St. John's News

St. John’s University Debate Society began their sophomore year on the international debate circuit by announcing their tournament schedule for the upcoming 2008-2009 competitive season.

The highlight of this year’s schedule will be the University’s participation in the World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC) for the first time in its history.  During winter break, four St. John’s students will travel to University College in Cork, Ireland to compete against 300 other teams from around the world for the world debating championship.

The season starts off on a highly competitive note as the team travels to the University of Rochester for upstate season-opening action against their friendly rivals from the northeast.  The tournament runs from September 26-28.

Also on the schedule is a trip to the Hart House Invitational tournament in Toronto, and a return trip to Eastern Europe to participate in the International Debate Academy Slovenia, where St. John’s debate novices Alia Bellwood and Andrew Cully debated in the championship round last November.

The Debate Society is directed and coached by Professor Stephen Llano, who spent this past summer teaching debate workshops at the University of Vermont and the University of Belgrade, Serbia.. Professor Llano, who teaches in the Department of Rhetoric, Communication and Theater of St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, also traveled to Japan to present a paper at the Japanese Debate Society’s conference on Argumentation held in Tokyo.

Professor Llano says that “any and all are welcome, so spread the word in your classes.” He emphasizes that no debate experience is required. Meetings are held in room 344 of  St John Hall at 7 p.m., Mondays and Thursdays.

Debate Society Tournament Schedule