The large number of former urban debaters competing at this year's NDT shows that urban debate leagues are producing young debaters who go on to compete at the highest levels of college debate against elite college debaters. These debaters come from struggling school districts where graduation rates can fall below 50%, but urban debaters apply their debate skills to the classroom and graduate at nearly a 98% rate. Now urban debate leagues are producing students who not only enter college, but compete at the highest level of college debate once they arrive on campus
Two young men who will debate at this week's NDT tournament at Weber State University know firsthand what it takes to overcome obstacles and to persevere on the path to a national title.
Maksim Bugrov
Max's parents emigrated to the U.S. from Russia in 1997. The Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League launched during his sen
ior year of high school. He debated for only one semester, but it was enough to ignite his "drive to compete." Max was accepted to several colleges, but for financial reasons spent two years at East Los Angeles College where he continued to excel in policy debate. He led the ELAC team to unprecedented success during his sophomore year; they finished one ballot away from reaching the NDT. In the fall of 2012, Max transferred to California State University - Fullerton where he finished as Top Speaker in the NDT qualifying division and next week will realize his dream to compete at the NDT.
About his time in an urban debate league he says this, "Competing in an urban debate league, even for just one semester my senior year, was pivotal in my life. It gave me the drive to compete in college debate."
Rashid Campbell
Rashid Campbell came to competitive debate through a twist of fate that earned him a place
at the NAUDL National Tournament in 2010. He and his partner Tanesha Walker won second place in the NAUDL's new leagues division. Rashid also ranked 14th Speaker. During his first year as a competitor, Rashid says he struggled to make debate a priority in his life.
He says, "It's so important for urban debate leagues to be in communities where young people don't always see education as the way to get where you want to be. Debate can show them that education can get you where you want to be; it opens up all kinds of possibilities."
Rashid says debate has taught him that he doesn't need to be the smartest guy in the room, but he is confident in asking questions, forming opinions and expressing himself. He credits debate, more than any other experience in high school for preparing him for college success. He believes it is important for young urban debaters to honor their unique, creative voices - that debate doesn't have to be done the same way for everyone. Rashid's and Max's success, and that of the other sixteen urban debate alums heading to NDT this week, offer strong evidence that urban debate leagues are making a difference and changing the landscape of competitive policy debate.
