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From left, Chelmsford H.S. Speech and Debate Coach Peter Zopes, sophomore Prateek Motagi, sophomore Arjun Lingala, sophomore Divya Sambasivan, junior Vishant Raajkumar, sophomore Avaneesh Mallela and sophomore Rishi Ajmera. (Chris O Donnell, courtesy)
CHELMSFORD, MA A Chelmsford High School team is advancing to compete in the Massachusetts Speech and Debate League finals April 10 and 11. They ve also qualified for the renowned UK Tournament of Champions and the prestigious NCFL Grand National.
The students have taken part in nearly two dozen debates and have had more practice than usual, thanks, in part, to how the debates have adapted to an online environment amid the pandemic.
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The Philologos Society hosted a debate with the USC Hybrid High School debate team in the fall of 2020, via Zoom. The event was moderated by sophomore Lillian Goodwin. (Photo courtesy of Richard Petrosyan)
Two mottos guide the work of the Philologos Society, an organization founded by Richard Petrosyan in 2019: “Live a century and learn a century” and “succeed to serve.” Since its start, the organization, which aims to promote the intellectual growth of its members while serving the Los Angeles area, has been doing just that.
The Philologos Society got its name from the Ancient Greek word
philos meaning friend/love and
Lots of people argue online. This fall, Emory Woodruff Debate Scholars Eu Giampetruzzi and Grace Kessler were winning trophies for it.
When intercollegiate policy debate shifted online, the pair logged into tournaments from Giampetruzzi’s apartment on Emory’s Clairmont Campus. At their first tournament, they were the top seed after preliminary rounds, losing in the octofinals. They went on to win 88% of their debates (with only seven losses) and accumulated enough points with each win to earn a chance to battle for the national title in the National Debate Tournament next March.
The accomplishment is notable not for only a young team – Giampetruzzi and Kessler are a sophomore and first-year, respectively – but because of the rarity of an all-female team to reach that level.
yes, we ve moved. now, since wednesday s debate, we ve heard a pile of junk from the typical talking heads about who won, who lost and who should be killed. but no one asked the pros, until now. and because you asked for it, we brought back the experts, skilled at the complex art of debate to get their take on the most recent event. please welcome members of the new york city debate league. i want to go to you first, chase. because before we started, you said that ponies are better than unicorns. how can you say that? well, ponies sound much better. and on reality tv shows, a young man or woman, they say i want a