UNE College of Arts and Sciences to host Generations event on March 25

Can the world learn more from the current Millennial Generation than what many consider to be the Greatest Generation? That question will be debated and audience members will ultimately decide during a special University of New England College of Arts and Sciences’ Generations event on Wednesday, March 25, 2014 in Leonard Hall.  

The doors to this public event open at 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

“This event is a wonderful opportunity for our faculty, current students and prospective students to showcase their talents and celebrate the College’s liberal arts mission,” said CAS Dean Jeanne Hey. “We want to honor the Greatest Generation in addition to inspiring the current generation to reflect on the challenges ahead and the legacy they hope to leave behind.”

Faculty members David Smith, Ph.D., and Brian Duff, Ph.D., will square off in the debate, which will be moderated by Dean Hey and will allow for audience members to determine the debate’s final outcome. Smith, who will advocate for the Greatest Generation, is a professor of philosophy. Duff, chair of the political science department, will defend the Millennial Generation.

Audience members will have the chance to submit debate questions, and will be treated to a faculty/student video premiere, student art work, and a high school scholarship essay award presentation.

 This event follows last year’s highly successful celebration of the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic visit to UNE, at which time the high school essay contest was established. This year, student writers were asked to reflect on the challenges their generation will face and the legacy their generation will leave behind.

Following the debate, the College of Arts and Sciences will recognize the essay contest’s finalists and award more than $10,000 in scholarship prizes. This year’s essay competition drew 125 entries.