BAUDL Update: Summer Institute 2010

Published
by
BAUDL
on August 29, 2010
in News and Updates
.

BAUDL alum Rashid Campbell leads a circle chant at the 2010 Summer Institute.

BAUDL alum Rashid Campbell leads a circle chant at the Summer Institute.

On August 9, 2010, young people from across the Bay Area gathered together for a week of education and uplift in the Bay Area Urban Debate League’s Third Annual Summer Institute. Made possible by the generous support of the Julia Burke Foundation, this event brought students from public schools in Oakland and San Francisco together with top debate educators from around the country to delve into the most pressing issues of the day.

This summer institute was the largest and most successful in the history of the BAUDL: in the end, more than 50 students participated, researching, writing original arguments, and above all debating issues from school dress codes to the war in Afghanistan. Here are just a few highlights from the experience:

  • Circle Chants and growing community. This year, the BAUDL involved its own recent graduates in the summer institute staff, who added a notable dose of flair and enthusiasm. Alumnus Rashid Campbell, who recently won a full-ride scholarship to debate at the University of Oklahoma, led a series of circle chants that had all in attendance stomping, clapping, and having a good time.
  • Lab Olympics and making smart cool. In the BAUDL’s continuing quest to remove the stigma from academic achievement in urban schools, this year’s Lab Olympics were a great step forward. Novice debaters put their skills to the test for the glory of their labs, reading, speaking, and arguing to the wild applause of their peers.
  • Tournament Day and the big finish. On Friday, the final day of the Institute, the debaters showed up early to prepare for the tournament, the climax of their efforts over the week. Many had never debated before in their lives, but all represented themselves wonderfully, arguing positions with grace and style in three intense rounds of debate. After it, the debaters let loose and celebrated in a triumphant award ceremony. One debater from Skylnie High was so moved by his award that he surprised the crowd with a backflip.