Event promotes debate on diets
November 12, 2014
By Emily Priddy
A debate on vegetarianism vs. meat-eating will consider the nutritional benefits of each lifestyle choice, said biology junior James Collard.
The Student Activities Board will be hosting an interactive event that will debate the pros and cons of vegetarian and carnivorous lifestyles on Thursday night.
The event will take place in Student Center room 230 at 7 p.m. Tickets are not required to attend.
“I thought this event would be interesting because many people are passionate about their health and food choices,” said Collard, the SAB director of Engaging Issues, who organized the event. “But it is often a struggle to discern what the true, scientific health benefits are from each type of diet.”
The event will be interactive. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions of the students and faculty who were selected by SAB to participate in the debate.
Social media will play a role, as audience members are encouraged to tweet their opinions using #TrendingTopicsVME to join the social media discussion.
A tweet wall will be on display and polls will be made available throughout the debate via social media outlets.
The participation on social media should let students share which side of the debate they identify with more, said committee leadership development junior David Kinstley, a member of the Engaging Issues committee.
“We try to focus on events that students are passionate about,” Kinstley said. “This event goes beyond vegetarians and meat-eaters, it has a further message of healthy nutrition.”
The overall goal of the event is to educate students, not to reach a consensus on the topic, Collard added.
“We hold these events as debates, not to try to reach a consensus or change anyone’s opinion,” Collard said. “Rather, our goal is to present students with information from both sides of an issue and empower them to make their own decisions.”
