The great debate of affirmative action comes to the Iowa State campus tonight. The debate in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union is at 8 p.m. and features two prominent figures: Michael Eric Dyson and Dinesh D’Souza.

Michael Eric Dyson, supporter of affirmative action, brings with him a very diverse background. An ordained Baptist minister, Dyson is also an award-winning author and a former pastor. Currently, he is the director of the Institute of African American Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“Students are very happy to have him back,” Pat Miller, head of the lecture committee at Iowa State said. Miller added that Dyson was here in January and gave a riveting speech for Dr. Martin Luther King’s celebration.

His engaging oratorical talent has earned him top praise from many of the nation’s leading publications. Village Voice said Dyson possesses an “irresistible preacher’s cadence and cast-iron memory.” He has shared his commentary on American Culture on such programs as “Nightline,” “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and BET as well.

Dyson has written for a variety of publications including The Washington Post, The New York Times, Rolling Stone and Quincy Jones’s Vibe magazine. Besides these efforts he has also written for a number of cultural magazines and has been featured on the cover of the influential Chronicle of Higher Education. In 1992, Dyson captured the Award of Excellence in Journalism for Magazines from the National Association of Black Journalists.

His first book, Reflecting Black: African American Cultural Criticism was released the following year before he completed his dissertation. Three other books have followed: Making Malcolm: The Myth and Meaning of Malcolm X, From God To Gangsta’ Rap: Notes on Black Culture.

His upcoming release, Race Rules, is a compilation of essays on topics ranging from the O.J. Simpson Trial to the highly charged gender issues of the popular film Waiting To Exhale.

Dinesh D’Souza, a bestselling author and former White House domestic policy analyst during the Reagan administration, will bring a conservative point of view to the debate. D’Souza has undertaken the first comprehensive look into the nature, history and meaning of racism.

“He has appeared on many television programs,” Miller said, “including ‘The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour,’ ‘Nightline,’ and ‘Crossfire.'”

Wherever D’Souza goes he shares his expertise on a number of social and political matters including higher education, religion and public policy, cultural issues and politics, social and individual responsibility and the debate’s topic, affirmative action.

His first publication, 1991’s Illiberal Education: The Politics Of Race And Sex On Campus made it to the New York Times bestseller list. D’Souza has caused controversy with his most recent bestseller, The End Of Racism.

“He expanded the limits of acceptable discourse about race,” says Miller. “Through his book he offers a way out of the deadlocked debate on race by setting forth principles that will guide us in creating a multiracial society.”