Black United Students, Advocates of Cultural Knowledge, Focus on the Future and Undergraduate Student Government will present “The Great Debate: Transformation Through Words” Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.

“Actual teams will be debating controversial issues, and actress Jurnee Smollett will be moderator for it,” said Danea Rhodes, programmer for Black United Students.

A “common ground for students of all ethnicities” to interact, the event will allow students to display, create and support analytical arguments, according to a press release. The debate will mirror the movie “The Great Debate,” in which Smollett starred with Denzel Washington.

The topics of the debate won’t be revealed until the event, Rhodes said, and there is a $300 scholarship prize for the winning team.

The debate is free for Kent State students and $5 for non-students.

-Daniel Moore