Princeton Hosting Debating Contest
Associated Press
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Jan 6, 1989
PRINCETON -- College students PRINCETON -- College students from 19 nations have arrived at Princeton University to participate in a most argumentative forum as they prepare to match wits in what is considered the "world cup" of debating.
The students will begin competing today in the ninth annual World Universities Debating Championship, a war of words pitting nearly 250 top speechmakers from most points of the globe.
"This is the largest and most diverse debate tournament ever held," said Drew Graham, a Princeton University student who is organizing the event. "For the first time, we've even got students from Eastern bloc countries. A Polish delegation will participate and the Soviet Union is sending a delegation to observe. We're very excited about it."
The tournament, sponsored by Princeton University's Whig-Cliosphic Society, North America's oldest debate organization, will conclude with a championship round on Monday. A team from Oxford University in Great Britain won last year's championship.
The debaters will duel under rules made famous by Great Britain's parliament under a style where "delivery and wit have a lot of emphasis," Graham said. "They'll debate topics such as whether education is a right or privilege."
"You've got to have a convincing style and a persuasive manner," said Graham, who is one of 60 judges in the tournament. "There's no prepared research."
To some participants, a quick-thinking mind and a lively tongue are key ingredients to a successful debate.
"The concept of 'winging it' when you don't know much about the topic is one of the most oft-used expressions," said Australian
Julian McMahon, 25, of Melbourne University. "When we need to wing it, we emulate the politician by getting as few ideas as possible to the gallon."
Micheal Gronow, 23, McMahon's teammate, said when it comes to debate, he admires "someone like Abraham Lincoln. He could say everything he needed to say in two minutes."
Present day politicians, however, are not held in as high esteem by the Australians. from 19 nations have arrived at Princeton University to participate in a most argumentative forum as they prepare to match wits in what is considered the "world cup" of debating.
The students will begin competing today in the ninth annual World Universities Debating Championship, a war of words pitting nearly 250 top speechmakers from most points of the globe.
"This is the largest and most diverse debate tournament ever held," said Drew Graham, a Princeton University student who is organizing the event. "For the first time, we've even got students from Eastern bloc countries. A Polish delegation will participate and the Soviet Union is sending a delegation to observe. We're very excited about it."
The tournament, sponsored by Princeton University's Whig-Cliosphic Society, North America's oldest debate organization, will conclude with a championship round on Monday. A team from Oxford University in Great Britain won last year's championship.
The debaters will duel under rules made famous by Great Britain's parliament under a style where "delivery and wit have a lot of emphasis," Graham said. "They'll debate topics such as whether education is a right or privilege."
"You've got to have a convincing style and a persuasive manner," said Graham, who is one of 60 judges in the tournament. "There's no prepared research."
To some participants, a quick-thinking mind and a lively tongue are key ingredients to a successful debate.
"The concept of 'winging it' when you don't know much about the topic is one of the most oft-used expressions," said Australian Julian McMahon, 25, of Melbourne University. "When we need to wing it, we emulate the politician by getting as few ideas as possible to the gallon."
Micheal Gronow, 23, McMahon's teammate, said when it comes to debate, he admires "someone like Abraham Lincoln. He could say everything he needed to say in two minutes."
Present day politicians, however, are not held in as high esteem by the Australians.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Jan 6, 1989
PRINCETON -- College students PRINCETON -- College students from 19 nations have arrived at Princeton University to participate in a most argumentative forum as they prepare to match wits in what is considered the "world cup" of debating.
The students will begin competing today in the ninth annual World Universities Debating Championship, a war of words pitting nearly 250 top speechmakers from most points of the globe.
"This is the largest and most diverse debate tournament ever held," said Drew Graham, a Princeton University student who is organizing the event. "For the first time, we've even got students from Eastern bloc countries. A Polish delegation will participate and the Soviet Union is sending a delegation to observe. We're very excited about it."
The tournament, sponsored by Princeton University's Whig-Cliosphic Society, North America's oldest debate organization, will conclude with a championship round on Monday. A team from Oxford University in Great Britain won last year's championship.
The debaters will duel under rules made famous by Great Britain's parliament under a style where "delivery and wit have a lot of emphasis," Graham said. "They'll debate topics such as whether education is a right or privilege."
"You've got to have a convincing style and a persuasive manner," said Graham, who is one of 60 judges in the tournament. "There's no prepared research."
To some participants, a quick-thinking mind and a lively tongue are key ingredients to a successful debate.
"The concept of 'winging it' when you don't know much about the topic is one of the most oft-used expressions," said Australian
Julian McMahon, 25, of Melbourne University. "When we need to wing it, we emulate the politician by getting as few ideas as possible to the gallon."
Micheal Gronow, 23, McMahon's teammate, said when it comes to debate, he admires "someone like Abraham Lincoln. He could say everything he needed to say in two minutes."
Present day politicians, however, are not held in as high esteem by the Australians. from 19 nations have arrived at Princeton University to participate in a most argumentative forum as they prepare to match wits in what is considered the "world cup" of debating.
The students will begin competing today in the ninth annual World Universities Debating Championship, a war of words pitting nearly 250 top speechmakers from most points of the globe.
"This is the largest and most diverse debate tournament ever held," said Drew Graham, a Princeton University student who is organizing the event. "For the first time, we've even got students from Eastern bloc countries. A Polish delegation will participate and the Soviet Union is sending a delegation to observe. We're very excited about it."
The tournament, sponsored by Princeton University's Whig-Cliosphic Society, North America's oldest debate organization, will conclude with a championship round on Monday. A team from Oxford University in Great Britain won last year's championship.
The debaters will duel under rules made famous by Great Britain's parliament under a style where "delivery and wit have a lot of emphasis," Graham said. "They'll debate topics such as whether education is a right or privilege."
"You've got to have a convincing style and a persuasive manner," said Graham, who is one of 60 judges in the tournament. "There's no prepared research."
To some participants, a quick-thinking mind and a lively tongue are key ingredients to a successful debate.
"The concept of 'winging it' when you don't know much about the topic is one of the most oft-used expressions," said Australian Julian McMahon, 25, of Melbourne University. "When we need to wing it, we emulate the politician by getting as few ideas as possible to the gallon."
Micheal Gronow, 23, McMahon's teammate, said when it comes to debate, he admires "someone like Abraham Lincoln. He could say everything he needed to say in two minutes."
Present day politicians, however, are not held in as high esteem by the Australians.