Politics on a Plate: A Discussion with a Slice of Pizza

“Free pizza is offered to anyone who wants to come to the Politics Community Square and discuss current political issues. All students, faculty, staff, and OLLI people are welcome. A Politics faculty member leads the discussion, while students and others ask questions. Faculty members share their expertise, and the topics are chosen from the current news cycle,” explains Dr. Brent Nelsen, Politics & International Affairs professor. 

The Politics and International Affairs department at Furman has been running a program called Pizza & Politics for over a decade, combining pizza with discussions on political topics.

The department aims to build a community by educating students and faculty while exploring political and policy positions. It fosters informative and engaging discussions, encourages a variety of opinions, and aligns with Furman’s On Discourse initiative. 

“The faculty are not shy about arguing with each other and modeling healthy discourse. We solicit minority opinions so everyone feels free to speak,” Dr. Nelson mentions. 

Pizza & Politics happens in the Johns Hall Community Square within the Politics department, typically twice a month at 12:30 p.m. during the spring and fall semesters. Keep an eye out for posters and advertisements around campus promoting the program. The department encourages everyone to participate, hoping to engage more people in these thoughtful discussions.