Local conservative political talk show host Chris Berg brought his program to Concordia when he broadcasted live from the Atrium last Thursday morning. Berg is a radio host from Fargo’s AM 1100 “The Flag,” and his stop at Concordia was part of a Fargo-Moorhead college tour.
Berg’s Thursday morning show featured eight Cobbers who joined Berg to discuss and debate political issues. Among these students was senior Solveig Beckel, who differed with the host in political ideology but appreciated his openness to bipartisan debate.
“It’s very obvious that he leans more republican, but at the same time he was very positive,” Beckel said.
Beckel and Republican senator Gretchen Hoffmann, who called into the program, created some impassioned debate when they argued about the recent Minnesota state budget shutdown.
Sophomore John Erik Nelson was also a student guest on the show. He appreciated being able to convene with Berg and callers about state and national issues and get the opinions of college students heard by people throughout the region.
“It moves beyond just what’s happening here at Concordia,” Nelson said.
Senior Tyler Dugger spoke during the same hour-long block as Nelson and said that the different voices brought onto Berg’s Thursday show broadened the debate.
“It’s public discourse at its best,” Dugger said.
Berg also had several political guests on air during the show and even brought comedian Bill Cosby on via telephone. Cosby performed at the Chester Fritz auditorium in Grand Forks, N.D. this past week.
Berg is enthusiastic about his college tour and appreciated the dialogues he had with Cobbers.
“I love the different perspectives on our nation,” Berg said.
Berg also stressed the importance of political involvement among college students, saying that to deserve an opinion, one first has to become informed.
“Get active,” Berg advised.
Students can listen to the archived show by going to the “podcasts” link at wzfg-am.fimc.net and clicking on “We the People Show”.
