This public debate, modeled on the Braver Angels debate format, invites University of Mississippi students, faculty, and staff; Lafayette County Leadership; city of Oxford leaders; developers, affordable housing advocates, and residents in and around Lafayette County to engage in a structured, civil debate on the current state of housing in and around Oxford. Unlike traditional debates that focus on winning, persuading, and attacking opposing viewpoints, this event will ask participants to think together, listen carefully to one another, and allow themselves to be touched and perhaps changed by each other’s ideas. This event is part of a service-learning project associated with IMC 559-01, a course that serves as a “capstone” experience for M.S. IMC students. It is taught by Graham Bodie, Ph.D. Our time together will center around the following resolution: Resolved: The partnership between Lafayette County, the City of Oxford, and the University of Mississippi deserves a good grade (A or B) for how it has addressed housing challenges while balancing the interests of students, employees, residents, visitors, and developers.

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

6:30 pm

EST

Oxford, MS