The Compass

What's this whole debate about?

Thursday, February 19, 2009 By Dominic Mostella

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Most people don’t know that Northwestern is a legendary debate school from the past. With the hopes of making it a debating legend in the future. As a matter of fact, Northwestern won the debate championship in the 1999-2000 season. The main focus of this year’s debate competitions is government issues. The debate team moves onto rounds depending on how they study the opponent’s arguments and counter debate them. “In debating students work in teams of two competing against the other schools. At each tournament, debaters have to argue both the positives and the negatives,” said Jared Soloman , a coach of the debate team. The way to get points debating is to make strong arguments, and the way you present them, also, when you have a convincing counter argument against your opponent. “So far we’ve only been to two tournaments, but at both tournaments we preformed very well,” said Soloman. The other coach is Saul Cohen . He lead the law and leadership program at Northwestern. To be a debater you must enjoy speaking and arguing. Most importantly, like any sport you must be willing to work hard. That’s exactly what Northwestern is about, placing 10 out of 52 speeches, and had one of the highest total points at the tournaments. Solomon said, “all we need to do is practice, and have more students participate. So come join the team.”