The university debate team is heading to the world championships in the Philippines with some confidence after learning that it is ranked fourth in the United States and eighth in the world.
Colgate’s Harry C. Behler Debate Society will compete in the World Universities Debating Championships from Dec. 27 to Jan. 3, during winter break. It will be held at De La Salle University in Manila.
More than 1,400 participants are expected from about 70 nations. The championships have been dubbed the “Olympics of debating,” and are held in British Parliamentary format.
The rankings are compiled by an emeritus member of the World Debating Council in conjunction with the International Debate Education Association.
The top 10 schools are:
1. Sydney Union
2. Monash
3. Yale
4. Cornell
5. Oxford Union
6. Cambridge
7. Vermont
8. Colgate
9. London School of Economics
10. McGill
A full listing is here.
“I’m excited about the debate society’s achievements so far this year and this wonderful opportunity to compete in Manila,” said John Adams, coordinator of the Colgate Speaking Union.
Adams also mentioned how Austin Thoma ’14 and Travis Steele ’12 qualified for the quarterfinals at Oxford University’s Invitational Tournament, and how Austin Schwartz ’12 and Steele ’12 broke into the quarterfinals in the Canadian National Debate Tournament.
Both, he believes, are ‘firsts’ for Colgate.