WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.–You can get along with someone from another political perspective, even if you talk politics, and Purdue University hopes to demonstrate that with a forum next week, that features former U.S. Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch, and former Sen. Jeff Flake, a Democrat and Republican.

“Atty. Gen. Lynch and Sen. Flake, they are from two political ideologies that seem to be far apart in some cases, but are not that distinct from one another,” said Dr. John Gates, one of the organizers of “Democracy, Civility, and Freedom of Expression”, a series that starts Wednesday and continues throughout the semester.

Gates, who said the panel is free and open to anyone who wants to come, said he hopes Purdue can be a model space where civility is practiced by everyone.

“Indiana is the Heartland of America. I’d say it’s the heartbeat of America. We have the positioning because we have people from all walks of life and perspectives.”

He said all of those perspectives will be heard at the events, which go through the end of March, and will include a grandson of Mahatma Ghandi, Ronald Reagan, Jr., and the daughter of Desmond Tutu, the South African anti-apartheid activist.

Gates said the hope is to start conversations that have faded, “understanding that we have this shared humanity, this shared experience”.

“What a lot of people are saying is, you’re not listening to me. You don’t hear what I have to say or they’re feeling that they don’t belong. We have minorities that feel that way. We also have Christian conservatives that feel that way,” said Gates.

He said during the panels there are no right or wrong answers, no good or bad, just shared experiences and opinions which are all valued.

“How one engages in civil discourse: We’re not trying to change people. We’re not trying change people’s minds. We’re trying to open their ears and their hearts.”