Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey School of Public Affairs
This event is free and open to the pubic, registration required.
In a moment when public discourse often feels strained, Immutable, a documentary film from directors Charlie Sadoff and Gabriel London, offers a powerful look at how young people learn to engage, argue, and be heard.
The film follows students in the Washington Urban Debate League as they navigate personal challenges while developing the skills to compete, advocate, and shape their futures. Set against a backdrop of inequality and division, it highlights debate as both an intellectual discipline and a pathway to opportunity.
The screening will be followed by a brief conversation and audience Q&A with Norman Ornstein, political scientist and emeritus scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. Joining Ornstein are Amy Cram Helwich, Executive Director of the Minnesota Urban Debate League; David Cram Helwich, Senior Lecturer and Director of Forensics at the University of Minnesota; and Timur Usenov, a current UMN student debater. Together, they will reflect on debate, polarization, and preparing the next generation for civic life.
This event is free and open to the pubic, registration required.
For questions or accessibility requests, please contact: [email protected].