1) Should burning of the American flag be protected under freedom of speech or banned?
2) Should women be allowed to participate in active combat within the American military?
3) Given that cigarette smoking has been proven to be harmful to both smokers and those around them, should a national law be passed making cigarettes illegal?
4) Should English be designated as the official language of America's government? What would be the advantages and disadvantages?
5) Should pornography (whether all sexually explicit images or just those which are particularly violent) be banned? Be sure to deal with the opposition's arguments.
6) Should women be allowed to attend public military academies like the Citadel? If so, should men be allowed to attend public women's colleges?
7) Should public schools be allowed to require students wear school uniforms? What would be the advantages and disadvantages of such a dress code?
8) Do the SATs and other standardized tests accurately reflect academic ability, and should they be used by colleges and universities as a standard for admission and financial aid?
9) Should pedestrians have the right of way?
10) Should sex education be taught in public schools, and if so, what should be taught and at what age? Be specific in your proposal and your reasoning.
11) Given that scientists in Scotland have been able to clone an adult sheep and that many think human cloning cannot be far behind, what--if any--measures should be taken by national or international govnernments to insure that this technology is not abused? What are the ethical considerations of developing such technology?
12) In recent years, the United States has intervened militarily in Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Somalia, Haiti, and Bosnia. Should the United States assume the role of the world's police officer? Refer to one or more of the above examples to build your argument.
13) With the number of illegal immigrants in the United States on the rise, some have suggested that these people should be made ineligible for public aid, and that their children should not be allowed to attend public school. Should these measures become federal law?
14 ) In some countries, a college education is free, paid for by the government for all qualified students. With tuition costs continuing to escalate in the United States, excluding many students and subjecting others to considerable financial hardship, should American universities adopt a free tuition policy? If so, where will the money come from?
15 ) Most of ODU's students are commuters. How has this affected the establishment of a student community, and what might ODU do to foster school spirit and provide a place where graduates will be proud to return as alumni?
16) ODU has many writing requirements: students must take and pass the Writing Sample Placement Test, English 110C, the Exit Exam, and often another English course such as 111 or 112. Should students be allowed to test out of composition classes, or earn exemption from the Exit Exam based on course work? What are the responsibilities of a serious university in terms of making sure its graduates are competent writers?
17) In a recent radio address, President Clinton suggested that in order to discourage teenagers from using drugs, a federal policy should be adopted which would compel states to screen for drug use teens applying for driver's licenses. Argue for or against adoption of this policy. Address questions such as: Would it be effective? Is it discriminatory? Is it an invasion of privacy? Are an individual's rights more or less important than public safety?
18) Some schools have recently taken measures to stamp out racism on their campuses. Some measures include suspension of offenders from classes or offenders' expulsion from dormitories for statements they have made to other students. Do schools have the right to ban such hate speech on campus? Does the First Amendment allow someone to say anything he or she wants, even though that person's intent is to offend and anger someone else?
19) In recent years, users of the Internet have been able to gain access to vast amounts of information. However, many consider some of this information obscene or potentially dangerous, such as child pornography and instructions for making explosive devices. Should there be any attempt to regulate information on the Internet? If so, by whom and according to what standard?
20) Should insurance companies be able to require AIDS testing before providing coverage?
21) Should convicted rapists and child molesters be required to register with the police and notify those living in their neighborhoods when they move? Be sure to explain how these measures would or would not prevent repeat offenses, and address the constitutional implications of such laws.
22) Some states have adopted "three strikes and you're out" laws for repeat offenders, by which a third conviction results in a mandatory life sentence without parole, regardless of the nature of the offense. Do you think this policy is wise, or do you believe a continuing effort should be made to rehabilitate criminals, even after numerous offenses?
23) Many patients' rights activists are currently advocating the legalization of "physician-assisted suicide" for the terminally ill. Do you believe a person has the right to determine when his or her life should end? If so, under what circumstances?
24) Recently several tobacco companies have been sued by terminally ill ex-smokers who claim that cigarette smoking was the direct cause of their diseases. Do you believe that tobacco companies should be forced to pay damages for the illnesses caused by smoking?
25) The average American watches 20 hours of television a week. Recently, however, some groups have been pushing people to spend less time watching television and more time talking and communicating with one another. Does television contribute to Americans' isolation, or is television a great tool for education and entertainment? Draw from your own experience to support your argument.
26) Should there be an income tax in America? Does the government have the right to collect money from its citizens, especially when people have little say in how the money is spent? If there should not be an income tax, what would happen to programs the government supports, such as social security and the military? What responsibilities does the government have toward its people, and what responsibilities do the people have toward the government?
27) To say that adoption by same-sex couples is a difficult process is an understatement--besides the sea of red tape involved, prospective parents who are homosexual must wrestle with societal attitudes that are largely negative. What do these difficulties reveal about "family" values in the US--that is, what does the word "family" connote? What type of "family" does a child need? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the nontraditional family? Be careful of using stereotypes and making judgments without evidence to back it up.
28) The separation of church and government is one of the policies upon which the US was founded. With groups like the conservative Christian Coalition loudly voicing their political opinions--as well as publicly endorsing candidates--this line has been blurred. Should a religious organization be able to influence the election of candidates and passage of laws which affect those who are not part of that religion? Are the these groups trying to legislate morality? How much of a voice, if any, should a church have in government?
29) Ninety million United States citizens of voting age did not vote in the November 1996 election. For decades, feelings of general apathy and complacency toward political issues have characterized most of the US population, despite the fact that many of our parents and grandparents had to fight bitterly, even risk their lives, for the right to vote. Many people have suggested ways to get every citizen out to vote, including fines for those who do not vote, or a tax credit for those who do. Is voting a right or responsibility? Explain the difference, and argue for or against adopting stronger measures which would encourage people to vote.
30) One hundred nine of America's top five hundred companies have no women on their executive boards. More than half of America's small businesses, on the other hand, are owned by women. Given these facts and the fact that the largest group of people helped by Affirmative Action is women, evaluate Affirmative Action. Has AA done enough to help disadvantaged groups? Is it effective? Has AA already accomplished all it can? Should, as some people contend, AA's mandatory hiring requirements be dropped? If so, should AA be replaced with something that might more effectively help disadvantaged groups?
31) Now that California has legalized marijuana for medical use and other states seem inclined to follow, certain anti-drug groups are concerned that this opens the door for other legalizations. Scientists have distilled the "active ingredient" in marijuana, THC, into pill form, though this costs about $500 for a thirty day supply, and a month's supply of marijuana costs between $50 and $100. Currently, the federal government even supplies a handful of people with medical marijuana for treatment of severe pain in terminal cases or cataracts. Should marijuana be legalized nationally for medical use? If so, for what medical conditions could it be prescribed?
