Junior Amit Deshpande is the co-president of the Junior Statesmen of America. Here, he was interviewed in order to gather a synopsis of the club’s workings in order to hopefully incentivize new membership.
How did you first join JSA in your freshman year?
I joined JSA when my friends encouraged me to join. I was into debating at lunch so I tried it out.
Can you give a rundown on what you typically do at the club?
Every Thursday, we have a meeting where we typically have a “resolved,” which is a debate statement on which main speakers can go pro or con. From there, speakers are asked questions. There are different motions as part of the debate that can allow the debate to move to an informal discussion or to move to a vote. The resolved either passes or fails. On some occasions, we hold thought talks, which are general discussions about any given topic. The general idea of the meetings is to allow members to express their views on the debate of the week.
What have you enjoyed the most about the club in your time as co-president?
I have mostly enjoyed running the club and getting more and more people to engage in meaningful conversation. I love organizing the club and finding new ways to make the experience a memorable one for members.
What do you see as the overall significance of the club?
The overall significance of the club is to get more students into politics and civil discussion. As students are exposed to the real world, they must learn and experience ways to engage in civil debate and to be politically and socially aware so they can combat issues of the present and the future.
What would you say to those that are considering joining but haven’t done so yet?
One thing I would say to those who are hesitant in joining is that JSA is a place for everyone to defend their positions. While the club is argument based, thoughtful discussion is highly encouraged. Students who may feel uncertain about the future or the current state of our nation will find themselves discovering their political selves and becoming more aware and equipped to deal with the problems that face us all.
