Mayor
MAYOR AND FIRST LADY VISIT THE NYC GREAT DEBATERS!
 

This week we celebrate debate and its impact on civic engagement!  We were honored with the visit of the Mayor and New York City's First Lady to our tournament in Brooklyn the other weekend and inspiring words on civic engagement and debate. Since Ancient Greece, the world's first democracy, civic debate and discourse has been essential for democracy. Indeed, so many Presidents, Prime Ministers, Senators, Justices, Civil Rights Leaders, and leaders in public service were on their school's debate teams.  Just this month, Forbes Magazine announced the top 30 leaders under the age of 30 - and over 20 of the 30 were members of their school's debate and speech teams (see article below)! The INTEL Science Talent Search also announced the top youth leaders in science and so many of these students were also on their school's debate teams (see article below)! 

While there is much talk regarding an academic achievement gap, there is very little with respect to the larger problem of a civic achievement gap - the lack of civic knowledge, civic discourse, civic participation, voting, and civic service. These are critical to our democracy. The solution?  As one school teacher stated, "Anyone who bemoans the state of public education need only spend a weekend at a high school debate tournament to have their faith restored."

Upcoming Weekend February NYC Debate Events
February 7th - Middle School Public Forum & Policy Tournament (Queens)
February 9th - NYC Debate Night with Intelligence Squared (Manhattan)
February 13-16 - NYC Travel Team Competes at Harvard University (Boston)
February 14th - Middle School Parliamentary Tournament (Bronx)
February 14th - Elementary School Tournament (Bronx)
February 21st - High School Tournament (Bronx)
February 27th-29th - NYC Travel Team Competes at Lakeland HS (New York)
Sincerely, 

THE NEW YORK CITY URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE
EMPOWERING NYC YOUTH TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE THROUGH ACADEMIC DEBATE.

Email: nycudl@gmail.com
Phone: 917-455-1079
Debate Camp Website: www.debate.nyc/programs/summer
Twitter: #nycdebateleague

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Be Great!  Be a Great Debater!
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NYC DEBATE WEEKLY NEWS
Celebrating the incredible achievements 
of New York City's Great Debaters every week!

Catalog for Giving NEW YORK CITY URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE HONORED AS ONE OF THE CITY'S TOP NONPROFITS SERVING NYC YOUTH!

The new year kicks off with an honor by the Catalog for Giving!  Every three years The Catalog scours the City, and selects the "best of the best" small young programs serving NYC youth.  For the next three years and beyond we are partnered with The Catalog and other top 
NYC nonprofits to share best practices, perfect our programming, and exponentially outreach to an entire city!  We are so thankful, honored and humbled by this incredible opportunity! Thank You! 
Pinkerton NEW YORK CITY URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE'S OUT OF SCHOOL TIME LEARNING PROGRAMS HONORED BY THE PINKERTON FOUNDATION!

The Pinkerton Foundation honors and partners with some of the top out of school time programs in New York City - afterschool, weekend and summer programs that support youth to reach their full potential and provide opportunities for academic development, career readiness and cultural enrichment. We met the Pinkerton Foundation at our summer debate institute - the longest and largest summer debate program in the country (click here to learn more) and we have been partnered with since! The NYCUDL joins an incredible and inspiring cohort of the top youth serving programs in New York City.  Thank you so much!
30 under 30NEARLY ALL OF THE FORBES TOP 30 UNDER THE AGE OF 30 STARS WERE MEMBERS OF THEIR SCHOOL'S SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAM! 

Each year Forbes Magazine ranks the top 30 brightest stars under the age of 30. These individuals are selected who are today's brightest stars who are moving minds, markets and a new generation into the future.  This year over 20 of the top 30 were members of their speech and debate teams!  From health to finance to education to technology to law and public policy - former high school and middle school debaters are now leading and changing America. 
INTEL Science Award
HIGH SCHOOL DEBATERS DOMINATE THE INTEL SCIENCE TALENT SEARCH! 

