2008 Woodie Awards
UNL panel of students meet to discuss intelligent design and the theory of evolution
By: U- WIRE
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: Campus
LINCOLN, Neb. - Five University of Nebraska-Lincoln students came together last night to discuss intelligent design and the theory of evolution at a forum, "Darwin Meets Design."
The UNL student organization, Ideas Have Consequences, hosted the panel discussion to inform students about the two concepts.
"The idea really grew," said Nathan Derenge, a freshman accounting major and the marketing director of the event. "It started really small, but by the end we ended up doing a UNL event with a panel."
IHC attended meetings of campus ministries, the geology club and other campus groups to find potential panelists.
The group interviewed interested students to choose six - three who believe in evolution, which is widely accepted by the science community, and three who believe in intelligent design, the idea that nature is too complex to have been arrived at through evolution - who would be more objective than emotional during the debate. Discussion over the issue tends to become heated quickly, said Royce Hocij, a freshman biochemistry major and vice president of IHC.
The organization decided to hold the discussion in a panel forum to keep the debate on a student level, though the panelists all studied extensively to prepare.
"We wanted to keep with a fairly UNL student base," Hocij said. "By the student and for the student."
Darwin Meets Design first gave the intelligent design panelists time to present a PowerPoint slideshow with basic points about their conclusions.
"It's reasonable to infer design on biological systems," said Tobias Davis, a sophomore biological engineering major. "It's not anything about who the designer was."
The evolution supporters - who were missing one member - gave a rebuttal before presenting their slideshow.
Panelists used examples of eyes, bicycles and motorcycles to defend their standpoints.
"Things that look similar does not mean they're related to each other through any evolutionary means," Davis said.
After both sides had their say, the crowd of more than 100 people submitted questions for a question and answer session with the panelists.
IHC plans to hold more similar events.
"Questions lead to answers and answers lead to knowledge," Hocij said. "The main purpose of this event is to inform, not to sway your opinion."
The UNL student organization, Ideas Have Consequences, hosted the panel discussion to inform students about the two concepts.
"The idea really grew," said Nathan Derenge, a freshman accounting major and the marketing director of the event. "It started really small, but by the end we ended up doing a UNL event with a panel."
IHC attended meetings of campus ministries, the geology club and other campus groups to find potential panelists.
The group interviewed interested students to choose six - three who believe in evolution, which is widely accepted by the science community, and three who believe in intelligent design, the idea that nature is too complex to have been arrived at through evolution - who would be more objective than emotional during the debate. Discussion over the issue tends to become heated quickly, said Royce Hocij, a freshman biochemistry major and vice president of IHC.
The organization decided to hold the discussion in a panel forum to keep the debate on a student level, though the panelists all studied extensively to prepare.
"We wanted to keep with a fairly UNL student base," Hocij said. "By the student and for the student."
Darwin Meets Design first gave the intelligent design panelists time to present a PowerPoint slideshow with basic points about their conclusions.
"It's reasonable to infer design on biological systems," said Tobias Davis, a sophomore biological engineering major. "It's not anything about who the designer was."
The evolution supporters - who were missing one member - gave a rebuttal before presenting their slideshow.
Panelists used examples of eyes, bicycles and motorcycles to defend their standpoints.
"Things that look similar does not mean they're related to each other through any evolutionary means," Davis said.
After both sides had their say, the crowd of more than 100 people submitted questions for a question and answer session with the panelists.
IHC plans to hold more similar events.
"Questions lead to answers and answers lead to knowledge," Hocij said. "The main purpose of this event is to inform, not to sway your opinion."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 5
C. David Parsons
posted 4/09/08 @ 3:00 PM EST
Intelligent design is a compromise to true science.
THERE IS A NEW DISCIPLINE:
The Quest for Right, a series of 7 textbooks created for the public schools, represents the ultimate marriage between an in-depth knowledge of biblical phenomena and natural and physical sciences. (Continued…)
b
posted 4/10/08 @ 10:18 AM EST
Evolution is a false idea that takes more faith to believe in it then does intelligent design. Darwin was nothing more then an ignorant racist. He taught that blacks were ape like and whites were the highest form. (Continued…)
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