While members of Young Americans for Freedom and the Revolutionary Communists of America might share opposing views, one thing they agree on is sharing an adult beverage.
That is the plan after the two groups tangle in a “Capitalism vs. Communism” debate at 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 1, in the Iowa Memorial Union’s Richey Ballroom.
Organized by the University of Iowa Chapter of BridgeUSA, the three student organizations aim to bridge the “great divide” by empowering the student body to “engage in constructive dialogue to improve the quality of politics.”
BridgeUSA is a national “multi-partisan” student organization founded on the UC Berkeley campus in 2017. The organization’s nationwide mission is to work “toward a better kind of politics” at college and university campuses.
Bringing opposing views together on the UI campus
University of Iowa BridgeUSA president, Kasey Ludlow, is a junior studying economics and finance. He joined the organization after feeling “politically homeless.” His main goal as president is to bring opposing groups together for a debate.
“Bridge is about getting people who disagree in the same room to have conversations in a respectful manner,” Ludlow said. “We want people to come and talk, and that’s why we are doing this, because we want people to understand this and understand that it is okay to be friends and have a drink after [in the era of political polarization].”
Ludlow credits the political polarization of college students to social media, but views the capitalism vs. communism debate as an opportunity to embolden free speech among students.
He met with the local Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) and Revolutionary Communists of America chapters separately in February, and then met with them together a few weeks later. Each group is excited to share its viewpoints with a broad audience.
“It is not to convince the other person, but to help them understand,” Ludlow said. “I’m excited that these two groups were excited to do it. It is a great opportunity to showcase how students at the University of Iowa feel about things versus the national perspective.”
Young Americans for Freedom is a conservative student group
The UI’s Young Americans for Freedom chapter has hosted several notable conservatives in the last several years. They brought in well-known conservative Matt Walsh, Chloe Cole and Vince Everett Ellison as well as former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Paula Scanlan. Walsh’s appearance in April 2023, in which he also screened the “What is a Woman” documentary, drew hundreds of protesters.
YAF member Colin Peterson, a senior studying finance, is one of Wednesday’s debaters. He says the event will “lessen the cognitive dissonance on campus,” especially regarding opposing viewpoints, citing a few instances in 2025 when YAF event posters were vandalized and tables were flipped.
“I think the rhetoric is getting to a place where it is very hard and problematic. Having this opportunity to debate the organization, which we obviously have very little in common, and disagree on a lot, it’s a good opportunity to bridge the divide,” Peterson said.
A UI student debate in three parts
Wednesday’s debate will have three different sections. Each side will have three panelists, along with two moderators from the BridgeUSA chapter.
The debate will begin with introductions, followed by questions prepared by the moderators. A cross-examination section will follow, addressing additional questions about each student’s beliefs, allowing time for rebuttal.
The final portion of the debate will be for audience questions.
“Respectful and on topic” questions must be submitted at a table before the debate and will be randomly selected.
Who are the Revolutionary Communists of America?
Like BridgeUSA and YAF, the Revolutionary Communists of America is a national organization, a party fighting to mobilize the working class to “tackle the capitalist roots of war, inequality, oppression, and climate catastrophe.”
The local “Communists at Iowa” chapter is relatively new on the UI campus, debuting at the start of the school year with 10 members.
First-year student Jonah Cornelisse, who is studying international studies and pre-law, helped found the local chapter and will debate on Wednesday. He views the event as an opportunity to practice public speaking, articulate ideas, and connect with others who share similar beliefs. He hopes to provide clarity for both economic systems.
“A big thing we prioritize is that if we’re going to have a preference for communism, and we’re going to have a critique of capitalism, we need to understand the positions of both of those very deeply,” Cornelisse said. “I’m sure if you were to poll the audience, very few would be able to give a confident definition of both. Something we intend to do is go through and debate and reach some consensus on.”
Doors open at 6 p.m. for the “Capitalism vs. Communism” debate. The event is free and open to the public.
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: UI capitalist and communist groups ready for debate. What to know:
Reporting by Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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