It promotes discussion of new ideas and provides a facility by which academics, researchers, policy- makers, and practitioners in the City can meet and debate issues of current importance.

As in the previous gatherings, musical festivals and theatrical productions displayed Acadian culture, and academics debated the meaning of Acadia in the 21st century.

As the Reagan ruling suggests, academics and teachers have for decades debated whether black English should be recognized as its own tongue, a question charged with issues of race and class.

While academics debate the impact of the media on public opinion, lobbying organisations view the media as essential in influencing public perceptions of the conflict and, therefore, as paramount in influencing and securing favorable public policy in relation to the conflict.

Officials and academics are debating how, and if, the coming census can count the unregistered children from unapproved pregnancies, collectively known as the "black population."

Four years later, academics are still debating the appropriateness of Bernard Shaw's asking Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, the Democratic nominee, whether, if his wife were raped and murdered, he would favor the death penalty for the killer.

Qualified academics have debated the arguments for and against and the possible statistical problems, and have still concluded that it holds up.

Michael B. Alexander, the executive vice president and general manager of the station, said he would let journalists and academics debate the social consequences of such a program.

For centuries, academics had debated the difference between people and animals.

While many academics debate the wisdom of Eurocentrism and define the late 20th century as a postcolonial era, musicians and listeners have been exploring remote styles.