The Center for Free Speech launched Dialogues for Democracy, a speaker series that brings together both students and experts that shape U.S. politics, media and policymaking.
The University began this forum to support its "role in advancing democracy and freedom of speech and expression," according to the Office of the University Provost.
This was the center's second event of the year — this time with featured speaker Mark Cuban, an American businessman and former Shark Tank investor.
This particular Dialogue for Democracy focused on how government and private sectors can advance entrepreneurship and support business development.
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Cuban’s fame and influence brought many students to the event, many of whom had watched him close deals on Shark Tank and wanted to heed some of his advice.
“I’m a big fan of Mark Cuban," said Ben Reitmuyer, a freshman studying economics. "He’s an inspirational person."
Reitmuyer also said Cuban gives good information that is applicable to students' lifestyles.
Cuban spoke about his early entrepreneurial ventures, which included selling baseball cards and garbage bags. He also talked about his college days, going to Indiana University — which Cuban said was an affordable option and a "top-ten" business school during his attendance.
However, when it came to national affairs in college, he always saw himself as “anti-politics."
“I literally would vote for either somebody who was not an incumbent or the candidate that would do the least because I didn’t want politicians to do anything," Cuban said. "As an entrepreneur, it was scary to me what politicians might do."
Since his college years, Cuban said his stance on politics has shifted, labeling himself as politically independent. He’s supported candidates on both sides of the aisle and most recently campaigned for former Vice President Kamala Harris.
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Megan Finder, a junior studying management, admired Cuban’s non-aligned political stance, as she too tends to think about policies without political bias.
“He sets a really great example of thinking of issues for yourself instead of being so aligned with a specific party," Finder said. "That’s actually impressive for today’s day and age, and especially with his stance, and ... how recognizable he is. That makes a big difference."
Finder noted how, in today’s age of social media and people constantly being able to consume information on several digital platforms, it is almost impossible to stay away from politics.
"That’s another reason why we have to be invested, because it’s right in front of us," Finder said.
This was her first Dialogue for Democracy event, and if her schedule allows, Finder aims to attend more in the future. She said she hopes the next speakers are public figures similar to Cuban, with big aspirations and an independent viewpoint on political topics.
The featured speaker also brought out many students that hope to become entrepreneurs, and they found Cuban’s message on maintaining a constant work ethic motivating.
Anirudh Manjesh, a junior studying computer science, like many of the students who attended the event, grew up watching Shark Tank and was eager to learn about Cuban's insights directly.
Manjesh said he came into this forum concerned about the current political landscape, and he said that after listening to Cuban’s words of wisdom, he felt reassured that his future was bright.
"He gave reassurance of the American dream," Manjesh said. "That’s really important for me, and that’s why I’m here."
As inspirational as some students found the speaker, others felt Cuban didn’t know much about democracy and found some of his speech redundant.
“He talked a lot about himself and how he got into business," Amanda Huynh, an alumnus who studied management and business healthcare. "I wouldn't say there was much dialogue about democracy."
Huynh is more excited about the next Dialogue for Democracy, which features John Anzalone, the chief pollster for former President Joe Biden, and Tony Fabrizio, the chief pollster for President Donald Trump. They will be recapping the 2024 presidential election, and Huynh is excited to hear from both sides of the aisle.
“They’re on two political parties," Huynh said. "It’s more interesting than Mark Cuban, who knows more about business than democracy."
Edited by George Headley, Sophia Ramirez and Natalia Jarrett.
Reach the reporter at croblesr@asu.edu and follow @rroblescristina on X.
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