Western Washington University

10/28/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/28/2024 12:54

Western's debate team wins top honors at season's first event in Eugene

Western's debate team wins top honors at season's first event in Eugene

October 28, 2024

Western students Patrick Meister and Julia Olson won the championship round in the Junior division, beating a team from Cal State Northridge.

The Western Debate Union, WWU's nationally recognized intercollegiate debate program, recently claimed top honors at its first competition of the season. Western sent nine pairs of debaters to represent at the David Frank Tournament of Scholars, hosted by the University of Oregon Oct. 19-20 in Eugene, Oregon. Western's contingent varied in both debate experience (several members were participating in their first competition) and academic interests (four of WWU's seven colleges were represented).

Six rounds of debate, all focusing on the issue of climate change and sustainability, took place among several public and private universities including Gonzaga University, the University of Puget Sound, the University of Minnesota, Arizona State University, and others from around the country. Competitively, it was a solid opening weekend for the Vikings with five partnerships producing winning records over the course of the weekend. No school escaped unscathed, with every Western team claiming at least one victory. Seven Vikings were also honored among the top of the field in individual rankings at the end of the tournament in the areas of evidence, analysis, advocacy skills, and community building. The standouts of the weekend were the team of Julia Olson and Patrick Meister who advanced to the championship round in the Junior Division. In a close debate with California State University-Northridge, Julia and Patrick emerged victorious as the top Junior team.

The Western Debate Union travels next to Spokane for an event hosted by Gonzaga University. The debate topic remains the issue of national climate policy. Of particular concern is whether the United States should implement market-based instruments, such as a carbon tax, to ward off the worst consequences of climate change. Students also explore the economic, environmental, and social consequences of decarbonizing the American economy, while raising larger questions about the role that capitalism, colonialism, and other hierarchical structures play.

WWU debaters Abbie Halpin and Annabelle Eckel work on arguments between rounds.

WWU sophomore Erin Casey looks forward to unpacking "how the US can move forward in its climate policy" over the course of the year, appreciating how debate helps her "understand the complex nature of creating a more sustainable future and how we can learn to advocate for a socially equitable transition into renewable energy." The gravity of the topic was also not lost on Assistant Coach Carter Henman, who noted that "it is inspiring to see a growing number of young people actively working to arm themselves with the skills they'll need to navigate the future" in the face of the chaos, uncertainty, and crises we confront daily.

The Western Debate Union is a co-curricular program that enjoys critical support from all students (via the services & activities fee), as well as the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Department of Communication Studies, who believe in the mission of providing students the core liberal arts skills of advocacy, critical thinking, information literacy, and a host of others.

These benefits were not lost on WWU frosh Kylan Peterson, who remarked that "the debate team has provided me the tools and environment to vastly develop as a speaker and gain vital skills for my future career." The Union also takes seriously its mission to equip and support all students committed to acquiring skills and success through debate regardless of previous experience.

Amelia Rice commented that "as a first-year debater, I was really nervous about my first tournament but soon realized that I was more prepared than I thought I was, and I learned a lot about how to debate just in the five rounds of the tournament!" Western Debate is just one of several other national caliber programs on campus organized under the Departmentally Related Activities Committee. The mentorship, experience, and community these activities offer is what ultimately brings many to our campus community.

Assistant Coach Tramanh Dao, who is new to the program this year, saw this impact immediately, noting she has seen "an exciting amount of engagement, with students earnestly taking on the challenges and the learning opportunities, collectively preparing and then advocating for their positions throughout their debates."

In addition to the ongoing legacy of competitive success and the manifold benefits associated with debating, for many students the activity is simply home, the community where they have succeeded in finding their people.

Beginning her second year with the program, Annabelle Eckel said it best: "Debating in Eugene was an unforgettable learning experience. I had the opportunity to dive deeply into a topic that direly needs to be discussed, with a community of absolutely lovely people."

Western's Debate Vikings eagerly look forward to the next opportunity!