Every time Colorado State University senior Melanie Chaffey speaks with a new person on campus, it shifts her perspective. And that’s something she hopes can empower others.

Chaffey, a journalism major with a minor in political science, is a producer and lead research coordinator for the “CSU Democracy Project,” a full-length documentary that will chronicle the journey of democracy on the University’s campus throughout the 2023-2024 election year as part of an ongoing effort that includes speakers, events and coursework-related conversations.

“Maybe it’s just because this project has us attending all these democracy-related speeches and events, but it feels like the state of our democracy is on the tip of everyone’s tongue,” Chaffey said. “And if it’s not on yours, maybe you should start paying more attention.”

The documentary, led by Emmy Award-winning producer John Barnhardt with Barnfly Productions, has nine students and three non-student employees working together to produce the film.

“Our roots are firmly rooted in democracy, it’s what we do here,” said CSU President Amy Parsons. “As a land grant institution, a research institution, the reason we exist today is to strengthen and to fuel the fire that is democracy.”

CSU has intentionally focused on education around the role of free speech at a public institution of higher education and bringing democracy into focus – from classroom discussions to books at the library, to major speakers and student-led events.

The documentary will chronicle that journey – capturing conversations on campus, speaking with people from differing viewpoints, and shedding light on difficult conversations.

“This is an important story to tell because of the intense polarization we are seeing on the national stage,” said Barnhardt, who has produced six documentaries, including his latest release “An Open Door,” which focuses on the life and impact of CSU’s Temple Grandin.

He added: “This documentary shows that a university like CSU can be the foundation to address the current landscape of politics and more widespread problems and provide a common ground for people to have real conversations on how to improve democracy for the future.”

Parsons has continually encouraged students to engage with others who disagree with them. She noted that when students’ graduate – no matter their degree – it’s important they have a foundation of democracy – that they are ready to vote, to be informed, to advocate and to make progress on difficult issues with people who disagree with them.

“We ought to be the melting pot of democracy in this country where we have every different kind of person co-existing on the same campus, who are challenging each other, challenging their own assumptions, exercising those muscles of democracy, ready to get out in the world and lead. I think our democracy really depends on that,” Parsons said. “I don’t think any place can do it better than a land-grant public research university and our job is not just to tolerate democracy, or to put up with the First Amendment. We are the fuel – we are the furnace of democracy at CSU.”

Put simply: “If you only understand your own perspective, you don’t really understand your own perspective,” Parsons said.

Chaffey contends that working on the democracy documentary has already shifted her own world view.

“I’ve always liked to talk about politics, and I’ve often been the one who makes the conversation combative,” Chaffey said. “This project has helped me realize that so many people are scared and angry and it’s critical that we don’t add to that fear and anger but rather try to assuage it with knowledge and, more importantly, understanding and respect. I don’t know if I would’ve said the same thing a year ago.”