College Students Working to Promote Civil Discourse Rather Than Heated Debate

Bridging the Divide, Think Again UVA, and similar campus organizations want students to find common ground, not win an argument.

Students hold a discussion at a Bridging the Divide event held at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, on April 30, 2026. Daniel Kramer for The Epoch Times

OSHKOSH, Wis.—At first blush, the gathering in Room 212 of the Reeve Memorial Union on the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh campus looks like any student activity. Students sit around tables in deep discussion. Several pizzas and a cooler of soft drinks are laid out buffet-style on a table in the back.

The group of almost 30 students could be a study group, a club meeting, or just friends unwinding after class. But these students are doing more than enjoying pizza and conversation.