New Culver club, American Lens, seeks to bring ‘E Pluribus Unum’ into focus

Culver Academies students have started a new club aimed at promoting civil discourse, seeking to continue the school’s theme this year of ‘E Pluribus Unum,’ a Latin phrase that means “Out of Many, One.”

The goal of The American Lens club is to encourage students to discuss controversial topics of public concern in a respectful and constructive manner while seeking to promote understanding. Another goal is to keep students updated on current events.

 “We want to encourage civic participation and voting and play a big role in increasing civic participation on campus,” said Sonia Shepherd ’26, who-co-founded the club with Lordina Boateng ’26 and Grant Mandel ’26. “As much as people say they don’t care, I think people still do. I think giving people the opportunity to voice their opinions is a big step in itself.”

During the school year, seniors with differing viewpoints were selected to sit on panels and discuss topics while others listened in as part of the “E Pluribus Unum” theme. Among the topics discussed were immigration, gun violence, civil rights, abortion and college costs. They also watched the presidential and vice presidential debates.

In The American Lens Club, founders and sponsors want students from all grades as well as adults to participate and learn from each other and hopefully some guest speakers. 

Mandel said it’s important that people are able to discuss contentious issues.

“Because you don’t get anywhere without it,” he said. “You have to be open to hear others out. You also have to be open to forming your own opinion and standing up for what you believe in.”

Mandel said he thinks too many people today aren’t willing to speak up about their opinions.

“People are afraid to talk about these topics because you can lose friends, you may offend people. We’re so cautious about not offending anyone that we fail to recognize how that doesn’t move us anywhere. That doesn’t get us any farther in understanding an issue,” he said. “I appreciate the school for facilitating this.”

Don Fox ’75, senior instructor and Richard W. Freeman chair, Leadership Education, who had helped arrange the “E Pluribus Unum” discussions, said he agreed to be an advisor to the group as long as there were broad perspectives. He also asked Culver fellow Jack Schmiedlin ’19 to help so they’d have people with contrasting political views advising the group.

Shepherd and Mandel ’26 had previously been a part of a similar club, Debating American Topics, that had fizzled out. The students decided to reframe the club as more of a discussion on the future of the country, rather than a debate.

Mandel said at some meetings only boys attended.

“We wanted to bring people from all across campus and all across the political spectrum,” Mandel said.

“We want to normalize being able to have a productive conversation with conflicting interests and perspectives and learn from the other side,” Shepherd said.

The club held two meetings this school year, including a talk in April about tariffs where an expert was brought in.

“We wanted to help everyone understand what a tariff is. How it works,” Fox said. “It was helpful for everyone.”

The group held another talk in May about immigration. About 15 students attended each.

“We’re hoping to kickstart the club next year,” Shepherd said. “We’re just testing the waters and getting people interested this year.”

The goal is to meet either once or twice a month to tackle the hot topics of the day.

Fox said he’s encouraged that the students decided to form the club.

“I’m hopeful about this group,” Fox said. “Our leaders are smart, well-informed young people. I think far smarter and better informed than a lot of adults.”