High schoolers fling logic and reason at each other

Zuri Hunter has the demeanor more of an easygoing teenager than of a skilled and competitive debater. But when the petite and soft-spoken 16-year-old Newark resident entered one of her matches yesterday, her brown eyes took on a hard edge, and she threw a skeptical glance at her opponent, a student from Brooklyn's Metropolitan Corporate Academy.

"Can you sum your argument in simpler terms?" Hunter asked DeAsia Oliver before the two teens parried back and forth on environmental policy.

The students were taking part in the 28th annual Newark Invitational.

The two-day event, which started Friday night in East Side High School and Science Park High, is one of the largest debate gatherings for high school students in the Northeast, said Brent Farrand, one of the organizers. More than 240 students from 43 different schools and six states participated.

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3rd Middle School Tournament a Success

January 28, 2009 - On Jan. 24 the Jersey Urban Debate League held its 3rd middle school tournament for the 2008/2009 season at West Side High School. Seventy three teams from 19 schools competed in a three round tournament on the topic: Resolved that the federal government should shift tax credits from Big Oil to Alternative energy firms. This was the last tournament under this resolution.

Director Brent Farrand announced the spring 2009 middle grades conference resolution: The United State federal government should substantially increase incentives for biofuels.

At the awards assembly Farrand warmed the debaters with some inspiring words.

"I do need to let you know that the mission of this league has always been to lift your eyes- the debaters eyes from the sidewalk to the horizon, because if we keep focused on the sidewalk we get distracted from what our inner strengths are, but when we look out at the horizon we can see the path clearly that will lead you to actualize all the potential that is in you and all that is shown to you being here to debate," Farrand said.

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