The Monmouth Debate Team won four awards at the Phyliss Schatz Invitational, hosted on Zoom by SUNY Binghamton from Oct 16-18.
Four teams of Monmouth University students competed at the tournament. The team of Madison Hanrahan and Eric Machnicki made it into the playoff round on Sunday, Oct. 18 after competing in six rounds. They went on to defeat a team from the University of Rochester in the first playoff round, which advanced them into the semi-final rounds.
Three Monmouth debaters also won top 10 speaking awards—Hanrahan (4th place), Danielle Dempsey (6th place), and Machnicki (7th place).
Each year, a topic is chosen to be debated at every tournament. This year’s topic is whether the U.S. should reduce its commitment to the NATO alliance.
“I honestly didn’t even expect to win a single round, let alone get to the playoffs, make a run and win an award. I was more surprised than anything else, but it definitely felt gratifying to hear my name called out for an award,” said Machnicki.
As the team’s first virtual debate, Hanrahan thought that it was a unique experience. She said, “Nobody knew what to expect going into the tournament. But luckily we encountered very few technological issues.”
Machnicki said that it was challenging to debate in a virtual format due to issues like audio reverb and strain on his computer. He said, “It felt detached and robotic, being able to see and hear but not really interact with anyone.”
Hanrahan said that her experience participating in Zoom classes and an online format helped her feel more comfortable participating in a virtual debate. However, she also noted that due to the virtual format, it did not feel like she had accomplished anything. She said, “Nothing felt different after winning the awards…Through an online format, there is a limited sense of comradery and teamwork that would typically stir up excitement.”
Both Machnicki and Hanrahan said that Joseph Patten Ph.D., Professor of Political Science and Faculty Advisor of the Debate Team, helped students prepare for the competition with mock debates and virtual scrimmages, and by teaching students how to create effective speeches and refute the opposing side’s claims.
“I’m inspired by our debaters, and especially admire their toughness and resiliency to continue competing through this crazy semester,” said Patten. “The ability to persevere through challenging times is the key to living a meaningful and successful life.”
The four teams of Monmouth students who competed at the tournament included Hanrahan and Machnicki, Danielle Dempsey and Gianna Barwald, Haleigh DiMuzio and Marc Starling, and William Dailey and Erica Santos-Re, who competed in the Varsity division.
The tournament consisted of students from seven other universities, including Cornell University, New York University, the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), University of Houston, SUNY Binghamton, University of Rochester, and the New School.
The next competition will take place on Zoom the weekend of Oct. 31, hosted by Gonzaga University in Washington.
“With how well my team and others performed, I think more awards and potential tournament wins are in store for the future,” said Machnicki. “I hope in-person debating can resume in the spring, but that remains to be seen.
IMAGE COURTESY of Monmouth University
