Manchester Political Union Students Choose Refugee Situation as Topic for 2017 Spring Debate
Manchester, Conn. (March 23, 2017) – Members of the Manchester Political Union will debate the topic, “America Should Admit Refugees,” in the MCC student club’s Spring 2017 debate Monday, April 10, at 3:30 p.m. in the Great Path Academy Community Commons. The debate is free and open to the public.
The topic was proposed by the Manchester Political Union students themselves, according to Professor Angelo Messore, the club’s faculty advisor. “This is an important issue because some students that attend MCC are from foreign countries and we also have students here who are refugees,” Messore said. “It says a lot about MCC students that they chose to debate such a critical issue for our time.”
The topic is so much a part of campus life that Connecticut State Colleges and University (CSCU) President Mark Ojakian recently published a statement to all campuses: “This is a critical value of higher education,” he said in the statement. “(We) are committed to social justice, to celebrating our diversity, and fostering a climate of inclusion and respect for one another. CSCU will, however, continue to comply with federal and state law and we will remain focused on what is truly best for our students and institutions.”
Each spring the MPU stages its debate as a public speaking contest. The panel of judges, which includes MCC faculty from different departments, does not cross-examine. The panel will judge students on their public speaking and their use of evidence. Judges will be looking for the best persuasive speeches with evidence to support their arguments, as well as a neatly presented and persuasive speech.
All MCC students, whether club members or not, are invited to participate in the debate. Students are expected to have well thought-out ideas backed by evidence and to propose a well-reasoned explanation whether or not to affirm (yes) the resolution or deny (no) the resolution.
Each participant will present a four-minute speech for or against the resolution. There will be a brief question and answer session at the end of all the speeches. The top three winners will receive the following:
1st Prize- $100 gift card
2nd Prize- $75 gift card
3rd Prize- $50 gift card
