Covenant College’s Debate Club is the hidden gem of our community. In addition to the numerous and unique practical skills it develops among its members, the club cultivates an appreciation for interacting with ideas that make us uncomfortable and challenge our thinking. It embodies the ideals of open-mindedness and education for the sake of simply learning, not just achieving high grades. In debate, you often find yourself forced to discuss and research an argument with which you do not agree. In taking the time to examine a subject from an unfamiliar, and sometimes unpleasant, perspective, you are better able to then approach that subject with clarity and understanding. This teaches the value of engaging in constructive and civil debate, recognizing that there is almost always something to be learned from those with whom we disagree.
Debate familiarizes its members with public speaking. At least once a week, members participate in a full round where they are allotted anywhere from 8 to 12 minutes to debate on a topic, usually relevant to current events, which they have had 15 minutes to research. This short preparation time, coupled with the length of speaking time, promotes two habits: quick and critical thinking, and consistent basic knowledge of current affairs.
In a debate round, thinking on your feet becomes a necessity if you want your speech to be coherent and ordered. This is only accomplished through regular practice, which you receive plenty of as a member of the debate club; and it is certainly easier to form a comprehensive argument when you have a primitive understanding of the subject you are discussing. The promise of articulate speech encourages you to stay up-to-date with the news cycle so you aren’t caught off guard discussing a topic about which you know nothing. Both of these habits translate well into life after college, and they aren’t very common, especially among recent college grads.
Debate also advances your ability to frame research into persuasive rhetoric. It is one thing to effectively research and analyze topics and situations and another thing to posit your thoughts in a convincing and eloquent manner. A mastery of both these skills together, however, is a rare and incredibly useful gift. The first evidence of such mastery is found in your college papers, and not just persuasive essays. Writing anything from a literary analysis to a historical research paper is made much easier with the proficiencies learned at debate. But these skills extend far beyond graduation; they stay with you throughout life and can be applied to many kinds of situations. There are too many people in the world today talking about things they know little about or, conversely, too many people unwilling to speak even though they may be one of the few more educated on an important subject.
Beyond this, there are too many people in the world today perfectly content to remain in an echo chamber and never engage in constructive conversations. How are we to grow as a society if we are unwilling or unable to understand each other? Wouldn’t it be nice to be one of the people in the world who not only wants to communicate effectively with the rest of society (and all its variety of worldviews), but also can do so in an intelligent and perceptive way? These attributes are not imparted to you simply because you are a Christian attending a Christian university; they must be refined through discipline and practice.
Some of the practical skills and habits most useful for being a faithful witness in a fractured world are those that are developed through the debate club. It isn’t just a fun group of people who get together to shout their personal beliefs at the opposition; rather, it is an organization that strives to impart to its members life skills and lessons that can be carried throughout the rest of their lives. This, of course, is all done while having wonderful fellowship and creating unforgettable memories, natural side effects of cultivating well-rounded and productive members of society.
This year’s debate club president, Paige Hungar ’20, issued a strong message at the start of the debate season this semester: “If you want to grow and mature as a speaker, now is the time. Now is the time if you’re a senior, and you’re about to graduate. Now is the time if you’re a freshman, because things are not going to get less busy. I would strongly encourage you to figure out a way to get involved with debate while you’re at Covenant, and I am willing to promise you that you won’t regret it.”
I will add my voice to her advice. Take advantage of the short time you have here. Get involved in something. My personal experience strongly suggests the Debate Club, but anything is far better than nothing. The unique opportunities Covenant provides to learn and grow don’t really exist beyond college, and, in addition to everything Hungar has said, I’m willing to promise you that you will regret not being more involved.