KAYA SHAFER
T
Above: Sophomore Malachi Starr and sophomore
PROFILES
Jori Rudisell practice for their next meet. “A he United States federal govof the most experienced and skilled lot of [preparation] is cutting new evidence, a ernment should substantially debaters on the team. One of the lot of formatting, practicing strategies”, junior Hirsh Guha said. increase its economic and/ skills they focus on most in varsity or diplomatic engagement with the level debate is speed. Photo by CLAIRE PURCELL People’s Republic of China.” “We’re pretty fast,” Guha said. Across the country this year, “In the past, people spoke kind of students on their schools’ debate slow and focused on eloquence. so you just practice talking faster and teams are arguing this resolution Now it’s ‘how many arguments can faster. with evidence It’s a lot of practice. and documents We work on cutting ev“A lot of [preparation] is cutting new that they have really fast, going evidence, a lot of formatting, practicing idence gathered and ‘cut’ through news sources themselves. Juniors strategies.” fast.” Hirsh Guha and Camp can give some - JUNIOR HIRSH GUHA Ting Ting Shi teams the upper hand are taking on that they need. Even this resolution as the second varsity I get out in as little time as possible’. within their team at Free State. The two have That’s what I mean when I say varsiown school’s team, they will have more both been part of the debate team ty is a lot more technical, you’re just experience. Guha enjoys the feeling of since freshman year, but they agree focusing on shorthand, saying a lot finally knowing what he’s doing. that they didn’t initially enjoy the of words that only a select number “It’s not my first year on varsity but it co-curricular. Guha remembers of judges can understand as fast as is my first year actually caring about it,” feeling intimidated by the whole idea possible.” Guha said. “There’s something real exciting of attending a debate tournament: The skill of speaking ridiculously about being the big man on campus.” waking up at 5 a.m. to go to a 12 fast can come in handy when you’re There’s an idea that debate is a game. hour long tournament with five trying to throw off the other team. There are skills that you acquire, and then rounds, to stand in an enclosed room Most people can’t speak at the rate there are skills that just come naturally. with your partner, two debaters of varsity debaters, though. In fact, Guha explained a few of these skills and from another school and a single these speedy speakers had to spend their importance. judge, and argue a claim that you a lot of time to get to the level that “Aside from your ability to speak, your previously couldn’t care less about. they’re at now. eloquence, your strategy,” Guha said, “Your Shi doesn’t even remember why she “I went to camp this summer ability to bullshit yourself through any took a debate class in the first place. and they taught us how to spread,” situation is definitely something that’s going Nonetheless, the duo are now some Shi said. “We do a lot of speed drills to help you out in life.”
DEBATE: THE GAME
Varsity debaters explain skills, techniques
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