Brown Debate Team

The Brown Debating Union, founded in 1824, is the United States’ second oldest operating university debating club. BDU, the official Brown debate team, competes in debating events all over the world and has regularly been one of the most successful teams in the country, with debaters achieving national and worldwide success.

In the lines that follow, we will offer you information about BDU, its tryouts, and steps to create an inclusive environment for all members.

In addition, we will discuss a bonus debate topic: What are some of the most unforgettable finals matches at APDA?

Meet Brown Debating Union

The BDU competes in the American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA), which is the oldest and largest parliamentary debate league in the United States. The team also competes in the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence (NPTE) and the National Debate Tournament (NDT).

The BDU is known for its strong tradition of excellence and its commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive community.

The team is made up of students from a wide range of majors and backgrounds, and it prides itself on its diversity and inclusivity.

The debate team is led by a dedicated group of coaches and student leaders who work to ensure that the team is always pushing itself to be the best it can be. The team has a rigorous training and practice schedule, with weekly practices and tournaments throughout the year.

The most important thing is that they are a tight-knit bunch of friends that work together, support each other, and have a good time no matter where they travel.

They are an open-membership team, which means that they welcome students with any degree of debate experience and from any background. Anyone is free to sign up and participate.

Does the BDU have tryouts?

Is there a tryout process for the BDU, the official Brown debate team? The BDU is a “no-cut” team, which means that they welcome everyone who expresses interest in participating in any capacity.

They consider this to be an essential component of the culture of the group, as well as an essential component of the purpose to ensure that all students, regardless of their prior experience, have equal access to the debating experience.

Typically, college debate teams hold information sessions or meetings at the beginning of the school year to introduce new students to the team and its activities. Students who are interested in joining the team can attend these sessions to learn more about the team and the debate experience.

Do you need debate experience to be on the BDU?

Is debate experience required to be on the BDU? No! Even though they have no prior experience, many of the members are nonetheless able to do well in competitive debates after joining at Brown Debating Union.

BDU has a mix of experienced debaters and students who are new to debate, and they work together to improve their debating skills and knowledge. The team’s coaches and student leaders are likely to provide training, practice, and resources to help new members get up to speed.

What makes it different from high school debate?

What makes it different from high school debate? Both APDA and BP are distinct from the vast majority of speech and debate formats used in high schools in a number of important respects, most notably in the fact that they are not evidence-based, and in the case of APDA specifically, debaters are allowed to choose the subject matter that they will discuss.

Debaters will quickly see the new challenges and excitements that college debate provides, including the fact that debaters do not need to dress up for tournaments. While the fundamental skills of argumentation and persuasion will remain the same, debaters will quickly see the new challenges and excitements that college debate provides.

One of the main challenges is the format. High school debate typically follows a policy format, where teams argue for or against a specific resolution.

On the other hand, college parliamentary debate follows a parliamentary format, where teams debate a topic that is announced just before the round and has limited preparation time.

Another challenge is the level of complexity and sophistication of the arguments used. In college parliamentary debate, debaters are expected to have a deeper understanding of current events and political issues and a broader knowledge of philosophy, economics, and other academic disciplines.

Additionally, college debaters are expected to use advanced logical reasoning and rhetorical skills to construct and deliver their arguments.

The research and case-building processes are also different. In high school debate, teams often spend a lot of time researching and writing cases before the tournament. In college parliamentary debate, debaters are expected to be able to research and construct arguments during the limited preparation time quickly.

Finally, college parliamentary debate is generally considered to be more competitive than high school debate, with a higher level of skill and knowledge required to be successful.

What steps does the BDU take to create an inclusive environment?

What measures does the BDU, official Brown debate team, take to ensure that its community is welcoming to all? The BDU is firmly committed to building an equitable environment for all members of our team. Every member is required to sign a Code of Conduct each year.

Additionally, our team appoints Equity Officers who serve as confidential resources for discussion and reporting of equity violations.

While we’re at it, here are a few examples of steps that college debate teams may take to create an inclusive environment, similar to that of BDU, official Brown debate team:

Recruitment 

It is possible for the team to actively recruit a diverse set of students to join the team. These students would come from a variety of experiences, majors, and backgrounds.

Training 

In order to assist members of the team in comprehending and appreciating the value of a variety of points of view, the team may conduct training sessions on subjects such as cultural competence, microaggressions, and unconscious prejudice.

Mentoring

There is a possibility that the team may offer mentorship programs for new members to assist them in acclimating to the squad as well as the debate community.

Supportive culture 

It is possible for the team to cultivate a culture of mutual respect and inclusion, one in which all members of the team feel at ease and respected.

Outreach 

There is a possibility that the team may take part in outreach initiatives offered to local schools and community organizations in order to promote debate education and opportunities for groups who are underrepresented.

Inclusive language

The group may urge its members to speak in a way that is inclusive, to steer clear of stereotyping, and to be conscious of the effect that their words have on others.

Bonus topic: What are some of the most unforgettable finals matches at APDA?

What are some of the most exciting and memorable finals matchups that have taken place at APDA? The American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA) is a competitive debate league that hosts tournaments throughout the academic year for college students in the United States. Over the years, there have been many memorable finals matches that have stood out for their high level of argumentation and persuasion.

William & Mary vs Harvard

One of the most unforgettable finals matches in recent years occurred in the 2018-2019 season, when the team of William & Mary A (consisting of Alex Boesenberg and Alex Rusnock) faced off against the team of Harvard A (consisting of David Roza and David Reiff) in the National Championship final round. The debate focused on the topic of immigration policy, and both teams presented well-researched and thought-provoking arguments.

In the end, William & Mary A emerged victorious, but the level of debate demonstrated by both teams was nothing short of exceptional.

Harvard vs. Princeton

Another unforgettable finals match took place in the 2016-2017 season, when the team of Harvard A (consisting of David Roza and Max Schindler) competed against the team of Princeton A (consisting of Michael Sorice and Marcus Rosner) in the National Championship final round. The debate centered on the topic of international relations. In the end, Harvard A emerged victorious, but the performance of both teams was highly commendable.

Harvard vs. Swarthmore

In the 2012-2013 season, the team of Harvard A (consisting of David Roza and Max Schindler) competed against the team of Swarthmore A (consisting of Mark LeVine and Alex Rockey) in the National Championship final round.

The debate centered on the topic of criminal justice reform, and both teams presented well-researched and persuasive arguments. In the end, Harvard A emerged victorious, but the debate was incredibly close and both teams demonstrated exceptional debating skills.

These are just a few examples of the many unforgettable finals matches that have taken place at APDA in recent years.

The level of debate and argumentation demonstrated by the participants is truly impressive, this includes Brown debate team.

It is clear that these tournaments are a breeding ground for some of the most talented and persuasive debaters in the country.

Experience top-notch debate with Brown Debate

The Brown Debating Union is a team with a rich history of excellence and an unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive community. With a dedicated group of coaches and student leaders, the BDU is poised to continue its winning tradition for years to come.

If getting into Brown is one of your goals, you should seek the guidance of professionals who work in the subject of college admissions, such as those who work at AdmissionSight, in order to increase your chances of being accepted there.

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