Big news: we were featured in a recent story by Cross Currents, a radio program on KALW in San Francisco. We were so excited at the quality of the piece and hope that as many people as possible hear our students in action – they truly are our most powerful advocates. To hear their testimonials, actual debates, and choice words on the importance of the activity, check out this five-minute feature: http://www.crosscurrentsradio.org/features.php?story_id=903
The Bay Area Urban Debate League is part of a nationwide movement that seeks to establish and maintain competitive debate leagues in traditionally under-resourced public school districts in the United States. The BAUDL is dedicated to expanding opportunities for high school students in the San Francisco Bay Area to participate in rigorous academic competition and to become articulate and informed leaders in their schools and communities.
Monthly Archive for December, 2008
Winter Debates Wrap-Up
This Saturday, the Bay Area Urban Debate League hosted its third seasonal tournament and the final one of the first semester. Nine Oakland schools were represented in BAUDL’s Winter Debates and, with many of our students now sporting considerable debate experience, the competition was more intense than ever. This tournament was our first to host separate novice and varsity divisions, meaning that many of our students were celebrating their graduation into a community of high-level competitors where evidence and arguments fly at great speed. For several others, it was the first debate competition of their lives! Fremont Federation was the gracious host to our event. A few stories from the day:
Cecilia Lopez, from Oakland High, came to the tournament with plans to compete with her regular partner and good friend. Unfortunately, this friend woke up sick on Saturday morning and was unable to make it. Cecilia eagerly agreed to debate with another student for the day, but her new partner was also forced to leave after the first round to attend to family matters. Though this left Cecilia the only debater at the tournament without a partner, she competed anyway. She bravely debated “maverick” for an entire round, facing down the competition alone and winning! Cecilia was presented with the Third Place Individual Speaker Award at the end of the day.
Lonnie Wafer, from Leadership Prep, has been one of the most committed debaters in the BAUDL since he first attended our Summer Institute in August. Recently, Lonnie moved from his mother’s home in East Oakland to live with his aunt in Antioch. Lonnie was devastated to learn that, because BAUDL is not yet operating there, his school had no debate team. But Lonnie would not be kept from exercising his passion for speaking his mind. He traveled all the way from Antioch to Fremont Federation and debated on Saturday, racking up enough wins to finish in the top ten!
These and other displays of courage and dedication on the part of our amazing students made Saturday’s the most memorable tournament to date for the BAUDL. To top it off, our debaters and coaches from Fremont were the most terrific hosts a debate tournament could hope for. Students got up extra early to bake cookies and prepare other treats for our Hospitality Lounge, which was made available to the judges, coaches, and parents in attendance. They made and hung signs to direct competitors and visitors to the right places. On top of all this, they still competed in the tournament and performed quite impressively!
Congratulations to Street Academy’s Jessica Winsey and Daemiion Yaphet, Champions of the Winter Debates, who narrowly beat Skyline High’s Kayla Wheatfall and Zach Seidl, last month’s champs, in the Finals Round. Zach was also the Top Individual Speaker at the tournament, so his trophy case must be getting crowded! Leadership PrepFinally, Cal Prep was the winner of the Winter Debates Sweepstakes Award, given to the school who performs the best as a whole.
The Winter Debates was the first tournament to kick of the Spirit Award. Also used in other debate leagues, this award goes to the school who displays especially inspiring enthusiasm and who are generally awesome sports. Fremont Federation won the Spirit Award at this tournament, and it will be their responsibility to pass on the award to another school at our next tournament. Congratulations!
Special thanks to everyone who made it out to watch a debate this weekend and lend some support. Our volunteers are truly heroic in their dedication to Oakland students.
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