Colgate Students Build Community and Connections Through International Debate

For the Colgate Debate Society, the opportunity to square off against top debaters from the most prestigious universities across the globe has become more than intellectual competition. It is a chance to build friendships and meet others from different cultures.

That was one of the highlights for the Colgate squad when it competed in the Oxford Intervarsity 2024 (known also as Oxford IV), Nov. 9-10.

The tournament, held at Oxford University, welcomed hundreds of students. Many came from U.S. or U.K. institutions, though various European countries and Canada were also represented. In all, 115 teams participated, including three teams from Colgate, each made up of two students.

"The Oxford IV is known for being a particularly challenging tournament, mainly because of the diverse group of debaters and the complex topics that are chosen," says team president Sophia Lee-Wlodek '25, a biochemistry major from Los Angeles.

During debates, students make their arguments using the style followed by the British Parliament. When a motion is made, one side argues in favor of it while the other opposes it. For instance, one of the topics was titled "This House Believes That Developed Countries Should Adopt a Generalist Education System Rather Than a Specialist Education System." Other subjects covered economic matters of foreign nations, politics, and women's rights.

"Participants only have 15 minutes to prepare their speeches, and we're not allowed to use any external sources - no books, no internet, and no AI assistance," Lee-Wlodek said.

Each team competed in five rounds against four other colleges. "We are a fairly competitive team, often being paired against some of the best teams in the tournament," says team treasurer Boen Beavers '26, a political science and Russian and Eurasian studies double major. "My partner and I debated against teams from Cambridge, Harvard, and Brown University."

One of Colgate's three teams earned a first-place finish in one of its rounds. A team from Cambridge won the competition.

The Colgate team prepares for tournaments by practicing two days per week, covering everything from the basics of British Parliament Debate to advanced techniques. The team welcomes debaters of all skill levels and offers opportunities for beginners who wish to compete.

Alongside the Oxford IV, the team's calendar includes the U.S. and world debate championships - Colgate will compete in the world tournament in Panama during winter break.

"Spring semester, our biggest tournament, or one we focus the most on, is our home Colgate Open," Lee-Wlodek says. "That debate is always a great opportunity for our members to learn how tournaments run behind the scenes."

Relationships formed around the world will come in handy. "Within the debate community it is easy to make friends with other students, many of whom are from different countries and cultures, academic disciplines, and walks of life," Beavers says. "This has also allowed us to collaborate with debaters from other countries when we host our own tournament."