Samford University and Howard University debaters will face off Friday during the inaugural Southern Scholars Debate Classic to argue the question of whether a majority-two-party system is the best way to govern the United States.
A second academics-focused community event – a career-prep showcase for area high schoolers, their families and school staff – will follow on Sunday.
Both events are products of The Penny Foundation, a Birmingham-based nonprofit that works to connect people, organizations and resources to eliminate economic inequality in the Black community. It is presenting the debate and showcase under its education umbrella and in partnership with other organizations.
Lyord Watson, executive director of The Penny Foundation, said there was no choice in his mind when deciding a location for the inaugural debate.
“Birmingham is an important city, not only in the state, but in the world,” he said. “What happens in Birmingham, people pay attention to. You’re in a place where I would say the best and worst of confrontation and conversation has been seen.”
Samford vs. Howard Debate
The inaugural Southern Scholars Debate Classic will pit debaters from Howard, one of the country’s top historically Black colleges and universities, against debaters from Samford, a leading Christian liberal arts college.
It is free and open to the public and will take place Friday at 10 a.m. at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church.
The debate will feature two students from each university. A coin toss will determine which team defends a majority-two-party system of government and which team argues an opposing view.
“We want to model how we have tough conversations in productive ways,” Watson said. “And what better way to do that than to have these young people take opposing sides, research them and then come and present them before the public?”
Watson said the event, presented in collaboration with the Jefferson County Commission, is an exhibition to introduce debate to the Birmingham community and won’t be judged. Watson said the debate theme is broader than it might appear and will provide a platform for the community to engage in dynamic discussions.
“It’s a conversation about democracy at a time that we just have to learn how to talk to each other again,” he said. “And so, it’s not necessarily about the election. It’s not necessarily about Republican or Democrat. This is a conversation about how do we as people, how do we as the United States, how do these young people see democracy?”
The Howard University debaters and coach left their Washington, D.C., campus during homecoming week to attend the debate. “It’s a great honor for us for them to come down and for them to be a part as well,” Watson said.
He said The Penny Foundation hopes to hold similar debates in the future and to support debate initiatives in Birmingham and Jefferson County middle and high schools.
It builds a lifelong skill set that you can use no matter what you might decide to do,” he said.
A recording of the Samford-Howard debate will be posted on the foundation’s YouTube page.
College and Career-Prep Event
Pathway to Success: Admissions, Scholarships, Safety & Athlete Guidance will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.
It is a free career-prep event that Watson said aims to expose students and parents to a broad range of career options and avenues – including college, trade schools and the military – and help them leverage expert guidance and the support of community-based nonprofits to achieve success.
It will consist of presentations and opportunities for networking and information gathering. Topics to be covered include how to apply to college and for scholarships, student rights, campus safety, the impact of social media on students’ futures and applying to college as an athlete. See the full schedule for the event.
The Penny Foundation is holding the event in conjunction with CampCollege.org, which equips students with tools to gain higher-education admittance.
The event isn’t just for students. Conversations also will be targeted toward those in supporting roles, including parents and other family members, teachers and coaches, Watson said. “They’ll all be able to find something useful,” he said.
As far as what students take from the event, Watson said: “I hope they’re empowered and encouraged – empowered with knowledge to make decisions that are best for them and encouraged that there are support systems and people who advocate for them (and) want to see them succeed and want to point them in the direction of resources that will help them do that.”
The Penny Foundation will use the event to find out more about students’ and parents’ needs, Watson said, so it can determine future actions, such as holding similar events or supporting other organizations doing the same work.
“I just think there’s more room and more space to continue to put this information in front of people in different ways, to make it accessible,” he said.
The event will include a drawing for a $1,000 scholarship. Learn more and register.
Debate Event Details
- What: Howard University vs. Samford University College Debate
- When: Friday, Oct. 18
- Time: 10 a.m.-noon
- Where: Sixth Avenue Baptist Church; 1101 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW
Samford University Team:
- T.J. Riggs
- Maddox Gates
- Debate Coach: Lee Quinn
Howard University Team:
- Elandrea Baker
- Robert Khalil Kelly
- Debate Coach: Angela D. Minor
Registration: Southern Scholars Debate Classic
Career-Prep Event Details
- What: Pathway to Success
- When: Sunday, Oct. 20
- Time: 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
- Where: The Forum at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex; 950 22nd St. N
Register: Southern Scholars Showcase
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