Rutgers University Debate Union
Encyclopedia
The Rutgers University Debate Union (RUDU) is Rutgers University
's intercollegiate debate team. Re-founded in 2001, its roots extend back to the 1700s and the King's-Queen's Debates with Columbia University
(then King's College) when Rutgers was known under its founding name of Queen's College. The Union currently competes on the American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA) circuit and finished the 2010-2011 season ranked fifth in that league.
in 1881. Paul Robeson
was a member of Rutgers' debate team during his time there in the 1910s. Rutgers debaters were often quite successful, notching a long winning streak in the early 20th century and defeating Harvard University
in 1947.
Rutgers debaters made the elimination rounds at the first-ever National Debate Tournament
in 1947 and went on to compete in debate events nationally until about 1997. The team also competed in speech events for much of the 1980s. The Debate Union appears to have disappeared completely from the campus from 1997-2001 before its modern rebirth.
In addition to the E-Board, RUDU is run by a full-time Coach, who is an employee of the University. In its modern incarnation, Rutgers went without a Coach from 2001-2009. Storey Clayton, the current Coach, began coaching RUDU in the fall of 2009.
The team also hosts an annual tournament in the spring, the Rutgers Invitational, traditionally either in February or April. This event attracts many APDA institutions from around the country. With 49 competing teams, the 2011 tournament was the largest of the ten RUDU has hosted in its modern incarnation. As of 2011, Johns Hopkins University
has won the last two Rutgers Invitationals. The 2012 tournament will be the only scheduled APDA tournament on its weekend, to be held from February 17-18, 2012.
about the development of renewable sources of energy.
, Vice President of Policy for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
(PETA) came to Rutgers to face two RUDU debaters on the ethics of eating meat
.
festivities. These debates discussed foreign policy in the Middle East, green energy, and gender-neutral student housing at Rutgers.
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
's intercollegiate debate team. Re-founded in 2001, its roots extend back to the 1700s and the King's-Queen's Debates with Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
(then King's College) when Rutgers was known under its founding name of Queen's College. The Union currently competes on the American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA) circuit and finished the 2010-2011 season ranked fifth in that league.
History
While RUDU was recently re-founded after a period of dormancy, there is a strong history of debate at Rutgers. The team not only debated Columbia in the King's/Queen's debates of the 1700s, they also purportedly took part in the first intercollegiate debate of the modern era, held against New York UniversityNew York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1881. Paul Robeson
Paul Robeson
Paul Leroy Robeson was an American concert singer , recording artist, actor, athlete, scholar who was an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement in the first half of the twentieth century...
was a member of Rutgers' debate team during his time there in the 1910s. Rutgers debaters were often quite successful, notching a long winning streak in the early 20th century and defeating Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1947.
Rutgers debaters made the elimination rounds at the first-ever National Debate Tournament
National Debate Tournament
The National Debate Tournament is one of the national championships for collegiate policy debate in the United States. The tournament is sponsored by the American Forensic Association with the Ford Motor Company Fund.-History of the NDT:...
in 1947 and went on to compete in debate events nationally until about 1997. The team also competed in speech events for much of the 1980s. The Debate Union appears to have disappeared completely from the campus from 1997-2001 before its modern rebirth.
Structure
RUDU is run by an elected four-person Executive Board who serves a calendar-year term starting in January. This reflects a transition from academic-year terms and the current E-Board is serving a half-year fall-only term. The E-Board makes nearly all decisions pertaining to management of the team. Currently, the E-Board consists of four members: a President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Public Relations Chair, while the Co-Tournament Directors are ancillary to the E-Board.In addition to the E-Board, RUDU is run by a full-time Coach, who is an employee of the University. In its modern incarnation, Rutgers went without a Coach from 2001-2009. Storey Clayton, the current Coach, began coaching RUDU in the fall of 2009.
National Competition
RUDU competes in the American Parliamentary style of debate as a member of the American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA), which is an intercollegiate debate association with over fifty member universities across the United States. RUDU attends tournaments across the country each week during the APDA season, from September through April.The team also hosts an annual tournament in the spring, the Rutgers Invitational, traditionally either in February or April. This event attracts many APDA institutions from around the country. With 49 competing teams, the 2011 tournament was the largest of the ten RUDU has hosted in its modern incarnation. As of 2011, Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
has won the last two Rutgers Invitationals. The 2012 tournament will be the only scheduled APDA tournament on its weekend, to be held from February 17-18, 2012.
Public Debates
RUDU has recently increased its visibility on the Rutgers campus with a number of public debates designed to facilitate discussion of current events:Project Civility Debates
On October 5, 2010, four RUDU debaters faced each other in a public debate on the topic of civility among college students, in conjunction with Rutgers' new Project Civility. A second Project Civility debate was held on April 27, 2011 and involved Rutgers faculty and the Rutgers-Newark policy debate team as well as RUDU members. A third Project Civility debate was held on September 21, 2011 and involved four RUDU members discussing the practice of marginalized groups reclaiming words traditionally used against them.Transatlantic Climate Bridge Environmental Debate
On November 29, 2010, RUDU debaters faced the Rutgers Model United Nations team in a debate sponsored by the Transatlantic Climate BridgeTransatlantic Climate Bridge
The Transatlantic Climate Bridge is a climate partnership between Germany and the United States.The partnership was first proposed by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in a April 2008 lecture at Harvard University. He believed that climate policy was the core of transatlantic matters...
about the development of renewable sources of energy.
PETA Debate
On December 1, 2010 Bruce FriedrichBruce Friedrich
Bruce Friedrich is Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives at Farm Sanctuary.Friedrich serves on the governing board of the Catholic Vegetarian Society, the advisory board of the Christian Vegetarian Association, and is a founding member of the Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians...
, Vice President of Policy for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. A non-profit corporation with 300 employees and two million members and supporters, it claims to be the largest animal rights...
(PETA) came to Rutgers to face two RUDU debaters on the ethics of eating meat
Ethics of eating meat
In many societies, controversy and debate have arisen over the ethics of eating animals. Ethical objections are generally divided into opposition to the act of killing in general, and opposition to certain agricultural practices surrounding the production of meat...
.
King's/Queen's Debates
On April 29, 2011, RUDU joined the Columbia University Parliamentary Debate Society to revive a centuries-old tradition from the earliest days of both Rutgers and Columbia, when they were Queen's and King's Colleges, respectively. The first King's/Queen's Debate in many years, hosted at Columbia, discussed the release of prisoners convicted under repealed laws and is the first of many planned annual debates.Rutgers Day Debates
On April 30, 2011, RUDU held three debates as part of Rutgers DayRutgers Day
Rutgers Day is a day of free events and performances hosted by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. The first Rutgers Day took place Saturday, April 25, 2009, from 10 a.m...
festivities. These debates discussed foreign policy in the Middle East, green energy, and gender-neutral student housing at Rutgers.