The Wake Forest University debate program will sponsor the first National Debate-In, a series of public debates on the issues surrounding the attacks on America and their aftermath, on Nov. 18 at 3:30 p.m. The headquarters for the debates will be in Wake Forest’s Carswell Hall.
The event is free and the public is invited to participate. It is part of the university’s student-initiated Year of Unity and Hope: Pro Humanitate at Work, a series of educational and service opportunities that relate to the war on terrorism.
The event takes place on the second day of the nation’s largest collegiate debate tournament, the Franklin R. Shirley Dixie Classic, hosted by Wake Forest. More than 170 debate teams from 75 colleges and universities around the country will be on campus for the three-day tournament. Tournament organizers are giving up one day of competition to host the National Debate-In for the public.
“The top-ranked intercollegiate debate teams from across the United States are dedicating their intellectual, research and rhetorical resources to these debates,” said Allan Louden, associate professor of communication and director of the Wake Forest debate program since 1977.
“The nature of debate is to carefully compare and evaluate ideas,” added Ross Smith, coach of Wake Forest’s debate team. “This event will give the public the opportunity to share their ideas and hear the ideas of others in an environment where no idea is wrong.”
Community members will have more than 25 debate topics from which to choose, including U.S. foreign policy, military responses, feminists’ reactions, religious perceptions, assassination, and hip-hop music’s role in terrorism. Collegiate debaters and coaches representing both sides of each issue will start each debate in various locations around campus. Each debate format will provide an opportunity for audience participation and comment.
A complete program of debate topics and their locations can be found at the National Debate-In link at www.wfu.edu/~debate. A full program will also be available in the lobby of Carswell Hall on the day of event.
“The debate community doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but we can help frame the questions to get the dialogue started,” said Smith. “We live in a democracy where everyone’s opinion counts, but rarely does the public get to hear their own opinions shared and challenged.”
After the debates, a reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. for the public and all participants on the Magnolia Patio of Reynolda Hall.
For more information on the National Debate-In, conta
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