The Great Debaters, which opened on Christmas day, brought back the spirit of debate.
Moviegoers were won over with applause as Wiley College of Marshall, Texas became triumphant over Harvard University.
This event changed the course of history but more importantly rejuvenated young minds in the power of spoken word. A&T students are now pumped to discuss issues that are effecting our generation. Public policy, entertainment, and even presidential debates are the swarming buzz around campus. There is only one problem.
A&T does not have a debate team. What this means is argumentation and discussion is left resting in the classroom. Friends argue with friends but the end result is often name calling and or bickering. Organized arguments which are fact based are rarely achieved without the emergence of a debate team. A & T like Wiley College has a student body filled with intellectual and passionate individuals.
The best example of this is found in Dr. Myra Shird’s 401 Argumentation and Debate class. On a normal day students engage in debates before class if officially slated to begin. The eagerness for expression is a pre-requisite to this course.
Bryan Fingers a junior majoring in English is a student in the class. He said “students need to be educated about the difference between arguing and fussing. To bring enlightenment all must be informed”.
This statement is shared by others in the class who feel cheated by not having a debate team. “We fund political candidates and do not have a team that represents what we want to ask”, said Quay Quick a senior speech communication major.
A cry among students to organize a debate team has much enthusiasm but is the faculty ready to wipe the tears away?
I meet with Dr. Shird after class to ask her opinion in an effort to gain a pulse reading on the faculty. She said “the Political Science department and the Honors programs are voiced supporters in getting a team started. Mock debates are already held in these areas.”
In her opinion the support already exist the problem is merely financial. “Funding is the biggest challenge; if we want to take communication to the next level money will have to be raised”.
Students must also show their dedication by putting pressure on the University. Bryle H. Hatch a senior speech communication major believes “a university of this size with such strong academic departments and no debate team is a shame”.
He said we must not forget that “A&T had such a huge role in the civil rights movement with the sit-ins started by the Greensboro four. Our political presents still stand strong today”.
In the heat of debate, James Farmer Jr. a character in the movie Great Debaters made this statement. “We do what we have to do in order to do what we want”. This quote seems basic because its implications are straightforward.
A&T students must act now and follow the motto recited in the Great Debaters. Otherwise our voices will be lost in the mere hope of creating a debate team.
- Alexandria Harper