2008 Woodie Awards
Captain of Controversy Hosts Discussion
Dallas KalmarStaff Reporter
Issue date: 9/22/05 Section: Features
Daniel Thomas of East Hall was host to an open group discussion on Thursday night, September 15th in the Roncolli Hall Lounge, providing both a plethora of controversial topics and assorted soft drinks.
Once everyone was settled with a beverage in hand, a pirate hat went around the room and filled up with chock full of potentially contentious questions to be drawn at random by each attendee.
Daniel Thomas drew first. "Should religion or prayer time be present in public schools?"
A subsequent ten minutes was devoted to this discussion, and seemed to initiate the trend that would continue for the remainder of the meeting.
"It is essentially unconstitutional," "The second you offend one, they all go nuts. That1s why they can't have it a all," said sophomore, Jason Hawkins, Queens. N.Y.
This was just a warm-up from the well-expressed group. The hat was passed, and the next question was drawn. "Is the death penalty ethical and should it continue to be enforced?"
While the general consensus was that the death penalty is an unethical waste of tax money, this question still managed to inspire a somewhat frenzied response from several people, especially Jason Hawkins.
"I'm just playing devil's advocate," Jason would say in response to someone's disapproval.
As the debate continued, an attendee in the far corner commanded the attention of the room.
"Take the BTK killer, for example. Why should he have an easy way out with death, when he could get life in prison and then possibly serve as a subject for psychological research?" said senior, Jessica McCann, Guilford.
A fellow attendee agreed and preceded to draw the next question, "is sexual preference determined at birth?"
The group discussion escalated during times when several different questions and comments were posed.
"Tax breaks!" said a passerby who quickly scurried through the lounge.
"Actually, we've been covering this in class. The Prenatal Hormone Theory does suggest that sexual orientation is the direct result of a gene mutation and hormonal imbalance," said junior, Martia LaManna, Waterbury.
Once everyone was settled with a beverage in hand, a pirate hat went around the room and filled up with chock full of potentially contentious questions to be drawn at random by each attendee.
Daniel Thomas drew first. "Should religion or prayer time be present in public schools?"
A subsequent ten minutes was devoted to this discussion, and seemed to initiate the trend that would continue for the remainder of the meeting.
"It is essentially unconstitutional," "The second you offend one, they all go nuts. That1s why they can't have it a all," said sophomore, Jason Hawkins, Queens. N.Y.
This was just a warm-up from the well-expressed group. The hat was passed, and the next question was drawn. "Is the death penalty ethical and should it continue to be enforced?"
While the general consensus was that the death penalty is an unethical waste of tax money, this question still managed to inspire a somewhat frenzied response from several people, especially Jason Hawkins.
"I'm just playing devil's advocate," Jason would say in response to someone's disapproval.
As the debate continued, an attendee in the far corner commanded the attention of the room.
"Take the BTK killer, for example. Why should he have an easy way out with death, when he could get life in prison and then possibly serve as a subject for psychological research?" said senior, Jessica McCann, Guilford.
A fellow attendee agreed and preceded to draw the next question, "is sexual preference determined at birth?"
The group discussion escalated during times when several different questions and comments were posed.
"Tax breaks!" said a passerby who quickly scurried through the lounge.
"Actually, we've been covering this in class. The Prenatal Hormone Theory does suggest that sexual orientation is the direct result of a gene mutation and hormonal imbalance," said junior, Martia LaManna, Waterbury.