St. John’s Students Step into the Arena with Ireland’s Best Debaters

A cadre of St. John’s University students held their own against some of Ireland’s most elite student debaters during two matches held at the University’s Queens and Manhattan, NY, campuses.

The contests, held April 13 and 14, were part of The Irish Times Debate Championship Tour. This prestigious national competition begins with about 300 competitors and concludes with three winning speakers who then face off against students at US universities. The friendly competition is less about settling an argument than about showing students how to use one: testing ideas, challenging assumptions, and learning how to reach an audience that does not already agree.

Stephen M. Llano, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Rhetoric, Department of Communication Studies, helped organize the program. “The Irish Times Debate Tour is a vital reminder that the university does not exist just to fill our minds with facts. It exists to show us what to do with facts and information, how to use them to reach one another in eloquent moments to find agreement and disagreement, and build our shared future.”

Students debated whether the US should return to a policy of isolationism in a structured, parliamentary-style exchange, alternating speeches and fielding live challenges from their opponents. Audience members weighed in before and after, with early uncertainty giving way to a sharply divided result by the end.

The only debate experiences the St. John’s students had included the Public Speaking and Global Debate core courses. “They have no other experience debating, nor have they done any intercollegiate debate,” Dr. Llano stressed. “Two of them have participated in high school mooting contests or equivalent.”

Two of the three Irish Times debaters are regulars on the debate circuit. St. John’s students were undaunted, displaying confidence under pressure as they made poised, thoughtful arguments. All hoped to use the skills they developed here in some fashion during their future careers.

Senior Arianna Santos, a biology major who hopes to enter the field of osteopathic medicine, saw the debate as an opportunity to extend out of her comfort zone. “I enjoy pushing myself to do things that make me uncomfortable. I enjoy talking to people and debating is a more formal way of doing that, and playing devil’s advocate. It’s about pushing the boundaries of how people think.”

She added, “People tend to lock themselves in an echo chamber. Debate forces you to entertain different opinions.”

Government and politics major Nicole Varriale, a sophomore, eventually wants to study law. “I’ve always been good at articulating myself. My voice is my most powerful tool,” she stressed. “I love advocating for others, and that’s why I want to be a lawyer—to advocate for those who can’t get justice.”

Sophomore Yusuf Ozmen, a legal studies major, participated in moot court competitions in high school and was searching for similar opportunities in college. “I love familiarizing myself with the material and then using that knowledge to sway my audience. I fell in love with that, and when Dr. Llano presented me with this opportunity, I thought why not go head-to-head with the best of Ireland?”

Cian Carew of the Solicitors Apprentice Debate Society of Ireland did some debating in secondary school (the Irish equivalent of high school) and had not done much since. In law school, he joined the debating society, he said, for fun. “I really enjoyed public speaking and giving presentations and was really shocked to have won.”

Roisin McCormack, a law student at Dublin City University, also debated in secondary school. “That was when I properly got involved and started liking it. But then I didn’t do it when I came to college until this competition.”

Athena Wu, a law student at Trinity College, Dublin, said that debate has intensified her curiosity about the world she lives in. “It’s rewarding because you learn to make better arguments. It gives me a lot of confidence. I’m happy to speak to other people.”

She added, “It makes me think more about what I believe because I’m always confronted with the other side, and can see that there are good points on either side. It has changed everything about me. I’m so glad that I started it.”

Dr. Llano stressed, “The audience enters with certain preconceptions. Your judgment is ‘stuck’ to your conception of the world. Debate can dissolve or loosen that a bit.”

Students turned uncertainty into a clear split, shifting opinion on both sides. He added, “The quality of our students’ performance was so impressive.”