The Colgate Debate Society is looking to build on its successes of the past year as a new semester of competition approaches.
Following the 2008-09 academic year, the Debate Society received the Debate Program of the Year award from the Society Advocating More and Better Argumentation.
The award is given annually to the college debate team that “best illustrates the qualities associated with the founding ideals of the organization”: winning with grace, losing with class, and demonstrating concern for bringing the community together, even under the pressure of competition.
After the 2009 World Universities Debate Championships in Cork, Ireland, the Colgate team was ranked 16th in the world, up from 63rd last year.
Beating out teams such as Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford, Colgate is ranked third among U.S. colleges. The rankings are based on total point accumulations for the past five years of competition in the world championships.
As a conclusion to the academic year, society members gathered in Donovan’s Pub for the championship round of their annual intramural debate tournament called the Class of 1884 President’s Cup.
Austin Schwartz ’11 and Henrik Temp ’11 came in first place and split the $500 prize. Coming in third, Steve West ’09 won the tournament’s Top Speaker Award and the Class of 1884 Award, which honors the top senior debater for excellence in debate, judging, and mentoring during the course of his or her participation in the society.
“I’m already looking forward to fall and our continuing adventures,” said team coordinator John Adams. “Their dedication to the pursuit of debate is inspiring.”