Seawolf speakers make semifinals at national championship

The Seawolf Debate Team joined nearly 130 teams from around the world at the University of Vermont for the 2009 U.S. Universities Debating Championships last weekend in Burlington, VT. The USUDC is held in the international style of debate used by the World Universities Debating Championships -- the popularity of the format around the world was evident in Vermont, as representatives from Canada, Britain, the Netherlands, South Africa, India, China and Israel joined American teams from across the nation in the competition for top honors at the tournament.

The Seawolves top team proved that they're among the best in the world when they advanced to the semifinals of this year's tournament. After debating preliminary round motions ranging from whether elections in Pakistan should be suspended to whether allegedly stolen cultural artifacts now in private possession should be returned to their country of origin, the team of Colin Haughey (senior, Philosophy) and Michaela Hernandez (sophomore, Philosophy) advanced to the elimination rounds of the tournament.

In the "Sweet Sixteen" round, they quickly dispatched teams from Colgate University (NY) and LaVerne University (CA) when they successfully defended a motion to ban the global trade in seal products. That set them up to meet a tough team from Cambridge in the following round. In the quarterfinal round, Haughey and Hernandez drew the pro side of the motion "This house would suspend stimulus programs in favor of a balanced budget." With a carefully reasoned argument about the relationship between a balanced budget and perceptions of the U.S.'s creditworthiness, the Alaskans bested the Brits and moved into the semifinal round.

In the semifinals, the Seawolves faced teams from Middle Temple (Britain), Loyola Marymount (CA) and Yale. Though they outlined a solid position in favor of ad hoc tribunals as venues preferable to the International Criminal Court for trying war criminals, the adjudication panel ultimately promoted the Middle Temple and Loyola teams to the final round. The Seawolf team was disappointed, but pleased with what was the best showing for UAA's debate program since Michael Rose and Tom Lassen won the USUDC tournament in 2004.

For more information, please contact Steve Johnson at (907) 786-4391.