Debate resolution irresolute at PUC
Eric Roldan
Issue date: 11/23/09 Section: News
Though no resolution was made, debaters at PUC determined America is a meritocracy. The 6th Annual British Debate featuring the British National Debate Team and PUC students was held Nov. 16 in Alumni Hall in the SUL building with over 300 in attendance.
The proceedings began promptly at 11 a.m. with "The Prince of Denmark March" trumpeted by Charles Mann, followed by a welcome message from Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Ronald Kovach. Chancellor Howard Cohen gave the opening remarks followed by the presentation of citation by Melissa Banavidez, head of Outreach Programs and Collaborations at the Center for Student Achievement.
In a message, Hammond City Mayor Thomas McDermott officially named Nov. 16 "Debate Day" in the city of Hammond. SGA President David Ober presented the British participants with gifts.
"God Save the Queen" and "The Star Spangled Banner" played brilliantly, followed by the introduction of resolution and debate by PUC Communications and Creative Arts Professor William Robinson. Robinson has moderated all six British Debates held on campus over the years.
From there, the dispute of whether or not the American dream is a myth began.
The night before the debate, the four debaters-PUC English writing major Evan Hixon, biological sciences major Joseph Zagorski, British debater Andrew Tuffin (an active debater on the European universities' debating circuit) and former President of the Manchester Debating Union and Midlands Debating Alliance Dan Bradley-held a fireside chat in the British visitors' hotel in an attempt to define what exactly the American dream is.
After hours of sharing ideas, equating and eliminating concepts that America shares with other nations and with Bradley and Tuffin taking into consideration their own experiences in Britain, the group agreed on something which they could base their arguments on for the following day which would properly represent the American dream. They agreed America is a meritocracy.
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