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About the society
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Novice Champions Ithaca College Invitational 2012
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Debate, one of Colgate's most enduring extracurricular activities spanning generations of Colgate students, offers you training and practical experience in advocacy, issue analysis, and public speech. Its competitive speaking activities will enable you to solidify your own stance while questioning and rebutting others. As a debater you will use the spoken word to advance and defend diverse points of view while improving your persuasive skills. You will win debates. You will lose debates. But, no matter what, you will gain valuable experience, improve your speaking skills, and form lasting friendships with your fellow Colgate debaters. You will also have opportunities to develop your leadership skills by serving as an elected member of the Harry C. Behler Debate Society's Executive Board.
We have a longstanding tradition of teamwork. Our members work together and help each other become better debaters. For example, experienced debaters and new debaters team up together to compete and judge at regional tournaments. In fact, some of Colgate's best debaters joined the Harry C. Behler Debate Society with no experience in public speaking or debating.
Competition
We compete in the British Parliamentary style of debate. Competitive travel occurs throughout the academic year to a variety of locations, with past destinations including Canada, England, New England, Oregon, California, Malaysia, Ireland, Thailand, Turkey, and Botswana.
Most recently, we competed in the 2012 Worlds Universities Debating Championship at De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines. We also compete annually in invitational tournaments at Oxford University and Cambridge University. Next year, in addition to competing in regional tournaments, and competing at Oxford and Cambridge, our travels will include Toronto and Berlin. Also, in conjunction with various student organizations, we host weekly public debates on the Colgate campus. We also have a weekly debate radio show on WRCU, and every year we host the Colgate Invitational Debate Tournament and the British National Debate Team Showcase Debate!
About our name
Harry C. Behler was a beloved faculty member and debate coach at Colgate University for many years. As a tribute, the Debate Society bears his name.
Contact: President, Austin Thoma Debate Videos: CSU Vimeo