February 12, 2011 - Newark debaters competed with the best high school speakers, thinkers, and arguers on the east coast at the Newark Invitational, JUDL's own regional tournament. The invitational has become one of the go-to debate tournaments among high school Policy, Lincoln-Douglas, and Public Forum debaters. In its second year, the LD round robin, which was started by Jonathan Alston was held at Science High School on Feb. 3 before the two-day tournament.

For results, go to Tabroom.com.

The commitment to debate excellence the league has instilled and visualized outside the program has gained attention from leagues across the country. This has resulted in leagues eager to compete with Newark debaters from schools in Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Massachusetts, to name a few. This competition is what helps debaters be the best they can be. The exposure debaters get to different cases, argumentation styles, and different types of debaters challenges them to think on their feet once in the round using a mix of evidence and analytical arguments to prove their case.

As always the policy tournament was held at East Side School, while Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum were held at Science High School. Over 370 debaters competed in the three debate formats.

The reaction to the tournament from Newark Public Schools administration, the league itself, and the New York Urban Debate League was well received.

In an email, Roger Leon, the assistant superintendent for Newark Public Schools wrote, "Very impressive event. You made NPS proud."

Jon Cruz, the director of Forensics at The Bronx High School of Science gave thanks to the league.

"I just wanted to say thank you again for an exceptional educational experience for my kids this weekend," he said. "They had a fantastic time. (My kids who won awards were excited, but I think when kids compliment a tournament that they didn't do all that well at a tournament sing the event's praises, you know you've put on a good tournament.) I was especially excited that the kids had an opportunity to be judged by so many solid judges with such diverse backgrounds."

The league's own Brent Farrand congratulated Jonathan Alston, Kurt Shelton, Militza Diaz, and Randy Mitchell for running the tournament.

"A very professional and classy tournament," he wrote in an e-mail. "Because of your efforts Newark is becoming a destination of choice for debaters."

He continued, that the four, "have lifted the Invitational from a second tier tournament to top tier..."

Finally, Farrand wrote that a well run and recognized tournaments like the Invitational is what the league needs to more forward.

"We are bonded together in the mission to make Newark a fully recognized regional hub of academic debate. The next three building blocks - a regional collegiate tournament at Rutgers-Newark, a debate charter school and the Chicago study replicated in Newark."