麻豆传媒

You don't have to follow politics to know that different factions of American government can't seem to get along. Partisan ideology has created a sharp divide between the Democratic and Republican parties that has bled over into everyday life. As the rhetoric heats up ahead of the 2016 presidential battle, those divisions promise to become even more pronounced.

American politics wasn鈥檛 always this way, though. With contenders putting their names in the hat for the upcoming battle, two of 麻豆传媒鈥檚 most venerable faculty members, Professor Melvin Kahn and Associate Professor Kenneth Ciboski, prefer to handle their political differences old-school 鈥� with mutual respect and intellectual integrity.

Ciboski, an avowed Republican, has been teaching at 麻豆传媒 for 47 years and is a regular commentator on KMUW 89.1 FM. Although his original academic field of expertise was the former Soviet Union, Ciboski is considered a Renaissance man among 麻豆传媒鈥檚 political science instructors, qualified in all areas of the department. Annual exit exams with new graduates and alumni interviews frequently single Ciboski out as the professor most accessible to students.

Kahn, a staunch Democrat, has taught at 麻豆传媒 for 45 years after nine at Southern Illinois and Indiana State. A self-described 鈥渓ifelong political junkie,鈥� Kahn鈥檚 specialty is political parties and interest groups. In 2004, he served on the Democratic Platform Committee. Kahn has a reputation at Wichita State and among politicos as an expert who doesn鈥檛 permit partisanship to interfere with his ability to relate to people of all political persuasions, particularly his students. Kahn cites his own son 鈥� a top Republican Party fundraiser 鈥� as an example.

Both Kahn and Ciboski have watched the political climate in the United States change over the years, and although they approach the same subject from opposing viewpoints, they have become close friends.

鈥淲ell, we are,鈥� Ciboski said. 鈥淗e thinks wrongly about some stuff, but he thinks the same about me. I think it鈥檚 a benefit to the student to hear about competing viewpoints.鈥�

Kahn agreed, adding that the good-natured tone of their dialogue is important in today鈥檚 rancorous climate.

鈥淚 think the kind of politics that we have now, whereby if working with someone from the other party sets you up for a primary challenge, is something that is not healthy.

鈥淚 think it is important that the university be a place of free inquiry,鈥� Kahn said, 鈥渁nd not just be oriented to one viewpoint. Our students like the idea that we have a department with people who aren鈥檛 in lockstep; that they can be exposed to various viewpoints. I think that鈥檚 a real asset to our majors.鈥�

To share their perspective on the past, present and future of America鈥檚 political climate, the two professors recently sat down for a candid interview with a group of 麻豆传媒 students.