PolicyMic.com, a fast-growing online forum for political discussion, debuted its weeklong “Hoya Challenge” Monday in order to find the best commentators on the Hilltop.
Students compete by ranking comments posted by their peers based on how interesting and compelling those comments are. Users who approve of a comment because they think it is thoughtful and well supported by facts can “mic” it.
The site aims to foster a nonpartisan, thoughtful debate among young people on current political issues.
“Young people can be very engaged in politics, but they need to be given the right place,” said Jake Horowitz, co-founder of PolicyMic.com.
Horowitz hopes the campus competition will increase PolicyMic’s exposure. Since its inception about one year ago, the site has expanded its membership to 48 states and 68 countries.
“The aim is to really start a conversation on Georgetown’s campus, and, if we do well at Georgetown, to move to the next campus and the next campus after that to really get college students engaged with the site,” Horowitz said.
The three students who have accumulated the most mics by Nov. 1 will receive prizes.
“We wanted to get as many Georgetown students as we could signed up and debating the issues that they care about,” Horowitz said.
The available prizes include lunch with CNN contributor and former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush David Frum, two tickets for the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center and a $50 gift certificate to Uncommon Grounds.
The first debate, led by Georgetown University Student Association President Mike Meaney (SFS ’12), opened at 3 p.m. Monday. Students contributed their opinions on noise regulations and safety initiatives being worked out with Georgetown’s neighboring community.
Students, faculty and PolicyMic editors will also lead debates throughout the week on issues including Ann Coulter’s controversial appearance on campus last week, the debt crises, unemployment and the university’s impact on the environment.
“[Georgetown students] are really active [and] politically engaged, and they want to have these kinds of conversations and represent our generation well,” Horowitz said.
Horowitz founded PolicyMic in June 2011 with the belief that the political dialogue in the mainstream media had become partisan and sterile.
“There was not enough debate happening in the nation, and there was no site where left, right and everybody in between were talking to one another,” he explained. “The news was too partisan and off-putting to young people.”
Paige Lovejoy (SFS ’12) began a PolicyMic discussion Monday night focusing on the investment of $1.25 million of the Student Activities Fee Endowment in social innovation. Lovejoy posted the topic in hopes that the proposal can become a reality, although she acknowledged that the online comments may not always be constructive.
“I’m sure on the discussion-board forum there will be people who post stupid comments that aren’t worth much, and I’m sure there will be others who contribute really valuable insights,” she said. “I’m hoping if the right people get involved, this website can be a credible source on campus for people to express their beliefs.”
