Vanderbilt debate team shines at Schuman Challenge, receives invitations to prestigious competitions

A team of students from Vanderbilt University competed against many of the top debate teams in the nation at the recent European Union-sponsored Schuman Challenge. 

Students Ahmed Muwahid, Qwynn Foster and Zain Tariq traveled to Washington, D.C., in March to participate in a debate competition focused on this question: How should the EU and the U.S. tackle the global security implications of climate change?  

Students argued their respective cases on security implications of environmental degradation and presented transatlantic policy recommendations that address these implications and strengthen EU-U.S. cooperation. 

The Vanderbilt team had a strong showing, said John Koch, director of debate and a senior lecturer in the university’s Communication Studies program, which houses the debate program. The competition’s top scorers were Patrick Henry College, Columbia University and the University of Texas at Austin.  

“It was a great opportunity for students to research an area (climate change) and test their knowledge of it at the competition,” Koch said. “It was a unique opportunity for students to gain feedback from experts about the work they researched and meet people who are currently working in the field to come up with solutions to challenges discussed during the debate.”  

Thinking globally 

The Schuman Challenge is an annual foreign affairs contest for undergraduate students in the U.S. It provides competitors a chance to present and defend transatlantic policy recommendations in front of a panel of judges.  

As part of the competition, undergraduate students conduct original research, cite sources and prepare to present and defend proposals for transatlantic cooperation on a provided topic. Participants then present their ideas before foreign policy professionals, while also connecting with peers and international affairs officials—including the EU ambassador to the United States. Students were also connected to opportunities for professional development and networking with EU policy officials and for mentoring sessions on careers in foreign policy. 

The competition was made up of two rounds: a preliminary round, in which all teams presented their policy proposals, and a final round of three teams. The presentations and judging took place in the conference rooms of the Delegation of the European Union to the United States. During their 10-minute presentations, each team highlighted actionable proposals and then fielded questions during a 10-minute Q&A session with the judges. 

Traveling widely 

Vanderbilt has built an international reputation as a debate powerhouse over the years. This year, that has resulted in invitations to several prestigious competitions. ML Sandoz, director of forensics and principal senior lecturer in Communication Studies at Vanderbilt, said that is a testament to the program’s history.   

The team has the opportunity to attend the World Universities Debating Championship this December in Vietnam. Vanderbilt debaters Ainsley Gill and Sojourner Rouco-Crenshaw will travel to a competition in Paris. Foster and Zacarias Negron will travel to Rwanda, to build on an experience the students had with debaters from Rwanda last year. And Vanderbilt’s Daniel Ardity has been named to the U.S. debate team connected with the National Communication Association’s Committee on International Discussion and Debate. Koch will serve as a coach for the team.  

“We’re happy that the debate team is getting a lot of international recognition and invitations,” Sandoz said. “Our opportunities are exploding right now, and it’s an exciting time for the program.”  

Speaking freely 

The program is one example of Vanderbilt’s commitment to fostering free expression. The debate experience helps people to develop and improve communication and critical thinking skills while exploring and listening to alternative viewpoints, Sandoz said.  

Students who participate gain a better understanding of general theories and principles of argumentation as well as current world issues. Students also develop better research, critical thinking and communication skills. 

Because debate is essential to society’s democratic process and important in successful decision-making, the debate experience empowers students to participate more productively in shaping their own personal worlds and society as a whole, she added.