StFX debate society sweeps regional tournament
March 11, 2010 2:00 PM
From March 12 to 14, the StFX X-Debate society participated in the Atlantic Canadian Debating Championships held at Dalhousie University with teams placing first and third overall.
Ryan Blood and Hilary Feltham took home first place while Daniel Hindmarsh and society president Dave Faour earned a third place showing against teams representing other universities of the Atlantic region.
Blood and Feltham competed in the final round against a team from Acadia University consisting of Nigel Cones and Dan Sparkman. They debated a cryptic resolution that stated, “if the secret eternal life is discovered, we should destroy it.”
In total, four teams were sent to the tournament from StFX with three reaching competition in the semi-finals. The other teams placed fifth and eleventh in the standings, respectively. StFX also sent judges from the society’s ranks.
Finally, the society also scored strongly in individual standings. Faour placed third, Hindmarsh earned fourth and Blood scored fifth in the rankings of personal performances in the tournament. Faour feels it was among StFX’s strongest showings yet at the annual debating event.
“The whole team is all proud, we had a really strong showing,” he says.
“We’re both really happy because it’s our last year with X-Debate, so this is a great memory to have,” adds Feltham who is set to graduate this year along with her fellow debating partner, Blood.
She notes that the StFX team is comprised entirely of undergraduate students. Nonetheless, they compete against teams with graduate and law students from Atlantic Canadian universities with upper level academic programs.
Blood feels that the team has greatly improved since he first joined in his first year, particularly as it generated more funding from fundraisers and donations.
“We have consistently gotten better if you look at the statistics the over years. [That’s because] we have had a good solid base of support of money with members and supporters committing to it.”
The debate society was funded in part by the Office of the Dean of Arts, the StFX Admissions Office, the students’ union as a student society, and by contributions from alumni. Along with finances generated by fundraisers, registration for the weekend tournament was almost entirely accounted for. StFX participants only had to add approximately ten dollars each. Hotel and travel costs were extra.
Normally, tournaments cost about $60 to $80 per participant.
The society also competes in a national competition each year hosted by McGill, the McGill Winter Carnival North American Invitational. New members also have the opportunity to gain experience in an annual regional novices’ tournament. In total, Faour estimates they attend four to five events a year.
Finally, the society helps the StFX Admissions Office to facilitate the annual Moses Coady Debate Tournament held at StFX for high school students.
Faour explains that the society is always looking for new members, no experience required. “We take in a bunch of novices each year. If somebody wants to come half way through the year, they’re more than welcome to. [StFX is hosting] the regional novices’ tournament next year, so it’s for anyone who hasn’t debated at university level yet.”
“It’s pretty easy to pick up the basics [once you come out to a meeting]. Then you’re ready to go for the next week. There are also a number of people who just prefer to come and watch the debate, judge, or contribute to the discussions [afterwards]. There is no obligation to debate,” he adds.
Hindmarsh and Feltham had no previous experience before joining X-Debate in the first year at StFX. Blood debated in his Grade 12 high school year, while Faour had several years of experience at the high school level.
Nonetheless, he assures that everyone catches up quickly.
“High school experience doesn’t really translate into a whole lot at the university level. It’s really a whole new ballgame. You may have people who have zero experience and people who have four years experience, but after a few months they will be at comparable levels,” Faour explains.
The society meets twice a week in room B19 of Nicholson Hall. Meetings are scheduled for Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 7 p.m. Soon, the society will be holding elections to decide next year’s executive.
