There were only a few chairs left in the back of the crowded lecture hall. English, film and communication majors alike filled the lecture hall in Dedman Life Sciences to debate the proposed question, “Is College Good for You”?

Opinions clashed over diversity, socioeconomic status, and whether or not college really makes students well rounded or not. Most agreed that college was a “hurdle” society creates or that it is just a place to come and compete.

“It takes 18-20 year olds and puts them in a place for four years until society figures out what to do with them,” said Cody Barras, a senior who is graduating in December.

Tensions grew over the debate on whether college truly produces well-rounded people.

“We’re kidding ourselves if we think that we are diversifying ourselves and becoming well rounded,” said one student in the audience, in regards to attending college.

Preston Hutherson, a senior English major at SMU, and Thomas Augst, a professor from NYU, led the conversation while Tim Cassedy, a professor at SMU, served as a moderator.