Claudia Stoller, Tomas Rincon
Documentation: Campus Outreach 4/12/12
Tomas and I interviewed Dr. Smaw and Melissa Fussell of the debate team while Tomas filmed.
Tomas also filmed the debate and is editing the video.
Tomas also wrote a promo for the debate and sent it to WPRK to be read.
Article for The Sandspur: Debate Team
Rollins Varsity Debate Team: Article for The Sandspur, Claudia Stoller
When I think of a team my mind immediately pictures a line up of football players or a
gym locker room. Not every team is subjected to this stereotype. The Rollins Varsity Debate
Team does not need jerseys or a locker room in order to get their wins. They are currently the
2nd-ranked college debate team in the U.S. These debates are battles of intellect and rhetoric.
They are fun, fiery, and, energetic. Mellissa Fussell a Rollins Junior and the debate team captain
said, “there can be a crowd of up to 100 people with encouraged heckling. When the crowd
agrees they yell “here here”—when then disagree the yell “shame”. Being apart of the debate
team allows students to touch on a large variety of subjects. Many times they’re not sure what
subject is coming their way. Fussell feels that the debate team is a great way to challenge your
own rational grounds and hear all types of viewpoints to avoid provincial thinking. It is a very
cool concept to be involved in a debate even if you are not on the team. You can express always
express your opinion.
The most recent Rollins Varsity Debate was against The Cambridge Union Debating
Society, from the University of Cambridge in England. The topic was the very current issue of
the Stand Your Ground Law in Florida with regard to the current Trayvon Martin case. A young
African American killed by George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida who claims it was in selfdefense. The Stand Your Grown Law means that you are allowed to defend yourself and maybe
even kill if you are being attacked first. Rollins argued that it was a good law designed to protect
victims and repealing it now would only manifest the idea of racial profiling in Trayvon’s case.
Cambridge took the other side arguing that you should always retreat. If you have an opinion on
that matter consider joining the team!
Dr. Smaw is the coach of the debate team, director of forensics, assistant professor of
philosophy, and the pre-law advisor at Rollins. The goal for Smaw is to teach and engage
students on important topics and evaluates arguments—good or bad. His example of a debate
topic was whether of not there should be military intervention in Iran. Dr. Smaw wanted to get
the word out that a debate is not too different than a football game, “we are comfortable talking
about athletic competition because we are used to seeing it displayed. It is a little different when
it comes to intellectual things like a chess match.” If you’re interested in finding out more on the
debate team contact Dr. Smaw at ESMAW@Rollins.edu.
Promo by Tomas Rincon
ROLLINS COLLEGE DEBATE TEAM
ROLLINS COLLEGE DEBATE TEAM IS FACING OFF AGAINST
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY’S UNION DEBATING SOCIETY AT 7PM, ON
THURSDAY APRIL 5TH, AT THE TIEDTKE HALL, IN KEENE HALL, ON
THE CAMPUS OF ROLLINS COLLEGE. EVERYONE IS INVITED, THERE’S
NO ADMISSION FEE, AND THERES FREE FOOD AND DRINKS!
COME JOIN ROLLINS COLLEGE STUDENTS AS THEY DEBATE
STUDENTS VISITING FROM ENGLAND’S HISTORIC CAMBRIDGE
UNIVERSITY OVER IRAN’S CURRENT NUCLEAR ISSUES.
ONCE AGAIN THAT’S THURSDAY, APRIL 5TH, AT 7 PM, IN THE TIEDTKE
HALL AT ROLLINS COLLEGE HAVE SOME FREE FOOD AND DRINKS AS
ROLLINS COLLEGE DEBATE TEAM CLASHES WITH CAMBRIDGE
UNIVERSITY’S UNION DEBATING SOCIETY.