The 25th annual Emory National Debate Institute, sponsored by the Barkley Forum, the University's forensic organization, is convening June 11-24 to address the national high school debate resolution for the 1995-96 school year: "Resolved: That the United States government should substantially change its foreign policy toward the People's Republic of China."
Using the resources of Emory and faculty from Emory and guest colleges and universities, the institute experience enhances students' academic skills and provides exposure to other students from various academic and cultural backgrounds. Students from more than 20 states including Oklahoma, Texas, Ohio, Arizona, Illinois, Nebraska, Washington and Wyoming are attending.
From a variety of backgrounds and debating abilities, students are spending two weeks at Emory practicing forensics and research skills before formally debating the immigration issue. They are working with college faculty and collegiate debaters in small groups to practice the tools of debate--logic, delivery, rhetoric, research and cross examination.
Instructors for the 1995 institute include faculty members from Pace and Woodward academies in Atlanta as well as Atlanta's Therrell and Harper high schools. University instructors include faculty members from the University of Louisville, the University of Maryland and the University of Missouri at Kansas City who have served on workshop faculties at American and Northwestern universities, Dartmouth College, and the universities of Iowa and Kentucky, among other institutions. Top-ranked debate students from Emory and other colleges and universities also provide hands-on instruction during the two weeks.
The Barkley Forum is named for former U.S. Vice President and Emory alumnus Alben W. Barkley. A nationally ranked competitive intercollegiate debate team, the Barkley Forum includes approximately 60 student debaters, making it one of the largest in the country. Its mission is to provide educational opportunities for its members through high caliber competition; to represent Emory in forensics throughout the region and nation; and to assist high schools in the development of public speaking activities through a program of training and competition, such as the summer institute.
"We are pleased that the students will have an opportunity to learn about and debate about U.S.-China relations," said Barkely Forum Director Melissa Wade of this year's topic. "The globalization of the world's economy and information systems makes it vital that we learn about all parts of the world."
More than 150 students are registered for the summer session, and approximately 80 students applied for eight scholarships provided by the Phillips Petroleum company and the National Forensics League.
-- Joyce Bell