NMU College Democrats, Young Democratic Socialists of America, NMU College Republicans and Turning Point USA members join together to debate about policing issues in America. From left are Andrew Gordon, Shelby Boggs, Mitchell Russelburg, Alex LaPlante, Roman Menhart, Daniel Golding and Marina Curtis. (Courtesy photo)

By ALEXANDRIA

BOURNONVILLE

Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — Different opinions were expressed during a debate on policing in America hosted by the Northern Michigan University College Republicans Thursday on NMU’s campus.

They teamed up with Northern’s Turning Point USA against the NMU College Democrats and the Young Democratic Socialists of America.

The debate was planned and organized mostly by NMU College Republicans President Matthew Schlenkert. Although not directly affiliated with the Communications Department’s Civility Week, it was certainly a peaceful display of a controlled argument between different viewpoints. Both sides did their own research and prepared a list of questions for their opponents. Time was set aside to answer and respond.

Arguing for the right were Roman Menhart, Daniel Golding and Marina Curtis. Representing the NMU Dems were Alec LaPlante and Mitchell Russelburg. For YDSA, participants were Andrew Gordon and Shelby Boggs.

Their conversation began as an acknowledgement from all parties that the police force is a necessary aspect of American society. The disagreement came in when the topics moved to accountability of police officers, systemic racism, funding of law enforcement departments and over-policing of poor neighborhoods.

Even from the start of the debate, it was clear all four groups would have to not only be civil among themselves, but with the other organizations.

When asked if police receive sufficient training, NMU Dems President LaPlante agreed they do, but see themselves as above the law in some places. He suggested they “enforce the law enforcement…to fix what they’re doing on their own.”

Fellow student from the left, YDSA President Andrew Gordon, added, “I’m going to disagree with that … I don’t think police receive enough training. That being said … I think taxpayer funding of education will provide that training and education for the police force…At minimum a four-year degree would be ideal…to become an officer.”

Gordon backed up his viewpoint with the 2013 U.S. Bureau of Justice report that showed one of the lowest training requirements for police officers in the world.

The NMU Republicans stood their ground, defending the current training requirements to make it easier to recruit more officers during the current personell deficit.

“Nobody wants to be a police officer in today’s age because the police are demonized by the media and it’s a terrible job to work,” Curtis said.

Additionally, both sides agreed that the main cause of neighborhoods with high crime isn’t skin color, but poverty. However, they disagree on the reason.

The left argued that poor communities are often made up of people of color because of the systemic racism in the country that keeps them in poverty, causing them to take further lengths to achieve food, money, health care or clothes for their family.

The right posited that poor communities are overpoliced only because they are low income and that skin color has no place in the equation whatsoever.

After more respectful back and forth, audience members asked various questions about implicit bias, gun control and the distribution of funds in America.

When the event was done, all debaters shook hands and expressed their gratitude for having an insightful conversation.

Complaints, feedback or ideas for next year’s debate should be sent to Schlenkert at gop.nmu@gmail.com.

Alexandria Bournonville can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. Her email address is abournonville@miningjournal.net.