It’s the end of August on campuses across the country. The heat hasn’t quite let up, but the bookstores are bustling, coffee shops are packed, and students are hauling dorm supplies across quads and brimming with first-day nerves. Professors are finalizing syllabi, student organizations are setting up tables and the rhythm of campus life is slowly kicking back into gear. There’s something about the first week of a new school year — nerves, excitement, and possibility that hangs in the late-summer air and seems to promise that anything can happen. For BridgeUSA, this semester isn’t just another fresh start, but the beginning of our most ambitious year yet. Across the country, students are stepping into leadership, chapters are testing bold new ideas, and the movement itself is expanding to places it’s never been before. From new chapters finding their footing to established chapters building on years of momentum, the energy is impossible to ignore.
BridgeUSA Students Know How to Prepare
At Indiana University, BridgeIU is starting strong. As a newly crowned Level 3 chapter, they have already built a reputation for dialogue that reaches students from every corner of campus. BridgeIU’s President, Elizabeth Conley shared, “BridgeIU is more than just a campus organization — it’s a commitment to making sure students on campus are heard, respected, and challenged. And we are just scratching the surface.” IU’s chapter is kicking off the semester with fun socials, crucial discussions, and a variety of larger scale events — proof that their energy is already setting the tone for the amazing year ahead. Their story shows what’s possible when dialogue becomes woven into the fabric of campus life.
On the other side of the country, at the University of Oregon, leaders are building momentum as a Level 1 chapter. BridgeOregon is already making steady progress with their bi-weekly meetings and are aiming to increase their funding and get officially recognized as a student organization on campus. With recognition, they plan to expand their outreach, host weekend programs, and bring even more students into conversations that matter.
Meanwhile, Auburn University‘s chapter is just stepping onto the map as a Level 0 team. With a strong team of new leaders, Auburn is ready to make its mark. Their fall calendar is already filling up with tabling, and their very first discussion. Their president, Uriah Chumpitaz, explained, “We’re eager to bring something new to Auburn’s campus — a space where students can come together across divides and actually listen to each other. This is just the beginning, but we can already feel the excitement.”
Though IU, Oregon, and Auburn are all at different stages, their momentum points to the same truth: every chapter — regardless of funding, history, and institutional support — adds vital energy to the national movement. Whether it’s IU leading the way, Oregon rising in the ranks, or Auburn breaking new ground, the common thread is clear: students across the country are hungry for real dialogue. This fall, our movement isn’t just sticking to our usual playbook — it’s stepping boldly into new spaces, testing out new strategies, and meeting students where they are. We’re seeing students take ownership of what dialogue can look like on their campus, tailoring it to their communities while staying connected to the BridgeUSA network. That creativity and commitment is what will define this year.
And if the first few weeks of the semester are any indication, this school year won’t just be our busiest yet — it will be our most impactful. From coast to coast, students are proving that even in a time of division, campuses can become places of connection, curiosity, and hope. And together, we’re building something bigger than any one chapter: a generation of leaders ready to bridge divides.
You can join these chapters in making a difference for our national dialogue. Ready to get started?