Debate Team Busy On and Off the Floor
Rivers’ Debate Team has been hard at work throughout the year, with members competing in regional and national meets, while also stepping up into leadership roles in JSA, the Junior State of America. This year, Emily Shen ’18 and Olivia Xu ’20 served on the gubernatorial cabinet; Emily was the convention coordinator for the Winter Congress Convention in Washington, D.C. in January, and Olivia was the assistant director of logistics. Yasmin Myers ’20 volunteered as a logistics agent for the convention, which more than 500 students attended.
Harrison Pearlson ’18, president of Rivers Debate and Speech Club, and teammates Elliot Do ’21 and Daniel Weitz ’20 rounded out the team in Washington, and Andrea Villagran served as the team's faculty advisor. Harrison and Elliot co-sponsored a bill to regulate cryptocurrencies. They both presented their arguments clearly and passionately, but unfortunately their bill did not pass.
Earlier in the year, the Debate Team attended the New England Region Fall One Day Conference at Harvard University, alongside Debate Clubs and Junior State of America (JSA) chapters from all over New England. Rivers’ team of six students debated topics of climate change reform and tax reform.
Olivia Xu took the “pro” stance on climate change reform against the JSA Chapter from Wellesley High School. Joe Nedder ’18 followed up as the subsequent speaker, also taking the pro side of the debate. Harrison Pearlson took on the role of subsequent speaker on the topic of decreasing regulation in the context of economic reform. For his part in arguing this case, Harrison was recognized with a Best Speaker Award, an incredibly rare honor for subsequent speakers. Emily Shen, Natalie Hall ’19, and Soobin Lee ’20 also attended the conference.
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