Deputy Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama, and Reince Priebus, former Chief of Staff to President Donald Trump, engaged in a dialogue surrounding some of the country’s most pressing issues. The event was moderated by Jackie Judd P’14, a veteran journalist and political communications consultant.

Prior to their Common Ground discussion on April 11, Reince Priebus and Jim Messina held a Q&A with Hamilton students. Two government classes were selected to participate in the event. Reince Priebus previously served as chief of staff to President Trump and chair of the Republican National Committee. Jim Messina was the former deputy chief of staff and campaign manager to President Obama.

Jackie Judd, a lifelong journalist who reported for ABC News, NPR, and most recently the PBS NewsHour, will moderate the next installment of Hamilton College’s Common Ground series on Thursday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Margaret Bundy Scott Field House.

Hamilton is working with public radio's StoryCorps on a new initiative, One Small Step, to solicit community members in the Mohawk Valley and Hamilton students who hold opposing views to participate in a one-hour, facilitated, and recorded conversation to get to know each other a bit as people.

Mark Elias '90, who served as general counsel for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, and Mike Dubke '92, former White House communications director in the Trump administration, engaged in an effort to respond to the increasing political polarization in the country.

Two Hamilton alumni — both highly regarded Washington insiders — will offer their perspectives on bridging the country’s current deep political divide facing the United States and the upcoming midterm elections, among other topics, during a live Q&A on Hamilton’s campus next Saturday, Oct. 27, at 10:30 a.m.

The Levitt Public Affairs Center’s Freedom of Expression Research Group is exploring the policies of institutions across the country including Hamilton's 1967 policy in order to make recommendations for revision.

On the brink of possible U.S. airstrikes in Syria, and a summit meeting with North Korea, the discussion between Susan Rice, former U.S. ambassador to the UN and national security advisor to President Obama, and Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State and national security advisor to President George W. Bush was particularly relevant on April 11.