Reflection of a Rookie Debate Season

 Sofia Rodas ‘19

May 2016

Calling all hesitant debaters! The BHSEC Debate team is looking for new members to join our ranks under the leadership of captain Maya Rubin, 10th, and her staff. We’ve been to a lot of tournaments in the past year and I’m happy to say that not only do we recruit natural debaters and give them experience, but also we show new members how to get involved and get results. As a freshman and first time debater I left my first tournament excited and with the lowest possible award, but from there on, with the help of then-captain and long time debater Max Neuman, Y2,  and my brilliant partner Maya Rubin, I’ve graduated to better results and I honestly enjoy myself more. 

This past year we went to tournaments at Sunset Park High School and William Grady High School in Brooklyn; Nest +M in Manhattan; City and State Championships at Harvest Collegiate and Bronx Science with the New York City Urban Debate League. In addition, we attended a tournament at Regis High School with the Catholic Forensics League.  I also attended the BHSEC Tournament up at Bard College, where the BHSECs from Cleveland, Manhattan, Newark, and Queens got together for a couple days of community building and debating. 

At every one of these tournaments we have come back not only feeling fulfilled, but with trophies often in both Novice and Advanced divisions of Public Forum debate. Tournaments give out both team awards, based on cohesive and persuasive arguments, and awards for speaker points, based on style and delivery. Maya and I came very close to winning the State Championships by taking home a second place Novice trophy and two Novice speaker awards in the top ten. At City Championships, BHSEC earned two Advanced and two Novice speaker awards in addition to second and fourth place teams in their respective divisions. 

We’ve debated everything from matters of foreign policy like the American troops stationed in Japan to matters hitting close to home like welfare and infrastructure. One doesn’t need to know anything about these topics in advance but should prepared to study them. Within the club, on occasion, we’ve had debates amongst ourselves about topics like marriage equality and abortion. I have learned so much in my experience as a debater so far and plan to remain a faithful member to the club throughout the rest of my time at BHSEC.

With Year 2 debaters Max Neuman, Amory Benjamin,  Amy Milin and Josh Waldman graduating this year, we need new people to help us build up our numbers as a passionate community. We want to reach out to all BHSEC students with an interest in speech and debate. Please attend a debate meeting with any inquiries that you may have Tuesdays after school in room 306.