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DEBATE HAWKS HOST 3RD ANNUAL JERSEY SHORE INVITATIONAL

The Monmouth University (MU) Debate Hawks hosted the 3rd annual Jersey Shore Invitational Debate Tournament on January 26 and 27.  Over 120 college debaters representing twelve universities participated in this NDT/CEDA (National Debate Tournament/Cross Examination Debate Association) sanctioned tournament, including debaters from the West Point Military Academy, Boston College, West Virginia University, and George Mason University to name a few.  The students debated the following resolution: Resolved: The United States Federal Government Should Substantially Reduce Restrictions on and/or Substantially Increase Financial Incentives for Energy Production in the United States of One or More of the Following: Coal, Crude Oil, Nuclear Power, Natural Gas, Solar Power, and Wind Power.  

Two MU Debate Teams (Sam Maynard and Lianne Kulik and Kelly Craig and Michelle Grushko) earned trophies at the tournament by making it to the quarterfinal playoff rounds.  Team captains Lexi Todd and Dan Roman scored impressive victories in the upper debate division.  Dylan Maynard and Jessica Roberts just missed making it into the playoff round with a 3-3 record, and first time debaters Bill Scarano and Harsimran Jhim also made an impressive showing. 

Each two person team is required to compete in six rounds of debate, three on the affirmative and three on the negative, with each debate round lasting approximately two hours.  Teams that make it into the playoff rounds continued debating into Sunday evening’s championship round.  The debate rounds took place in classrooms across Monmouth University’s campus.  Former Debate Hawks, now in Law School, returned to campus to help judge at the tournament. 

The Debate Hawks would also like to thank all of the volunteers for helping run the tournament including Olivia Mills, Arielle Bavarsky, Brandon Johnson, Liz Anderson, Ryan Kelly, and Nikhil and Jaya Patten. 

For more information, contact Dr. Joseph Patten atjpatten@monmouth.edu.