Zicklin Students Examine Tech’s Pros and Cons at Baruch Connects Debate

As part of Baruch College’s Respectful Dialogue Series last month, Associate Professors Allison Hahn and Eric Gander of the Weissman School moderated a debate about the benefits and drawbacks of technology. Each side was led by an outside faculty expert, partnered with a Baruch student; there was also a panel of students who posed questions to the teams. 

Entitled “Techno-optimism: The Way Forward or a Dangerous Delusion?,” the debate explored the promises and problems of AI, genetic engineering, and other technological breakthroughs. It encouraged students to think critically, challenge assumptions, and articulate well-reasoned arguments—all essential skills in our increasingly tech-led world. 

Gabriela Flores and Kushagra Bhatia

Zicklin School marketing major Gabriela Flores (BBA, ’26) was a member of the student panel. Her questions challenged the debaters to consider ethical matters, asking, “Are we really advancing if half the world is falling behind? What about the fact that low-income people don’t have access to technology?”  Afterwards, Gabriela admitted she had been a bit nervous before the debate: “I thought I wouldn’t know what to say, but the speakers were very articulate, and that helped me articulate my own thoughts.”  

Kushagra Bhatia (MS, ’26), a graduate student in finance who was in the audience, said the event sparked his interest. “I’d like to further examine the role of AI in education,” he added. 

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