“To see it in my own friend group is disheartening,” Connor said, adding that he was taking a political science class that discussed echo chambers, where he learned that his generation was becoming more polarized online.

“I tried to find a space on campus where this existed, and I came up short, so I decided to create my own one where anyone can just come together,” he said.

Connor wanted to create a conversational space to talk about politics and world issues, without the pressure of people-pleasing. The group's meetings are held at Bessey Hall. He said friendships have been created out of the group, and he even made friends with people he disagreed with.

Idia Obayagbona, the secretary of MSU Middle Ground, said, “I think it’s really important to acknowledge the different perspectives within the country. In this era of extreme political polarization, it’s important to have a place where you can come together and still be civil.”

Connor said, “The goal isn’t to change each other’s minds, but to get an understanding and maybe find some middle ground where, okay, we might not agree on the solution, but we do agree on what we want to see compared to what needs to be changed."

The group “creates a human aspect that the people that you may disagree with politically are still human beings,” he said. “They deserve the exact same respect as people on your side, and we should be able to talk to them and listen to them.”

Connor is the lead mediator, and the group’s constitution lays out acceptable behavior, such as no interrupting and no hurtful language. If anyone breaks the rule, he asks them to leave or take a break. Luckily, everyone has acted in accordance with the rules. Even so, the members are the driving force behind the conversations, Connor said. 

Shayna Mouradian, an active member of MSU Middle Ground, heard about the club through her friends who share similar ideas to hers.

“When you’re talking about politically charged topics, there’s gonna be a debate and I like that Middle Ground gives me a place where I can do it in like a healthy way,” she said.

Mouradian reminds herself to listen to others and that everybody doesn’t share the same opinion, which she said she sometimes finds it hard to remember. The club has helped her foster a larger sense of understanding and an ability to debate with people in a respectful manner.

“It was nice to hear people that don’t think the same as me, their opinions, what they think and also how they think,” she said.

According to Connor, some of the “best” conversations have been about religion and theology. The religious make-up of the group is mostly Catholic, with some Jewish, Muslim, Agnostic and Atheist students.

“If you’re a Catholic, and you go to bible studies and stuff like that, you’re not gonna hear what an agnostic thinks, and they’re probably not gonna be outspoken about it,” he said.

He said he found the meeting interesting to hear about the foundations of other religions, why people don’t believe in God and why people don’t subscribe to mainstream religions.

Some meetings start out apprehensively, but Connor reminds members that it’s okay to come and listen.

“You start to see those people who are a little more quiet start to share, and it’s really cool to see that. It’s just all about creating a welcoming environment, so everyone feels respected, and so they can really share how they feel, in a respectful manner, of course,” he said.

“We’re pretty much free to speak our minds; most people keep it really respectful,” Mouradian said. She said Middle Ground honors that by hosting moderated discussions where she isn’t afraid to speak.

“I feel like that really encapsulates what America was founded on,” Mouradian said.

At the end of meetings, members are asked in a group chat if there are topics they’d like to discuss. If nothing comes up, Connor looks through the news to find topics and asks for feedback.

“Even if you’re not politically active, staying informed on the different sides to a debate and why one side thinks one way and why the other side thinks the other is especially important,” Mouradian said.

More information about MSU Middle Ground can be found on their Instagram.