The Intel Science Talent Search is the nation's most prestigious pre-college science competition. Intel STS alumni have made extraordinary contributions to science and hold more than 100 of the world's most coveted science and math honors, including the Nobel Prize and the National Medal of Science. Students are selected based on their research and their overall potential as future leaders in the scientific community. 300 top students and their schools receive $1000 each and the top three students receive $150,000 each. This year dozens of the top students were members of their school's debate team!  

NYC DEBATE CLUB!
SPRING SEMESTER STARTING 
FEBRUARY 7TH!
Meets nearly every Saturday to develop debate and public speaking skills!
Elementary
Middle School
High School
NYC Elementary School Debate Club
The NYC Debate League started one of the first elementary school debate leagues in the nation. Our Elementary Debate Club meets 2-3 times a month and competes once a month in elementary school tournaments. Click here to learn more.
NYC Middle School Debate Club
The NYC Debate League is the largest middle school debate league in the nation. For students who do not have debate teams at their school or who would like additional practices, the NYC Middle School Debate Club meets nearly every Saturday and competes monthly at Middle School Debate Tournaments. Click here to learn more.
NYC High School Debate Club
NYC high school debaters are among the top debaters in the country.  If you do not have a team at your school or if you would like additional practices, then join the NYC High School Debate Club! Click here to learn more.
NYC SUMMER DEBATE INSTITUTE SIGN UP NOW OPEN! 
Varsity Summer Camp
ABOUT NYC SUMMER DEBATE INSTITUTES

 

Applications now open for New York City 2015 Summer Debate Institutes! 

Click here to apply now!


 

The New York City Urban Debate League hosts the longest and largest summer debate program in the nation with debate institutes throughout the summer in each of the boroughs. Our summer program is free for all schools and students that are members of the NYC Debate League, thanks to the incredible support of the Arthur Rupe Foundation.

 

Why Debate Camp?

 

Beginner Debaters! Learn the fundamentals of debate, develop public speaking skills, try out your first debate tournament and more!

 

Advanced Debaters! Train on the upcoming 2015-2016 debate topics!! Learn from top college debaters and debate master teachers! 

 

Teachers, Coaches and Judges! Learn everything about starting a debate team, all the debate formats, beginner and advanced debate coaching techniques, judging, team fundraising, team recruitment, and more!

 

All Debaters! Weeks of intense debate study by the top debate teachers and coaches! Coaches, classes, electives, debate supplies, breakfast, lunch, awards, scrimmages, law firm visits, mentors, tournaments and more!!  
INTRODUCING THE 
2015 NEW YORK CITY 
SUMMER DEBATE INSTITUTES!   

 

Click below for more details on each of our community debate institutes. Note - locations and dates are still being finalized. But please complete the summer application to be notified as we finalize details.

 

Bronx Debate Institute

http://debate.nyc/summer/bronx/
 

Brooklyn Debate Institute

http://debate.nyc/summer/brooklyn/
 

Harlem Debate Institute

http://debate.nyc/summer/harlem/ 

 

Queens Debate Institute

http://debate.nyc/summer/queens/
 

Manhattan Debate Institute

http://debate.nyc/summer/manhattan/
  

Varsity Debate Institute 

http://debate.nyc/summer/varsity/ 

  

Elementary School Debate Institute

http://debate.nyc/summer/elementary/
 

 

 

DEBATE NIGHTS!
Empowering NYC youth to achieve academic excellence through academic debate.





BEVERIDGE & DIAMOND DEBATE INVITATIONAL
MARCH 3RD!

Beveridge & Diamond

Thank you to Beveridge & Diamond for hosting the Beveridge & Diamond Debate Invitational on January 28th for our top public forum debate teams!  Beveridge & Diamond, which specializes in environmental law, will also be sponsoring our first April Environmental Debate Month to celebrate Earth Day as well!  Thank you so much to Nadia Wagner and Paula Schauwecker and everyone at Beveridge & Diamond for making this possible! 
BANK OF AMERICA DEBATE INVITATIONAL

Bank of America

Thank you to Bank of America for hosting our first Bank of America Debate Invitational in January for our top teams in public forum debate.  Thank you to Yaira Brito, Gretchen Garnecho, and Bank of America for making this possible!  And thank you for offering an inspirational evening for our debaters to not only debate but learn about careers in finance as well as personal financial education. 
MONTHLY INTELLIGENCE SQUARED DEBATE NIGHT!

