The Lumberjack



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Tag: Humboldt Debate

  • HSU’s Debate Team Preps for Spring Season

    HSU’s Debate Team Preps for Spring Season

    Students from various majors hone their argumentative skills

    With winter break fast approaching and students preparing for finals, Humboldt State University’s debate team is pushing through with consistent practice sessions and preparing for scheduled competitions that start as soon as the spring semester begins.

    Responding to a topic may seem like an easy task, but compiling synchronized responses with a teammate can be overwhelming, especially when the goal is to not contradict each others’ claims.

    “Try publicly speaking about controversial issues, not knowing whether or not you will be speaking for or against your own values until 15 minutes before you have to do so.”

    Kimberley Nguyen

    Kimberley Nguyen, a philosophy major, is in her third semester with the debate team. She stresses over the challenging lack of preparation time before debates.

    “Public speaking on its own is a difficult task,” Nguyen said. “Try publicly speaking about controversial issues, not knowing whether or not you will be speaking for or against your own values until 15 minutes before you have to do so.”

    HSU’s debate team is currently practicing the British parliamentary debate method as they prepare for spring. This consists of team members pairing up, debating sides and creating counter arguments.

    During one of their practice sessions, assistant coach Olivia Gainer presented the teams with the topic. The topic surrounded the opening monologue of “All the World’s a Stage” from William Shakespeare’s play, “As You Like It.” The four teams proceeded to exit the room to prepare and come back later with their responses.

    “The team dynamic is definitely important and affects the way each round goes, it helps balance arguments off each other,” Gainer said. “Right now I’m looking at how well the team dynamic is and will give my input on their performance.”

    Research and compiling a strong argument is a must. With evenings being the only time frame to practice their tactics, the debate team optimizes their time wisely to alleviate obstacles in later competitions.

    HSU’s debate team is open to all and brands itself as a competitive sport. Exercising one’s mind to develop well constructed argument is as crucial as athletes utilizing their plays to put points on the scoreboard.

  • Humboldt State debates Irish National Debate Champions

    Humboldt State debates Irish National Debate Champions

    Humboldt State University’s debate team dedicates 13 hours a week discussing uncomfortable subjects.

    The HSU debate team debated against the Irish National Debate Champions on April 11. The team spoke on why “violence is necessary for political action.”

    The HSU debate team argued the positives of the topic.

    The three competing members of the HSU debate team are Ruby Aguirre, Olivia Gainer and DaMon Thomas. Aguirre and Thomas have been on the debate team for two years. Gainer has been on the debate team for a year and is the team’s vice president.

    Ruby Arguirre of the HSU Debate team. Video by Luis Lopez.

    Aguirre is a masters social work graduate.

    “People always get nervous when we talk about heavy topics,” Aguirre said. “But people need to understand that what we talk about happens everyday.”

    Thomas is majoring in communications.

    “One of the topics that we talk about that gets me passionate is Black rights or minority diversity,” Thomas said. “Debating is like doing reps. I get comfortable talking about these topics.”

    Gainer is majoring in philosophy.

    “When it comes to being nervous in front of people, that’s something that never goes away,” Gainer said. “But with practice, I overcome those nerves.”

    The way a debate works is each member presents their argument to the audience. The affirmative (HSU debate team) speaks on the topic, and the opposition (Irish debate team) can raise their hand to question the argument. After the affirmative is done speaking, the opposition can argue about the negatives of the affirmative’s argument.

    Aodhan Peelo of the Irish National Champions. Video by Luis Lopez.

    Judgement was done by the audience’s vote. The audience voted in favor of the Irish debate team by 70 percent.

    Both teams presented their arguments with passion on the controversial topic.

    Aaron Donaldson is the coach of the HSU debate team.

    “The debate team has traveled eight times each year to attend debate exhibitions,” Donaldson said. “This will be the first time this year that the debate team will be having a debate on campus.”

    From April 12-16 the HSU debate team attends the U.S. National Debate Championship held at Stanford University.

    “I think especially now more than ever it is important to have debates on difficult subjects,” Donaldson said.