Students Earn Victories and Make Contacts at Debate Conference

The event gave students the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and civil debate with other JSA students from the Northeast as well as to expand their networks and form alliances to find support for their resolutions. Olivia Xu ‘20, who is serving this term as JSA’s Director of Logistics, worked alongside the director of the convention to ensure a successful conference.

Shamila Santana ‘21 and Adebiyi Oyaronbi ‘21 stepped in to argue that the Black Panther’s fictional country of Wakanda was not morally obligated to share its utopic resources with the world. Alex Gorbatov ‘21 creatively presented his case to drop the penny as a form of currency. Elliot Do ‘21 was fully invested in a Compromise Debate arguing for the importance to keep affirmative action policies in place to level the playing field in America. Jameson Mannix ‘21 successfully argued that child marriage should be banned in all states of the United States. His resolution passed with overwhelming support, 38-3.

 

Senior debater Bradley Stoller ‘19 participated in an “on-the-spot” debate during the conference. Presented with the question “Can something that is morally wrong, be politically right?” at the beginning of the session, Bradley drew upon his historical knowledge to produce a passionate opening speech and subsequent rebuttals that earned him the prize for best speaker in his debate.

 

In the coming weeks, all debate members will write bills that will be proposed and discussed during Winter Congress, which will take place February 7-10 in Washington, D.C.