The Great Debate
Urban Squad Excels in the Art of the Argument

By Raqiyah Mays
The Source Magazine, June 2000, page 80

A high school student clears his throat as the judge nods for him to begin. He takes a deep breath, and when he exhales, phrases like "national deficit" and "government surplus" fly from the kid's mouth. Although he's only 16, he's arguing in support of government-funded education policies. And his speech is tight.

The scene is typical of New York's Urban Debate League (UDL) competitions. Created in 1997 by the Open Society Institute, UDL teaches students public speaking, problem solving and critical thinking. The league provides kids in financially strapped schools with the same opportunities as students in affluent schools. With branches in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, and elsewhere, UDL is one of the only debate programs with a considerable number of Black and Latino participants.

"Debating helps me interact with people," says 17-year old Michael Georgalas, a junior from Brooklyn's Transit Tech High School debate team. "I've learned a lot about friendly competitiveness and my grade have increased."

A first-year debater, Georgalas won the top New York City area speaker award at UDL's tournament. He and his partner Emmanuel Pierre, later won the top team award. "I joined the debate league because my coach said I would win a scholarship [to college] more easily than running track," says Pierre, a 17-year old junior. "This will benefit me in the future because if I get a job, I can tell them I'm good at debating issues."

UDL gives debaters opportunities to discuss issues that directly affect their lives. And according to Georgalas, debating has tremendous results. "If I weren't on the debate team, I might be on the street. I live in such a bad neighborhood that I cross three drug dealers before I get to my building," he says. "With debate, I stay off the street, I stay home and I study."