In its first year, UB's debate team has jumped headlong into the national dialogue on topics both domestic and foreign, facing off against some of the nation's top universities.
The fledgling team has attracted dozens of students who are interested in competition and current issues, according to Renee Elich, the club's president.
"A lot of people are interested in debate on campus," Faivre said. "We are different than other clubs because we deal with issues of today and issues that deal with everyone's major. The issues we discuss are important for today in all fields."
Elich said the topics addressed in recent competitions cover nearly all contemporary issues in domestic and foreign societies.
"We get a new topic every debate, and we've been able to debate things from patents to NATO, and from Greece and Turkey to genetics," she said.
UB's squad has held its own against teams that have centuries-old forensic traditions, Elich said. The team competed in Vermont first and has since competed throughout the Midwest.
"We competed against schools from around here up to Ivy League schools like Cornell and Harvard," Elich said. "Vermont had some pretty good teams, while a lot of the teams around the Midwest were good as well."
Elich said that collegiate debate is an experience both exciting and uniquely challenging.
"You get to learn public speaking skills, and learn to be able to form clear, organized thoughts and say them off the top of your head," she said.
At their early debates, the team established itself well enough to earn an invitation to a national debate competition.
But funding problems kept the team from going, according to Alyssa Favire, the team's activities coordinator.
Elich said the team has other plans for growth.
"We are looking into hosting our own tournament next year," said Elich. "We're trying to see if that's a possibility. We will also be competing in 10 tournaments next year."
UB students have also seen the positive side to having the team on campus.
"I definitely think a debate team is a good idea," said first-year graduate student in nutrition Kate McLeod. "It's good to have clubs that are based on academics and knowledge, rather than focused on sports all of the time."
McLeod said she was also impressed with the kind of student it takes to be a member of the debate team.
"It requires people who can think quickly, and who have a broad knowledge of what's going on around the world," she said. "Only certain people can do it. You have to be articulate and have a good general knowledge."
The team meets every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Union room 145.
Faivre said membership on the team is open to anyone in any major because of the diversity of topics on the table each year.
"Anyone can join," Faivre said. "We are a very versatile club."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
