NEW YORK CITY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO COMPETE IN DEBATE TOURNAMENT AT HUNTER COLLEGE

Hunter College Joins with the National Association of Urban Debate Leagues to Sponsor Citywide Tournament

Date: January 7, 2004
Contact: Deborah Sack (deborah.sack@hunter.cuny.edu)
Phone: (212) 772-4070

(New York) January 7, 2004 - More than 200 high school students from all five boroughs in New York City will participate on January 10 in the third annual debate tournament sponsored by Hunter College's Department of Political Science, Hunter's College Now program and the National Association of Urban Debate Leagues.   This year's topic, "The US government should establish an ocean policy substantially increasing protection of marine natural resources," was chosen by the National Forensic League and is being used by debaters throughout the United States.   The debates will take place in over 50 classrooms on the Hunter campus at 68th Street and Lexington Avenue.

"What's unique about this particular debate is the supportive and cooperative New York Urban Debate League approach," said Hunter College Political Science Professor Joan Tronto.   "Students build lasting friendships across schools and debaters appreciate and give helpful advice after the rounds to their opponents," said Tronto, a former New York State High School Debate Champion.

The tournament begins at 9 a.m. with teams of two debaters each competing against one another three times over the course of the day.   In the final round, the teams are "power-paired;" those teams that have won two debates take on other teams that have won twice.   An awards ceremony concludes the tournament, with prizes going to the top finishing teams and top finishing individual speakers.

About College Now
College Now, a collaborative initiative of The City University of New York and the New York City Department of Education, is a program which enables high school students to take college classes.   Its primary goal is to improve the academic achievement of high school students.

About NAUDL
The National Association of Urban Debate Leagues' mission is to improve urban public education by empowering youth to become engaged learners, critical thinkers, and active citizens who are effective advocates for themselves and their communities.   Urban Debate Leagues currently exist in 14 of the nation's largest cities.

About Hunter
With a highly diverse student population of more than 20,000, Hunter is the largest college in the City University of New York (CUNY) system and the first choice among all CUNY applicants. Founded in 1870, the College offers more than 170 undergraduate and graduate programs. Hunter is noted for its professional schools in education, health sciences, nursing and social work, as well as its excellence in the liberal arts. Heralded as the "Crown Jewel of CUNY" by The Princeton Review, Hunter College has a distinguished reputation for nurturing talented minority scientists and meeting the challenge of providing high-quality science education in the 21st century. The College also oversees the Hunter College Campus Schools serving gifted and talented students, preschool through grade 12. For more information about Hunter College, please visit our Web site at http://www.hunter.cuny.edu.

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