Founded in 2023 as a renewal of the former Exeter Political Union, the club reestablished itself as the only political organization on campus not initially aligned with a specific ideology or partisan group. Its purpose is to provide a neutral forum where students of all backgrounds can engage in open dialogue and debate. Each week, members from across grade levels come together to share their perspectives, challenge each other’s ideas, and explore current events ranging from the election of a new pope to Canadian politics, the workings of the White House, and the 2024 federal election. By fostering conversation across diverse viewpoints, the Union continues Exeter’s long tradition of political engagement while offering a unique space for thoughtful, student-driven discourse.
Mission Statement:
The Exeter Political Union is a student-led forum for open political discussion, renewed in 2023 to bring fresh energy to campus dialogue. Unlike clubs centered around a single ideology, the Union welcomes diverse perspectives and encourages students to think critically about current events at every level. Through weekly meetings and special programs, it serves as a space where debate, collaboration, and curiosity come together to strengthen Exeter’s tradition of civic engagement.
EPU: The Exonian’s Club Of The Week
The article, which won The Exonian’s Life Section Article Pick, highlighted EPU’s impact at Exeter. Check out the article below!
From The Exonian:
Exeter Political Union: Politics Beyond Partisanship
Sunday, 2 p.m. Throughout campus, the chimes of the bell reverberate, signalling different things for different students. Some snake their way downtown for a late lunch out. A few scuffle along the roads, with no particular destination in mind. For many, an afternoon nestled in their beds is the ideal way to savor the last of their weekend. But for a certain band of devoted students, it’s quite the opposite. The bell subsides and the ferocious pounding of a gavel is heard from the inside of EPAC219. Voices chatter and a Wikipedia image of an up-and-coming politician is projected onto the screen. The scents of fresh Dunkin’ tantalize passersby. As they peek through the curtain slits hanging on the main door, they catch the words Exeter Political Union scrawled on the whiteboards.
Exeter Political Union is an initiative revived by senior Dylan B. Richardson in the fall of 2024. Aiming to foster impartial political conversation for Exonians, it acts as a middle ground between the more ideologically-oriented Democratic and Republican clubs. Meetings begin with an in-depth presentation on modern political events, ranging from immigration policy to gubernatorial elections, and end in impassioned group debate. It is here, in EPAC219, where Richardson, along with coheads Victor Angeline and Lydia Kuhnert, orchestrates the space for complex and thought-provoking discussion.
For Richardson, politics has always been a fundamental interest in his life. As such, his proposition for EPU came quite naturally in the spring of his lower year. “My initial idea for the Exeter Political Union was to create a non-partisan discussion club on campus, and it was first branded as the Politically Independent Exonians,” he said. “For this club, I needed an advisor, and as I searched through the History Department page on the Exeter website, [an image of] one teacher caught my eye. Bill Jordan’s room was full of political memorabilia, and he apparently advised this club called the ‘Exeter Political Union.’”
Richardson was stumped. He had searched for EPU on the club list but was unable to locate it. “I figured it didn’t exist anymore,” he said. “When I contacted Mr. Jordan, he agreed to come on board, but only if we made our club a new iteration of the Political Union, rather than some entirely new project.” Richardson was happy to do so, and with Jordan’s supervision now secured, he then searched for a second cohead. “When I happened to run into Victor, who I had known previously, in the dining hall while he was wearing his U.S. Congress sweater, I asked if he wanted to join. He did. [So] we sent in the form, and EPU was born,” Richardson added.
Since EPU’s inaugural meeting last year, which only 10 to 15 students attended, the club has made impressive strides. “We have seen absolutely massive growth in this club since our founding. We wenvt from an entirely new project, to the largest political club on campus in only this year and a half, and it has been tremendously rewarding to see,” Richardson said. Today, EPU boasts a club roster of more than 70 students, has extended its leadership to include a third cohead in Kuhnert, and is committed to looking for ways to further connect members with the broader political landscape around them.
That commitment materialized most recently when on Jan. 11, EPU hosted candidate for U.S. Senate Karishma Manzur, who is running in the fast-approaching 2026 elections. Members noted a high turnout for the event and valued the insights she shared. As lower and attendee Larry Lyu said, “We really liked her talk in general. I think she had some good general points.… We really enjoyed the opportunity.” In the future, the EPU coheads look forward to continuing to carry out ambitious projects. “We plan to keep bringing in speakers, maybe some history professors or current elected officials, and to look for collaboration with Exeter’s other political clubs,” Richardson said.
However, the extent of EPU’s impacts are not limited solely to its special events. For prep Izzy Cabral, devoted club member, EPU has allowed her to explore her own beliefs in greater depth by hearing the contributions of people engaging with and debating various opinions. “EPU taught me why I believe the things that I believe, and why those align [or don’t align] with [the opinions of] other members of the club,” Cabral stated. In an increasingly polarized political climate, this commitment to thoughtful, respectful disagreement remains the club’s defining principle.
Accordingly, the coheads are deliberate in steering their discussions away from neutrality. “As coheads we do moderate our meetings and choose topics, but we never moderate political stances or opinions,” Richardson explained. “EPU discussions are not about neutrality, and that’s the entire point. EPU discussions are about both hearing people who disagree with you, and listening to them,” he continued.
Kuhnert agreed with this analysis, underscoring the importance of EPU being a place for authentic student voices. “If you surround yourself with people who have the same opinion as you, you’re never going to challenge your beliefs,” she said. “So I think instead of trying to remain neutral on everything, which would make for pretty poor discussion… we’re trying to bridge both sides.”
This seemingly divisive aspect of EPU might make for an intimidating first impression, but it is far from the reality. For Kuhnert, the club’s greatest strength lies in the relationships forged through debate and compromise. “EPU has a really strong and tight-knit community,” she said. “I always come away from the club having learned something, [even if] I’m the one who made the slides,” Kuhnert added.
Richardson echoed this sentiment, noting that while advocating for one’s beliefs is central to EPU’s mission, the club’s culture has never strayed from the warmth and energy that have defined it since its founding. “People debate fiercely or energetically all the time,” he said, “but we generally manage to keep the atmosphere jovial.”
When asked to describe why he would encourage more students to join, Richardson replied, “Political awareness is absolutely central. Pericles said [that] ‘just because you don’t take an interest in politics, doesn’t mean politics will not take an interest in you.’” Richardson continued, “Even if you’re not consistently interested in politics, or don’t plan to study anything humanities-related in college, come for a meeting if the topic interests you, and just listen.”
In an age when Congress is as polarized and gridlocked as ever, and where the fear of speaking can hang over communities nationwide, EPU offers Exonians a forum to express their opinions passionately, authentically, and without fear. Whether you aspire to pursue a path in politics, or simply want to learn more about current political issues, it is safe to say that the door to EPAC 219 — and the people who sustain the space — will welcome you with open arms.
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