Accomplished debaters Jazmin and Juan from Fremont celebrate after a long day of debating

Two fog-filled December days welcomed over 40 teams to San Francisco for the 2010 Bay Area Urban Debate League (BAUDL) Winter Classic at Balboa High School.  Four Varsity and three Novice rounds of competition narrowed a field of 80 debaters to a group of 24.  By sunset, after a day filled with impassioned debates citing stories from Japan, to Afghanistan, to California, only eight Varsity and four Novice teams remained.

Continue reading ‘Results from a Winter Classic’

Fremont's Cesar Sanchez and Diego Garcia were an Integral Part of a Sweepstakes Win. Which Team is Next?

On December 11 and 12, 2010, schools from Oakland, Emeryville and San Francisco will meet at Balboa High School (1000 Cayuga, San Francisco) for the final tournament of the semester.  There is much to look forward to: New, brave faces in the Varsity Division, brilliant arguments in light of recent events, a San Francisco breeze (or more…), and, of course, the discovery of who will be the 2010 Winter Classic Champion!  Other happenings include:

• The winner of the 2010 BAUDL Acrostics Poem Competition will be revealed — and given $100.00!
• The League will be dressed in Green and Red, festive and ready for the holidays!
• And, of course, plenty of opportunities to debate — this two day tournament heads into elimination rounds on Sunday!

Read further about the tournament and bus schedule of the day!

Continue reading ‘A Winter Classic in San Francisco’

The holidays are upon us and the BAUDL is celebrating with an Acrostics Contest!  Win $100.00 for yourself (and $25.00) for your coach by writing an acrostic poem and submitting it to your coach or to jennifernguyen@baudl.org.  Directions at the break.

Continue reading ‘Write and Win, A BAUDL Acrostics Competition’

Rashid makes his voice heard at the BAUDL Public Debate in Spring 2010

A full-ride scholarship to debate at a major state university seemed a long way off for Rashid Campbell during his early youth in Oakland. Seeing so many around him fail to achieve their dreams, he faced an uphill climb to his current success. The challenges brought a sense of urgency to his search for a positive future: “Everyone around me struggling made me wish for a way out. I wanted to break the cycle and find the tools to improve my life.”

Debate has been a way out for Rashid, but it has also been a way to comprehend the world, a way to build the skills and dispositions it takes to lead a life that is meaningful and transformative. “Debate was the tool that helped me understand how to grasp the world around me,” he says. “It allowed me to organize my words and speak my mind so others could understand me.”

Continue reading ‘Spotlight: Rashid Campbell’