The Eagle vs. the Turkey: Which is more American?
The Eagle vs. the Turkey: Which is more American?
March 30, 2023
Faculty members and undergraduate students will go head to head in a mock academic debate as they work to answer the question, "The Eagle vs. the Turkey: Which is More American?" on Monday, April 3, in Rowan's Business Hall. Debaters--one professor and one student on each team-- will employ the rich scholarship of their various academic disciplines as they examine the comparative patriotic virtues of their chosen fowl.
In what has become a Rowan University tradition, an interdisciplinary lineup of two University faculty members and two undergraduate students will once again engage in a humorous academic debate titled “The Eagle vs. the Turkey: Which is More American?” on Monday, April 3.
The intentionally silly debate is traditionally held to mark April Fools’ Day at Rowan.
Presented by the Rowan Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship and moderated by Ben Dworkin, founding director at RIPPAC, the debate begins at 7 p.m. in Room 104 of Business Hall, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro.
Admission is free and open to the public, but debate attendees are asked to bring a donation for The SHOP, Rowan’s food pantry and resource center for students. Requested items include non-perishable and microwavable food, as well as personal hygiene products.
To facilitate the debate and suggest a question to be asked of either team, register online.
“This debate is a much-needed moment of levity in an otherwise very serious political world,” Dworkin explains. “It’s a time when we can learn and laugh as a community, all while supporting students in need.”
The four debaters—two on both Team Eagle and Team Turkey—will be clad in full academic regalia and will employ the rich scholarship of their various academic disciplines as they examine the comparative patriotic virtues of their chosen fowl.
Team Eagle will be represented by Rick Dammers, dean of the College of Performing Arts, and senior molecular and cellular biology major Aaron Agostini.
Team Turkey features Cori Brown, associate professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary and Inclusive Education in the College of Education, and junior political science major Alyssa Morgen.
Each debater will have approximately eight minutes to make their case before the live audience. The winner of the debate will be decided through crowd applause.
Team Turkey won last year’s debate.
RIPPAC is dedicated to informing, engaging, and training Rowan students, faculty, and the public in politics, policy, and citizen engagement. To accomplish this, the Institute hosts programs and guest speakers; supports students through academic and career development, internships and scholarships; and connects faculty and students from across the University with public entities to facilitate public policy research and discussion.