IQ2

Intelligence Squared (IQ2) and the New York City Urban Debate League have teamed up every month for an incredible Debate Night for NYC youth!  The next Debate Night is February 11th and the topic is "Declinists be Damned: Bet on America." Debaters include Chrystia Freeland (Member, Parliament of Canada & Journalist), Peter Zeihan, Geopolitical Strategist and author of the "Accidental Superpower," Joseph Joffe, Publisher-Editor of Die Zeit, and James Rickards, Economist, Investment Banker and Author of Currency Wars! Click here to learn more. 
DEBATE TOURNAMENTS COMING UP!
NEW YORK CITY'S MOST RIGOROUS ACADEMIC PROGRAM - EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEKEND, EVERY SUMMER - YEAR ROUND.
NYC High School Debate Calendar
High School

Upcoming High School Tournament

Date
February 21st

Location
Bronx Collaborative

Policy Debate Topic

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its non-military exploration and/or development of the Earth's oceans.


Public Forum Debate Topic
Resolved: On balance, economic globalization benefits worldwide poverty reduction.
(138 schools and 457 students voted for the resolution. The winning resolution received 67% of the school vote and 59% of the student vote.)

Worlds Debate Topics
1. This House believes the Common Core does more harm than good.
2. This House believes that police officers should be required to wear body cameras.
3. (Intelligence Squared Community Topic) This House believes that America is on the decline.

Judge Sign Up Form
TBA!

About the High School Division
The New York City High School Debate League is one of the most successful debate leagues in the nation. Our debaters have won city, state, regional and national championships.  Our debaters have reached the elimination rounds at every majority national debate tournament including Harvard University, Yale University, Georgetown University, Dartmouth University. Between 95% - 100% of our high school debaters graduate and are accepted to college - many receiving full or partial scholarships because of debate.  

NYC Middle School Debate League Tournament Calendar
 
Middle School

Upcoming Middle School Tournaments:

Dates

2/7/15
Public Forum Debate Tournament

Location: Hunters Point Community Middle School (Queens)

2/14/15
Parliamentary Debate Tournament: The Valentines Day Debate Invitational! 

Location: One World Middle School (Bronx)

Policy Debate Topic

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its non-military exploration and/or development of the Earth's oceans.


Public Forum Debate Topic

February National Public Forum Debate Division (Beginners and Advanced Divisions - all schools)
Resolved: On balance, economic globalization benefits worldwide poverty reduction.

February NYCUDL- NYCDOE Public Forum Debate Division (One division, NYCDOE schools)
Resolved: On balance, immigration is beneficial to the United States economy.

Parliamentary Debate Topics

1. This House believes the Common Core does more harm than good.
2. This House believes that police officers should be required to wear body cameras.
3. (Intelligence Squared Community Topic) This House believes that America is on the decline.

Judge Sign Up Forms
Click here for the February 7th Judge Sign Up Form 

About the Middle School Division

The New York City Middle School Debate League is the largest citywide middle school debate league in the country and features nearly every national debate style including Public Forum Debate, Parliamentary Debate, and Policy Debate.  Advanced middle school debaters can also participate in our high school league. Click here for the NYC Middle School Debate League Tournament Calendar!
Elementary

Upcoming Elementary School Tournament

Date
2/14/15: The Valentines Day Invitational

Location
One World Middle School (Bronx)

Debate Topic
Resolution: School suspensions should be banned.

Judge Sign Up Form

TBA

 

About the Elementary School Division
The New York City Urban Debate League founded one of the first Elementary School Debate Leagues in the nation and the first Elementary School Debate Championships! Click here for the NYC Elementary School Debate League Tournament Calendar!

White House The Brown Rudnick Travel Team provides regional and national travel opportunities to top debaters. Our Travel Team competes at every national circuit tournament on the East Coast including Harvard, Georgetown, Princeton, Yale and many others! Click here for the NYC Travel Debate Team Calendar! 

Upcoming Tournament Dates:

February 13th - 16th
Harvard University

February 27th - 28th
Lakeland Tournament (NY)
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