Students Reflect on Trip to DC
Misael Gonzalez and Kevin Hirn from Whitney Young High School in Chicago, Shagun Kukreja from University High School in Newark, and Michael Barlow from Grady High School in Atlanta recently had the honor of meeting the President and several other prominent law- and policy-makers in DC.
Hear straight from the students on their impressions of the trip.
National Urban Debate Champions Visit Washington D.C.
On Thursday, July 22, President Obama welcomed to the Oval Office Misael Gonzalez and Kevin Hirn from Whitney Young High School in Chicago, Shagun Kukreja from University High School in New Jersey, and Michael Barlow from Grady High School in Atlanta. Misael and Kevin are the 2010 Urban Debate National Champions. Kevin, Shagun, and Michael were the top three individual speakers at the Chase Urban Debate National Championship in April. With Misael and Kevin was Chicago Debate League Executive Director Les Lynn. Shagun was joined by Marcia Brown, a Board member of the Jersey Urban Debate League. James Roland, Director of Programs for the National Debate Project and NAUDL Board member, accompanied Michael Barlow from the Atlanta UDL.
In addition to meeting President Obama, the students toured the nation’s capital and met with lawmakers including Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, National Economic Council Director Larry Summers, and over 10 Senators and Representatives.
See more photos from the trip here.
2010 Argument & Research Kit Available Now, with New Debater Resources
Debaters: get a head start on next year's resolution:
"The United States federal government should substantially reduce its military and/or police presence in one or more of the following: South Korea, Japan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey."
The NAUDL Argument & Research Kit for the 2010 resolution is now available. We also have a new page for debate resources, offer tips on researching, affirmative and negative strategies, and tips for effective communication.
Find the 2010 Argument Kit on the Research Resources page. >>
Read about the latest debate tips on the Coaches and Debaters Resources page. >>
College National Debate Tournament Champions Debate Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
The National Association for Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL), the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and the Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) invite you to the 9th PONI Debates the Issues Live Debate.
The debate will be held June 10th at 5:30 PM at the CSIS Conference Center (1800 K Street, NW) in Washington, DC and will be open to the public as well as video-streamed on the web (see link below).
This exhibition debate will feature the champions of the collegiate National Debate Tournament (NDT) from Michigan State University and the winners of the Copeland Award (given to the top-ranked team in the first round, at-large team selections) from Emory University. The resolution debated will be: Resolved: that the United States should ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Read more and watch the debate live >>
Recapping the Arthur N. Rupe Public Demonstration Debate
The NAUDL hosted the best of urban debate during the third annual Chase Urban Debate National Championship in New York City, April 22-25, 2010. The tournament, held at the Chase Conference Centers in Midtown Manhattan, also featured the first Arthur N. Rupe Public Debate Series.
The students, specially from among their peers for their persuasive speaking skills and record of excellence in their respective Urban Debate Leagues (UDLs), debated the topic: “Resolved: The United States federal government should devolve power to the state governments and relevant territories to provide health care to persons living in poverty.” Participants benefited from the feedback of the distinguished panel of judges composed of top practitioners in the business, legal, and education fields.
Jamba Juice Provides Scholarships
This year, the NAUDL and Jamba Juice joined forces to help support student debates focused on the discussion of health, food, and poverty. Jamba Juice provided $10,000 in student and team scholarships to the top speakers and debate champions at the 2010 Chase Urban Debate National Championship.
Tournament Book Available for 2010 Chase Urban Debate National Championship
The NAUDL congratulates again all the students and coaches who qualified for the 2010 Chase Urban Debate National Championship and looks forward to the upcoming weekend of competition and camaraderie. You may now download the Tournament Book, containing information for tournament participants such as schedules, maps, and contact information.
In Memory of Scott Deatherage
The NAUDL’s Executive Director, life-long educator, and our friend and colleague Larry Scott Deatherage passed away the morning of December 25, 2009. He was 47 and died of cardiac arrest.
Throughout his life, Scott believed in the ability of debate to transform the lives of students. As the Executive Director of the NAUDL, Scott turned his extraordinary talent and focus to helping extend learning opportunities to students who might not otherwise have access to debate.
The NAUDL will distribute information regarding memorial services in Scott’s honor as it becomes available at www.urbandebate.org/scott.
On the heels of this tragic loss, please join us in remembering with admiration Scott’s remarkable life and work.
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
The Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) is a public, not-for-profit national organization founded in 1973 as a vehicle to perpetuate the memory of Jackie Robinson and his heroic achievements. It provides college and graduate school scholarships as well as leadership development opportunities for disadvantaged students of color with strong capabilities but limited financial resources. Since its inception, the Foundation has attracted the support of thousands of companies, philanthropic institutions and individuals. The Foundation is distinctive for the depth of its mentoring program, which results in a nearly 100% graduation rate, more than double the national average for minority students. The Foundation also strives to ensure that Jackie Robinson’s commitment to social justice will be carried forth in the lives of these young people as they assume leadership roles throughout society.
