JUDL helps Rutgers University run first college debate tournament, hosts high school round robin

By Margarita Morales
Published November 28, 2011

NEWARK, NJ - The Jersey Urban Debate League assisted Rutgers University first college debate tournament from Nov. 18-20. JUDL alumni judged and high school debaters helped keep the tournament running smoothly along with Rutgers University debaters. Director Brent Farrand also made an appearance and helped run tab.

Between debaters, judges, and runners, Rutgers held over 200 people in 3 divisions of debate (open, junior varsity, and novice). Schools from New York, Connecticut, New York City, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Washington D.C. participcated including New York University, Columbia University, and Monmouth University.

The tournament was an inter-regional tournament in that schools from the mid-atlantic and east coast debated together. In addition, the tournament was held over three days unlike most college tournaments which are normally two days. On Friday was a preliminary round, then four rounds each on Saturday and Sunday. College debate is similar to high school debate with the exception of each speech being a minute longer.

The college students debated under the resolution: Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially increase its democracy assistance for one or more of the following: Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen.

Director of debate at the City University of New York, Vic Keenan said that the tournament was "one of the largest college debate tournaments in the country" for the season.

Keenan said that her Junior Varsity and Varsity debaters research to build their own cases, while novice debaters get to choose between two affirmative cases and a limited number of negative arguments to use.

"People are excited - there's great energy - for some it's their first time ever debating," Keenan said about her CUNY debaters in the tournament.

In addition to the college tournament, a high school round robin was held. Participating schools included Technology, American History, University, and Science High School.

"The idea is that it will give the high school kids a chance to meet college debaters and coaches," said JUDL's Program Administrator Militza Diaz.