By ABBY BRAVO
News Editor
The Saint Rose debate team took to the stands for their end-of-semester debate where they argued the question: should reparations be paid to the descendants of slaves?
There were three students on each team debating for a panel of three judges. The event was hosted by Betty DiMaria, program administrator for Huether School of Business internships and professional development.
One side argued that reparations should be paid, with their main rationale for payments to mitigate ongoing racial wealth gaps and generational trauma. The other side argued against reparations, asking how they would be paid for and that reparations may be harmful to African Americans.
After each team got multiple turns to give rebuttals, the judges ruled in favor of the side against reparations.
Even though the negative side won, Vice President Malik Halifa, who was on the winning team, expressed that it was not an easy debate. “To go against your own morals, I think actually benefited me because now, I’m well equipped for what the opposing side’s arguments can be… all in all, it was a good experience although morally dividing,” said Halifa.
Before the judges announced the winning team, they each stepped up to the podium to give feedback to the students.
This feedback included tips such as organizational advice, the differences between inspirational and rational debate, how to anticipate rebuttal arguments, and a breakdown of other avenues the teams could have taken in their talking points.
Heidi Brown, a management professor at the College, noted the importance of data in debate as it provides concrete evidence to support one’s arguments.
This factor was a key part within the judges decision process. “We really talk about who has seemed like they’ve practiced and were prepared, and who brought facts and who was more anecdotal, and how they came across in their arguments,” said Brown.
While it was a very intense topic to form a debate around, the judges were impressed with the students. “We really are so proud of these young people, it takes guts to come up here… especially on an issue so deeply rooted in this country,” said Brown.
The team arguing against reparations credited their win to in-depth research and presentation of facts, as Brown mentioned. “We used more data; I feel like every time we’ve won is because the other team thinks they got the easier side… we have to do the harder work, and that benefited us,” said club President Christania Saint-Louis, who was a member of the winning side.
“They played the field, we played the logic,” added Secretary Devin Senecal, also on the winning team.
The club is in the process of reaching out to other schools for more in-depth debates and competitions in the upcoming semesters. Schools the club is interested in collaborating with include Russell Sage, UAlbany, Siena, and Hudson Valley Community College.
Follow the club on Instagram @strose.debate where they can be contacted with questions about meeting times, inquiries about joining the club and participating in future debates.
