Debate: Yale vs. Princeton, Nov. 6

Yale and Princeton will square off in the annual Westchester debate competition Nov. 6 in Armonk (YWAA illustration)

In football, Yale will travel to Princeton Nov. 14 in the 138th meeting between the two programs. A week before, in debate, a Princeton team will travel to Westchester Nov. 6 to meet Yale, as the two squads will go head to head at Byram Hills High School in Armonk. Yale won the annual Westchester competition in Tarrytown last year over Princeton and Brown.

The format will be similar to Westchester debates in previous years.  Once the topic is announced, the college teams spar first. Participants will have an opportunity to present arguments and rebut others. Debaters are timed, and the ever-present gong will sound when speakers go on too long. The teams will go back and forth until judges announce a winner (and explain how they reached their decision). This year marks the program's 18th competition.

Six high-school teams, who will be coached by the college debaters, will follow in a similar format. Richard Bradley '86 will once again serve as the moderator for the evening.

High-school teams include those from Byram Hills, Ardsley, Yonkers, Fox Lane, Rye Neck, and the French School. Hackley School won the high-school round last year.  Ardsley, Rye Neck and Yonkers return after having competed in the 2013 competition.

Prizes will be awarded to winning debaters and their schools.  The program is funded in part by the Yale Westchester Nightingale Fund, which honors long-time debate leader and YWAA board member Bill Nightingale '53, who once again returns as a co-Chair of the event and emcee.  Susan Kaminsky '86 is also a co-Chair and event organizer.

Zachary Young '17 and Tony Nguyen '16 represented Yale, when the duo triumphed last year.

The public, especially those interested in hearty, rapid-fire discussion of politics, world affairs and social issues, is invited.  The competition starts at 7:15 pm (12 Tripp Lane, Armonk).