On Friday, April 4, the recently founded Bard Debate Union branch at Eastern NY Correctional Facility hosted its first competitive intercollegiate debate (and the only recent intercollegiate debate in a prison that we have been able to identify). The Bard Debate Union @ Eastern welcomed the award winning West Point Debate Team for a debate and discussion on the topic, “Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase support for the construction of a national high-speed rail network.” The debate occurred in front of an audience of over 50 people, including faculty and staff from Bard and West Point, Eastern NY Correctional Facility staff, BPI administrators, and nearly 40 Bard students based at Eastern. After thoughtful and passionate debate that centered on issues related to the environment, the economy, and equality, the guest judges, West Point Debate Coach and Political Studies Instructor Major Adam Scher, Bard Professor of Philosophy Daniel Berthold, and Bard Vice President and Dean for Civic Engagement Jonathan Becker, sided (after a long deliberation) with the Bard triumvirate of Rodney Spivey, Darryl Robinson, and Paul Clue who were negating the resolution. This debate represented the culmination of a month of research and preparation for the Bard students as well as a year of debate training and practice for the team, which was founded in Summer 2013 under the leadership of David Register. Congratulations are in order to all of the participants in the debate, both very game cadets and the winning Eastern side. Many thanks to BPI administrators (particularly Megan Callaghan and Bob Tynes) for their help in organizing this event and supporting the idea of prison debate, Maj. Scher who is a credit to West Point, and especially to BPI faculty member and Bard debate coach David Register, who has been working tirelessly with the Eastern debaters all year long and without whom none of this would be possible. Special thanks as well to the staff of Eastern NY Correctional Facility who were extremely cordial hosts. Our hope is that this is the first of what will be many debates for the Bard Debate Union @ Eastern.
