On Friday, March 1, 2013, the Bard Debate Union together with the Center for Civic Engagement hosted the Second Annual Middle and High School Debate Tournament at Bard College. This year the tournament doubled in size from last year as the team welcomed 80 middle and high school students to campus. Participants haled from all three Bard High School Early Colleges (Manhattan, Newark, and Queens), Red Hook High School, Rhinebeck High School, Red Hook Middle School, Rhinebeck Middle School, and St. Joseph’s Middle School in Kingston. The students all participated in two debates (on the topics of gun control and mandatory civil service) which were judged by Bard Debaters. After lunch and the awards ceremony (which recognized the top 10 speakers and top 5 teams in Middle School and High School), members of the Bard Debate Union put on a public debate on the topic of mandatory civil service. Thanks to the help of many Bard Debaters and the support of the Center for Civic Engagement, the event ran seamlessly. Thank you to all who were involved. We sure have set the bar high for next year’s 3rd Annual Tournament!
