MHC Students Debate Their Way to the Top

Ten MHC Debate Society members and their coach braved their way by van through the gusty Floyd winds several weeks ago, heading toward Columbia University for a novice debate tournament in which they would ultimately give their best performance in recent years. About 200 debaters, representing colleges and universities throughout the East, participated in the event.

The MHC group's success was largely due to the efforts of first-year students and veteran high school debaters Jessica Zerges and Jody Clapp. During the tournament, debate teams composed of two partners competed, and points were awarded to the team and to each of its members based on performance. Zerges was ranked sixth overall out of the approximately 200 debaters who participated, and the team of Zerges and Clapp achieved a ranking of thirteen out of about 100 teams.

"This was one of the best results we've had," says Myriam Benlamlih, a member of the Debate Society. "The former high school debaters' experience really gave our group an edge." Several Debate Society board members, and dedicated alumna and former MHC debater Analisa Balares '99 (who took some time off from her new job at Goldman Sachs), cheered on the MHC debate teams.

Benlamlih notes that debate is popular at MHC these days. With about twenty-five to thirty active members, this year's group of debaters is the largest since the Debate Society's founding in 1896. Most of the new members have been successful debaters in high school; most also come to the society with a history of leadership positions and a passion for learning. An initial meeting of the society during orientation drew close to thirty interested new students, a record, says Benlamlih.

"This year, the Debate Society is focusing on training for, and winning debates," says Debate Society copresident Leylac Pekin '02. Using the facilities of the Weissman Center for Leadership, debaters have had tremendous opportunities to practice and improve. The society encourages all students to get involved in public speaking activities. To that end, the society is hosting its second public-speaking contest, an event open to all Mount Holyoke students, on family weekend (October 29 - 31). Experienced debaters and faculty members from a variety of departments will judge the contest. The society will host another public speaking contest, open to all Five College students, during the admission office's Preview program next semester. In the spring, debaters from colleges and universities from all over the East Coast will gather at MHC for a debate tournament.

The Debate Society welcomes new members. Interested students should visit the group's Web site at http://www. mtholyoke.edu/org/debate or join the debaters for a practice round (practices are held Monday - Thursday, 7:30 to 8:30 pm). The students debate on campus and up and down the East Coast.

photographs by Fred LeBlanc