In fall of 2022, HSMSE’s debate team entered the scene as one of our school’s newest clubs. It was founded by Jazmine Chavez (’25), the current president of the club, and competes in the New York City Urban Debate League (NYCUDL). In its two and a half years of existence, the team has won two consecutive first place championships, along with many individual speaker awards and top team awards. The debate team is one of HSMSE’s top awarded teams, and it’s continuing to break records this season with four pairs being nominated for championships. They’ve won against schools with prestigious and established debate teams such as Eleanor Roosevelt, the High School of American Studies at Lehman, and Staten Island Technical High School.

The team currently teaches only one kind of debate—public forum—but is looking to expand its range. Public forum is a style of debate where two students partner up and defend their case against another pair. Each debate round consists of six speeches and three crossfires (opportunities to ask questions about your opponent’s case), and a debater’s job is to crystalize their own contentions and dismantle their opponent’s case. Other types of debate (like British Parliament, Lincoln Douglass, and Policy) have different numbers of speeches and debaters but generally use the same skill sets. Tournaments are monthly, and the topics range from discussing the International Criminal Court to discussing generative AI in education. Each tournament goes from 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and debaters go up against competitors in four rounds with the hope of getting a winning ballot (¾ rounds). In addition to monthly tournaments, the team meets every Wednesday in B7 to prepare cases for the upcoming tournament and practice hard drills like how to refute an argument or pose a crossfire question. 

Currently, I am vice president of the team, and I see the huge value that debate brings to students—especially young women—in shaping their voices, positions, advocacy, and confidence. Debate teaches you how to both express and defend your ideas and helps build public speaking skills. Many HSMSE students want to pursue a career in STEM, a field still mainly dominated by men. Workshopping how to defend your ideas and principles can bring confidence to young female students. I have also seen how debate strengthens many of the important characteristics we are encouraged to value and pursue as students at HSMSE: teamwork, collaboration, independent research, and leadership. In my five years of debating, I have gained public speaking skills, and most importantly, I have learned how to be a leader: how to both teach and learn from those around me. 

To all those interested in becoming a part of HSMSE’s debate family, you are welcome to pop into club meetings on Wednesdays from 3–4 p.m. in Room B7!