Trinity University Launches Urban Debate Scholars Program
The NAUDL is pleased to announce that Trinity University recently launched the Urban Debate Scholars program to provide debate scholarships for graduating seniors. Trinity is proud to be at the forefront of higher education leadership within the Urban Debate Network, and proud of this innovative program which designates debate scholarships for urban debaters.
Trinity University, located in San Antonio, is pleased to offer two scholarships for talented debaters from high schools participating in the Urban Debate Network. The scholarship amount will vary but will ensure that 100% of tuition and fees are paid by a combination of government and institutional grants and scholarships.
Denver Board Co-Chair Named Head of Colorado Department of Higher Education
D. Rico Munn has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education by Governor Bill Ritter. Mr. Munn, who is the Co-Chair of the Denver Urban Debate League Advisory Board, has served as Executive Director of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) since 2007 and assumed his new duties on November 2, 2009. In his new position, Mr. Munn will oversee 27 institutions of higher learning with a total enrollment of 220,000 students. The Colorado Department of Higher Education also oversees a number of student loan programs.
"Competitive and Slightly Unhinged": Why college debaters dominate Washington's political scene
© 2009 Washingtonian Magazine, Inc.; used by permission.
When Politico ran a front-page story about Austan Goolsbee, the headline was DEBATE CHAMP GOES POPULIST FOR OBAMA'S PLAN. The story noted how "silver-tongued" Goolsbee &ndash recently appointed to the President's Council of Economic Advisers &ndash had been a national debate champion at Yale.
"Goolsbee's emergence has come at the right time for Obama," wrote Ben Smith, who speculated that Goolsbee's skills as a talker might help compensate for the unpopularity of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and National Economic Council director Larry Summers.
But Summers was a debater at MIT &ndash renowned, according to Harvard debate coach Dallas Perkins, for his ability to exploit his opponent's mistakes for his own gain.
It's nothing new for debaters to go into politics: More than half the members of Congress have high-school or college debate experience, as do most Presidents and Supreme Court justices.
Houston UDL Debater Speaks at Supreme Court Appointment Ceremony
Emily Lechuga, a Houston Urban Debate League (HUDL) student, was chosen to represent the Austin High School student body at the announcement of the historic appointment of Eva Guzman to the Texas Supreme Court. Justice Eva Guzman, a graduate of Austin High School, is the first Hispanic woman to serve on the Texas Supreme Court.
President Obama's Back to School Remarks
In a back to school speech given Tuesday morning, September 8th, President Obama urged students to embrace activities such as debate in order to expand their potential.
The President remarked, "Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. . . . Maybe you could be a mayor or a Senator or a Supreme Court Justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team."
Read more and watch the speech >>
Save the Date
The NAUDL has just announced the dates of the 2010 Chase Urban Debate National Championship.
The Chase Urban Debate National Championship will take place April 23-25, 2010. It will once again feature the best of urban debate across the country.
The NAUDL wishes you luck in qualifying for this year's National Championship! Details will be announced on this site when they are available.
2009-2010 NAUDL Argument and Research Kit
Get an early start on the 2009-2010 policy debate resolution - Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase social services for persons living in poverty in the United States.
The NAUDL's 2009-2010 Argument and Research Kit is now available for download. These materials will get you started on the upcoming season, while introducing the topic literature and helping you improve your research skills.
Former Debater Becomes Supreme Court Justice
Judge Sonia Sotomayor has succeeded David H. Souter as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Her's one example of the many success stories that debate has helped to make possible.
Read about Judge Sotomayor and debate here >>
Urban Debaters Shine at the 2009 Chase Urban Debate National Championship
The NAUDL is proud to have hosted the best of urban debate during the second annual Chase Urban Debate National Championship. Congratulations to all the teachers, urban debate advocates, and of course, the students - tomorrow's future leaders - for making the weekend one to remember.
See the results, news, photos, and more >>
Urban Debate Alumnus Spotlight: Marcus Leach
You may have heard of Marcus Leach from Joe Miller’s book Cross-X, which follows the personal struggles and victories of Marcus and other urban debaters in Kansas City, Missouri. The NAUDL’s Holly Reiss tried to track down Marcus for an interview and found him in Shanghai, China—taking a year off from Howard Law School to teach English and learn about international trade. Marcus credits debate for his success, saying, “You and I both know where I’d be without debate, and it wouldn’t be here.”
Stephen Colbert Introduces Urban Debate
Hear from Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert on the Chase Urban Debate National Championship and how to become a better debater!
See more videos here.
