Debaters Prepare for Newark Invitational

By Margarita Morales

February 4, 2010- The Jersey Urban Debate League is special in that it offers debate from the 5th grade through college. Over the past two weekends, debaters from middle school, high school, and Rutgers University have competed in the league's public forum, Lincoln-Douglas, and Policy debate divisions. For the high school students it's been an intense preparation for this weekend's Newark Invitational.

To start, two weekends ago middle school students competed at West Side High School, high school debaters competed at Columbia University, and Rutgers University competed at the United States Naval Academy.

At the 10th Annual Columbia University Invitational tournament 11 Lincoln-Douglas debaters and 2 Public Forum teams from Science Park and University High School competed in five rounds of debate. In the Novice LD division Aaliyah Lewis received 5th place out of 80 speakers. In Varsity, Carlos Astacio received 21st place, Elijah Smith received 23rd place, and Muta Mashack received 24th place out of 110 speakers, winning four rounds.

At the 53rd Annual United States Naval Academy Debate Tournament in Annapolis, Maryland from Jan. 23-25, Rutgers University sent 1 varsity and 1 JV team. Kevin Cenac placed 13th speaker in the JV division.

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University HS Granted Barkley Forum Chair

By Brent Farrand

February 2, 2010 - The Newark debate program reached another milestone this weekend. Based upon outstanding competitive record, University High School was granted a chair in Emory University's prestigious Barkley Forum for High Schools. The chair is active as of January 31, 2010.

This achievement makes Newark only one of three school districts in the United States to hold two chairs in the Barkley Forum - Glenview, Ill and New York City are the other two. Science Park High School has held a chair since 1990.

The Barkley Forum is a national honor society for high school debate programs founded by Vice President Barkley in 1955. A chair in the Barkley Forum is granted on the basis of a consistent record of superior achievement in national level competition. The granting of a chair is not only a symbolic honor but also qualifies the school for automatic entry of two policy debate teams and two Lincoln Douglas debaters in Emory University's annual national tournament for high schools. Currently, 140 public and private schools in the nation hold chairs at the Barkley Forum.

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Newark to host first ever Round Robin Tournament

By Margarita Morales

January 28, 2010 - On Feb. 4 and 5 Science Park High School will hold the first Annual Newark Lincoln-Douglas Round Robin tournament in conjunction with the 28th Annual Newark Debate Invitational. The tournament will bring 16 of the nation's best high school debaters for two days of head to head intellectual battle. Students from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Texas will compete. LD debate coach, Johnathan Alston spearheaded the tournament.

In high school debate a "Round Robin" is when highly competitive students are invited for a special, smaller tournament before a much larger one at the same site. The purpose of a "Round Robin" debate is to attract the best debaters from around the region and country to your tournament.

Schools competing from New Jersey include, Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, Millburn High School, and Whippany Park High School plus University and Science Park High School. Schools from out of state include The Greenhill School in Texas, Brooklyn Technical High School and Monticello High School in New York, William Allen High School and Bodine High School in Pennsylvania, Baltimore City College in Maryland, and Thomas Jefferson High School in Virginia.

University High seniors Elijah Smith and Carlos Astacio and Science Park High School senior Muta Mashack will compete in these highly competitive debates.

"The Round Robin will be judged by an eclectic mix of elite high school coaches, college debaters, former debaters, and people who deal with the moral and practical implications of policy in the real world," Alston said.

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Newark Invitational: 300+ students from 8 states

By Margarita Morales

January 27, 2010 - This year the Newark Invitational will be held at two different schools based on division, due to the size of the tournament and to make it easier to manage. Therefore, the Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum Division will be held at Science Park High School and the Policy Debate Division will be held at East Side High School.

Schools from Newark competing, include American History, Science Park, Technology, University, Newark Liberation, and Barringer High School.

"Over the past 28 years, the Newark Invitational Tournament has grown from a small one day event into a major Northeast tournament," Director Brent Farrand said. "This year we begin the process of growing it into a national tournament placed on the calendars of many school districts across the country."

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