Pints and Policy offers informal, intelligent conversation

Surrounded by appetizers and alcohol, a group of about 10 USD students, faculty and community members discussed citizen initiatives and petitioning at the Roadhouse this past Monday night.

Pints and Policy is a monthly meeting that offers an informal format for open discussion on different policy issues.

“I thought yesterday’s discussion was very insightful,” senior Ben Deverman said. “Prior to the meeting, I was not aware of the different ballot measures, and it was fascinating to hear professors with extensive knowledge discuss each subject.”

Associate professor Shane Nordyke, the group’s founder, said she modeled Pints and Policy off something similar she had while she was in graduate school.

“I had several conversations with one of our PhD students in the political science program and we started to talk about just a desire to have a greater opportunity for more informal discussion about policy issues that are happening in a relaxed environment,” she said.

In its second year, Pints and Policy is open to anyone, regardless of age. Nordyke said she provides the appetizers, but attendees must buy their own drinks.

“We meet once a month,” she said. “We choose a policy topic every month. We try to bring in some guest speakers from USD or the community.”

The meetings are held the first Monday of every month and last for about an hour and a half, Nordyke said.

“We just talk,” she said. “Sometimes we start on one topic and end up on a totally different topic. And that’s fine. It’s just an opportunity for people to come and talk about policy.”

Sandy McKeown, director of the criminal justice department, is an attendee and occasional speaker at the monthly Pints and Policy sessions.

“I think it’s very beneficial,” McKeown said. “What we see at Pints and Policy is people who are genuinely curious about what’s going on in the world around them and they want to dig a little bit deeper on what the issue is and they want to have a fun conversation about it.”

Timothy Schorn, the director of international studies department, is also an attendee and occasional speaker at Pints and Policy. He said these meetings offer students a way to engage in discussion, rather than just listening to a lecture.

“One of the things that the political science department wants to do and what other departments are keen towards is finding a way to talk about topics that are interesting to us outside of the classroom setting,” he said. “Pints and Policy allows us to talk about things that we are interested in and engage the students and enjoy ourselves at the same time.”

Schorn said he likes learning new things from students during the informal discussions.

“I enjoy getting to talk about some things that I don’t have an expertise (in), and it gives me the chance to hear from others and it gives me the chance to hear what the students are thinking,” he said.

Schorn said there is always something new to learn from these meetings.

“We depend on others to keep up with things so we can learn from them as well,” he said. “And I think that’s what draws people in, is the chance to hear from others that might more then themselves and build on our own knowledge base to become better citizens.”

Deverman, who has been attending Pints in Policy since last year, said one of his favorite discussions was about police officer body cameras.

“During that meeting, Vermillion’s police chief joined the session and discussed the funding the department received, the method of using the cameras and the reaction from the public and officers about the body cameras,” he said. “Each session brings an entirely different atmosphere, and you are able to expand your knowledge on a subject without the need for a formal classroom setting.”

Deverman said the fun atmosphere is why he keeps coming back to Pints and Policy meetings.

“You get to talk about all these different issues in a relaxed environment,” he said. “Plus, we can bring up subjects that might be controversial or mildly offensive to someone else and we can talk about them here deliberately and considerably and have an overall great conversation over good food and have a good time. It’s fun to be here.”