Salve students, faculty on WJAR-TV 10 News’ “Show us Something Good”

This story was originally aired, streamed and published by WJAR-TV News 10 on Dec. 11, 2025.

Two Salve Regina University students are proving politics don't have to dictate friendship and respect.

Seniors Jennie Battcher and Leah Spengler met at freshman orientation.

Both Battcher and Spengler are political science majors.

"Jennie is so driven. When I first met her one of the first things I learned about her was that she is one of the first female eagle scouts on Long Island," said Spengler.

The pair said they quickly became friends. Such good friends, they decided to live together.

“We’re so similar in just our habits and day-to-day life that it’s been the easiest transition. We never have roommate conflicts," said Spengler.

One thing they found out about after they became friends is that they differ on politics.

Battcher is the president of the Young Republicans club, while Spengler is the president of the Salve Regina Democrats club.

The two senior student leaders attend each other’s meetings and have tough conversations, hearing from both sides of the political spectrum.

“We say all the time that we’ve never had a fight. We disagree on politics, and we just have conversations about it. We never fight about it. We can understand that we’re not going to agree on every single thing but you’re not going to agree with anyone on every single thing," said Battcher.

The pair have made it their mission to foster Sen. Clay Pell's legacy and spirit of bipartisanship.

From their friendship, a new club formed.

Battcher and Spengler started Salve Votes to give students a safe bipartisan space to get more civically engaged.

“The fact that we had different political opinions, if anything, made me feel like I can get along with someone that feels differently than me. Not that I suddenly need to look at this person differently. I think it only helped us to grow in our friendship rather than to hinder it," said Spengler.