The University of Rochester Debate Union completed its most successful tournament of the 2006-07 season last weekend at the 19th annual Forensics Festival hosted by Binghamton University.
All of the debate team’s tournament goals were fulfilled –every team won at least one debate (even debaters attending their first competition), half of the U of R teams advanced to elimination rounds, and the U of R took home first place honors by beating a veteran team from Cornell University on a 2-1 decision in the final round.
In addition to the first place varsity division triumph by the team of Ben
Wittwer (senior) and Buddy Khan (junior), the debate union posted other
highlights including:
The debate team is entering the final phase of the debate season with a full slate of regional and national tournaments in the weeks ahead which will include their defense of the Junior Varsity National Championship.
This season’s debate topic is:
Resolved: The United States Supreme Court should overrule one or more of the
following decisions: Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992); Ex
parte Quirin, 317 U.S. 1 (1942); U.S. v. Morrison, 529 U.S. 598 (2000);
Milliken v. Bradley, 418 U.S. 717 (1974).
The debate union is one of the largest policy debate teams in the county and is open to any undergraduate student. It is centered in the English Department and receives support from the Student Association.
For more information, please contact Director of Forensics Ken R. Johnson at kjohns15@mail.rochester.edu, or (585) 781-0040.