2008 Woodie Awards
The Debate Society: Sacred Heart's best kept secret
Juliana Brittis
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Features
Do you enjoy picking political fights with your friends? Do you jump at the chance to put in your point of view in a conversation?
If you answered yes then there is a whole group just like you; the Debate Society.
Since 1983 the debate society has flourished since its commencement, with a trophy case in the library to back up their achievements.
"The goal of the debate team is for members to gain experience with public speaking, be able to think under pressure and come up with arguments on the spot and perform well at tournaments," said President of the Debate Society, junior Rachel Rusnak.
To the outsider, this group might seem like a club where members just argue over various issues, but a lot of practice and planning goes into meetings, especially before a tournament.
"We meet on a weekly basis to hold practice rounds of debate. During these rounds, we break into two teams of two and argue over a wide spectrum of issues, anything from current hot topics and controversial issues … to more comical issues, such as why golf should be an Olympic sport. Our practice rounds are used to prepare us for weekend tournaments," said Rusnak.
Sacred Heart, along with schools such as Yale, Harvard and Princeton, is a member of the American Parliamentary Debate Association. These schools and others compete around the Northeast and across the nation in tournaments where their debating skills are put to the test.
"The students learn to think on their feet, to conduct research and to engage with other students dealing with topics of national and international importance," said Professor Jane Carlin, Supervisor of the Debate Society.
"Students who join the group have the unique chance to meet outside of class to discuss and to improve speaking techniques and to demonstrate that they are actually thinking about important topics."
With the thrill of getting to travel around the country to different tournaments, being a member of the debate society offers much to its members, including the opportunity to make new friends and be a member of a team.
Because of the work done in meetings and preparation for the tournaments, members get to fine tune skills of great importance.
"I have gained a lot of experience in public speaking and developing arguments from being on the team. I have also made a lot of close personal friendships with others in the society," said junior Diana Pellegrino.
Rusnak and her fellow members of the society are enthusiastic about expanding their group and getting others involved in the debate society.
If you answered yes then there is a whole group just like you; the Debate Society.
Since 1983 the debate society has flourished since its commencement, with a trophy case in the library to back up their achievements.
"The goal of the debate team is for members to gain experience with public speaking, be able to think under pressure and come up with arguments on the spot and perform well at tournaments," said President of the Debate Society, junior Rachel Rusnak.
To the outsider, this group might seem like a club where members just argue over various issues, but a lot of practice and planning goes into meetings, especially before a tournament.
"We meet on a weekly basis to hold practice rounds of debate. During these rounds, we break into two teams of two and argue over a wide spectrum of issues, anything from current hot topics and controversial issues … to more comical issues, such as why golf should be an Olympic sport. Our practice rounds are used to prepare us for weekend tournaments," said Rusnak.
Sacred Heart, along with schools such as Yale, Harvard and Princeton, is a member of the American Parliamentary Debate Association. These schools and others compete around the Northeast and across the nation in tournaments where their debating skills are put to the test.
"The students learn to think on their feet, to conduct research and to engage with other students dealing with topics of national and international importance," said Professor Jane Carlin, Supervisor of the Debate Society.
"Students who join the group have the unique chance to meet outside of class to discuss and to improve speaking techniques and to demonstrate that they are actually thinking about important topics."
With the thrill of getting to travel around the country to different tournaments, being a member of the debate society offers much to its members, including the opportunity to make new friends and be a member of a team.
Because of the work done in meetings and preparation for the tournaments, members get to fine tune skills of great importance.
"I have gained a lot of experience in public speaking and developing arguments from being on the team. I have also made a lot of close personal friendships with others in the society," said junior Diana Pellegrino.
Rusnak and her fellow members of the society are enthusiastic about expanding their group and getting others involved in the debate society.
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