After school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, passionate debate and preparation fills English teacher Ted Bennett’s room. This is where the students on the Mounds View Debate team hold their meetings and practice for their upcoming competitions.

Members of the team pair up and compete against other schools, debating various topics in hopes to score points for their team. While it was relatively small since its creation in 2022, the team’s roster is larger than ever before.

Each season, running from September to December, members debate two topics. Usually, the first topic of the season relates to domestic issues within Minnesota or the United States, while the second is dedicated to international topics. This year, the first topic covered the legalization of sports gambling in Minnesota, and the second topic will cover whether the United States should reduce its military commitment to South Korea.
The rounds can get confusing for new members, so debaters are scored on two things: by winning the round and by speaking well. The speaker can win the round by using their ability to persuasively present their argument at the discretion of the judges. Debaters are also scored out of 10 points for their ability to speak clearly and confidently during the argument.

The team is open to seasoned veterans as well as brand new members, with plenty of ways to support inexperienced debaters. “If you’re scared to speak up, don’t worry, you’re not alone. You’re put on teams of two and compete against other teams of two, so you won’t be nervous or scared to speak out for your debate,” said senior co-captain Salma Sharara.

Members start off as a novice their first year, but do have the choice to debate in junior varsity if they want to. After one year of junior varsity, they are eligible for varsity. Lettering in debate requires attending at least two thirds of the eight tournaments, held almost every Saturday, as well as actively participating throughout the season. The tournaments consist of six invitationals, one scrimmage and then the state-wide competition.

Debate requires a lot of research, planning and practice for the tournaments. That work can overwhelm people, especially new members. However, everyone on the team contributes to the research and the co-captains compile it on a large shared document, guiding other members on their arguments. “We put together most of the constructives [ourselves] because we have the most experience. One of the biggest responsibilities, I think, is that we tutor all the novices and our first-year debaters,” said senior Nadyne Sattar, co-captain of the debate team.

Along with learning to debate current issues, the team teaches people how to work together as a team while having loads of fun. “I like this club because it mixes learning and fun and helps me learn about new topics like sports gambling and the increase in price in feminine beauty products,” said sophomore Shaurya Jaswal.

Some members find the team as a good opportunity to make friends and learn about relevant topics. “This is more fun than any sport because you don’t need any prior experience, and it’s easy to get better at it because we’re always going over different topics,” Sattar said.
The debate season is already underway, with the last of their sports gambling debates on Oct. 11 with their competition at Mankato East High School. The team will continue with the first tournament of their second topic at Irondale High School on Nov. 1.