The Skyline debate team celebrates their sweepstakes award.

On Saturday, February 4, over 60 youth from all over the Bay gathered together on the campus of UC Berkeley to dialogue and debate topics from the role of police in society to the exploration and development of outer space.

Many thanks to our friends from the University of California-Berkeley Debate Team and UC-Berkeley Students who are dedicated volunteers of the BAUDL. Without them this tournament would not have been possible.

The Varsity Finals round was fiercely competitive. The team of Greg Belvin and Zach Seidl of Skyline High School won on a 4-1 decision against the partnership of Jazmin and Diego Garcia from Fremont-Media Academy. The final round was judged by judged by three UC-Berkeley Students, Physician and Attorney Dr. Marilyn Singleton, and the collective vote of the students.

Continue reading ’2012 New Year Classic Tournament @ UC-Berkeley!’

Zach (left) and Greg (right) celebrate their victories with archrivals Diego and Jazmin Garcia from Fremont High.

Last Saturday was a landmark day for BAUDL, in part, because Greg and Zach from Skyline High School won the Golden Gate Speech Association tournament at Lowell, going undefeated against some of the best teams in the region.

Over the course of each grueling round, they advanced with a unique group of arguments including a plan to address the world’s poverty problems by launching solar power satellites into space.

Congratulations to Greg and Zach for their fantastic debating!

On the top floor of the TransAmerica building last Friday morning, debaters from BAUDL discussed urban education and the importance of youth voice with community leaders and public officials from the area, demonstrating that youth can shape public discourse and influence policymakers.

The conversation served as an “eye opener,” challenging conventional assumptions about youth and the issues surrounding urban education. Continue reading ‘BAUDL Youth lead conversation about urban education with local leaders’

Thanks to the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues for reminding us of this story about Rashid Campbell, amazing BAUDL alum from Skyline High.  Far from letting his debating slip since he went to the University of Oklahoma on a debate scholarship, Rashid has been extremely competitive on the national circuit.

Read more at The Norman Transcript: Urban Experiences Give Debaters Unique Insight - Rashid and his debate partner Dominique Baker discuss their debate experiences and styles and their goal to be the first black team to win the NDT title. Campbell speaks proudly of his time in the BAUDL.

Click here to see a video of Rashid giving a speech on health care from his time as a debater.