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TwitterMiddle School Public Debate Program
ESU Sponsored Debate Teams Win National Tournament
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Hunter College middle school debate teams, members of the New York Debate League, won the top awards at the Middle School Public Debate Program National Championship Tournament on April 20th in Claremont, CA. The New York Debate League, sponsored by the ESU, participates in the Claremont McKenna Middle School Public Debate Program, which hosted the national tournament.
Hunter College teams won first, second and third place, and were the only teams to be undefeated, each winning all five of their debate rounds. This is the first time in the 11 years of the program that a school has swept the top three places. Hunter's first place team won the Grand Final round, arguing against the proposition that "The U.S. President should have the authority to execute American citizens without judicial oversight." Kate Shuster, Ph.D., founder and co-director of the MSPDP, said, "Not only did they show an audience of hundreds that middle school students can debate serious issues better than most politicians, but they set an example for future generations of middle school debaters. This is the first time in eleven years that New York has won the tournament, and we expect great things from these exceptional young students."
To read more about the Hunter College Middle School students, click here.
Pictured, above: Hunter College Middle School debate teams at the MSPDP Debate Tournament. From left to right: Marin Silverman, Maria Williams (Coach), Hannah Oblak, Gemma Sack, Georgeanne Dinan, Arthur Lowenstein, Lizzie McCord, Emily Tran, Ben Crossan (Coach), Kaley Pillinger, Nina Potischman, David Maluf, Joshua Moriarty, and Maddy Cheshire.