Phi Theta Kappa held a Question and Answer “Prof-Off,” March 14 during which three faculty professors debated “The Power of the Individual.”

English professor Dr. Melanie Eckford-Prossor, political science professor Dr. Manoutchehr Eskandari and philosophy professor Joe White discussed student-submitted questions with a crowd of about 100. City College students Holly Highfill and Spencer Moore moderated the discussion.

“One thing we have to know for sure is that we don’t know everything” said Eskandari in response to the first question about our generation’s “intellectual ignorance.”

In response, Eckford-Prossor said, “It’s good to have a sense of our own limitations, you know?”

While the debate remained mostly serious, the professors had no trouble poking fun.

“How many people are here because you thought it would be a prof-fight?” White asked to the group of laughing students seated throughout the Physical Science lecture hall.

A common theme was that this generation of college students has been experiencing a lack of conviction and due to social media, has become more and more lax about thoughts and ideas. The professors agreed that very few students speak up in class and are unsure with their thoughts and allow laziness to get the best of them.

“Conviction is good as long as you’ve done the heavy lifting…you need more than just conviction,” said White.

Many students chimed into the conversation and asked the professors questions about how to stop suppressing intellect.

“In a super connected generation you can speak your convictions in 120 characters or less,” said Eskandari.

Eckford-Prossor disagreed with Eskandari about using social media websites to express thoughts and ideas, and that this generation “buy[s] into the silence” caused by Facebook and Twitter.

The professors were not reluctant to admit to their own ignorance either.

“There are many things that I don’t know and cannot know…you wake up every morning and you are more ignorant,” White said.

Through the punchy remarks and occasional disagreements, the panel was able to impart many words of wisdom on the young audience.

“I think some things that are true are beautiful, but not all things that are beautiful are true,” said White. “Let me tell you something true…my grandmother loves polyester.”

One student asked Dr. Eskandari regarding the most powerful thing to be learned at City College.

“You are very rich, so congratulations,” said Eskandari. “Where else would you want to be?”