Erskine debaters tackle a timely question
At the 2024 President’s Cup Debate Nov. 20, just a couple of weeks after the United States presidential election, four members of the Erskine College Debate Team considered the resolution “Ranked choice voting is an inferior method of determining the people’s choice for elected office.”
Taking the stage in Memorial Hall were Pete Fast and Caleb Roberts affirming the resolution, arguing that ranked choice voting is an inferior method, and Carson Bleich and Ellie Jordan negating the resolution, arguing that ranked choice voting is not an inferior method.
All four students are sophomores and members of the Honors Institute. Bleich and Jordan were declared the victors. Judges for the event were Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Matthew Cawvey, Director of Campus Ministries and External Relations Dr. Jamie Williams, and Nancy Campbell, a friend of the college who organized debate teams and tournaments for many years while homeschooling her children.
Originally scheduled for a date in early October, the President’s Cup was rescheduled after the disruption of Hurricane Helene.
Before the winners were announced, senior Annie Bruner, set to graduate next month, was honored for her contributions to the team. Debate Coach Morgan Roberts spoke about Annie, who has been on the team since its formation, and her teammates presented her with a gift and a bouquet of flowers. Annie was totally surprised by the recognition. “They never told me anything!” she says.
The President’s Cup was one of three events this semester which tested the skills and dedication of Erskine’s team members. Prior to their on-campus contest, debaters traveled to Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, Tennessee, for the Tennessee Valley Invitational in September and then attended the Pejaver Memorial Tournament at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in October. A number of events are planned for the spring semester.
The 2024-25 Erskine Debate roster includes sophomore Carson Bleich, senior Annie Bruner, freshman Corey Dingle, sophomore Pete Fast, sophomore Ellie Jordan, senior Noah Lin, freshman Leighton McCuen, sophomore Jackson Parris, senior Harvee Patel, sophomore Laurel Reynolds, sophomore Caleb Roberts, and freshman Anna Grace Sturkie.
The President’s Cup was first conducted Sept. 19, 2022 as part of the lead-up to the inauguration of Dr. Steve Adamson as Erskine’s president, and continues as an annual event. The president was on hand to congratulate the winners.
Shown at top are, from left, Caleb Roberts, Pete Fast, Coach Morgan Roberts, Ellie Jordan, and Carson Bleich. Click here view more photos from the debate!
Members of the Erskine College Debate Team develop skills in clear communication, team building, creative thinking, logic, ethics, research, and community. Team members seek to glorify God through their interactions, during competition, and at all other times by setting examples of character and integrity. The team participates in Individual and Team International Public Debate Association (IPDA) debate, a “real world” form of rhetorical battle in which the goal is to have logical, evidence-centered debates on current topics.
