RU-N Hosts the Third Annual Debate Coaches’ Tournament

Within weeks of the pomp and circumstance of Commencement, the debate team at Rutgers University–Newark’s (RU-N) School of Public Affairs and Administration hosted the third annual coaches’ tournament for the second time. The event provides high school and collegiate debaters the opportunity to debate in an egalitarian environment regardless of institution affiliation or status as a coach, administrator, high school or college debater, or judge. Nearly 50 people from multiple states and institutions, displaying various debate styles, participated in the event.

“The tournament is a great pedagogical tool because some of the best debaters in the nation compete in front of younger, less experienced high school debaters,” notes Christopher Kozak, RU-N’s director of debate and coach of the team. “Each round is judged by a panel of at least two students and affords first- and second-year debaters the opportunity to serve as adjudicators, judging in most cases some of the people who coach and judge them during the regular debate season.”

In addition to providing more practice for the participants, the coaches’ tournament is an effective recruitment vehicle for high school students wishing to extend their debate experience to the collegiate level. With administrators, debate coaches, and directors of debate from RU-N, Emporia State University, The New School, Towson University, Wake Forest University, Oklahoma University, University of Rochester, and Kansas City Kansas Community College, high school debaters have an opportunity to showcase their critical thinking skills while establishing contacts with college officials.

After a long year of traveling and debating against stiff competition, the coaches’ tournament offers a respite for the RU-N debate team, fosters a collegial atmosphere, provides mentoring opportunities for the high school students of the Newark Debate Academy and the New York City Urban Debate League, and promotes community and education.

“It’s definitely a worthwhile endeavor that we hope to turn into a much-anticipated tradition,” Kozak states.