Yale, Princeton Debate in White Plains

College debaters from Yale and Princeton were followed by high school debate teams at the annual debate competition in White Plains, Oct. 26, 2018 (YWAA photos)

Once again, debate teams from Yale and Princeton journeyed to Westchester to compete and present arguments about a pressing topic of contemporary times.  The German International School in White Plains hosted the 2018 edition of the competition Friday, Oct. 26.  Judges selected the Yale squad as this year's tournament winner after each team had taken separate sides of a topic that pitted the pros and cons of socialism and capitalism.

The debate, sponsored by YWAA and the Princeton Alumni Association of Westchester, continues a YWAA tradition now over 20 years old.

For Yale, Rye native Charlie Barton was joined by teammate Quinn Crawford '21.  Raymond Xu and Preston Johnston, both sophomores, represented Princeton. Martin Sklar, Princeton-Westchester's president and Debate Co-Chair acted as moderator of the event.  Yale also won the event in 2017 at Arsdley High School.  Princeton won in 2016.

Joshua Levin, Administrative Law Judge in New York State, and former Scarsdale mayor Jon Mark judged the event.

This year's event followed the traditional program, where high school teams follow and compete after the collegians are done.  Before they take the stage, the college debaters coach the high school students.  Horace Greeley faced off against Hackley before Blind Brook competed against Harrison.  Judges determined Harrison to be the final high school winner.

Horace Greeley was represented by Krishna Ramaswamy and Dorothy Low.  Zach Yusaf and Zara Yusaf debated for Hackley.  Adena Kibel and Aidan O'Neil were Blind Brook's debaters. The Harrison winning debaters were Rebecca Anderson and Giobanni Cutri, both juniors.

The annual Westchester debate is funded in part by the William Nightingale '53 Debate Fund.  Nightingale continues his two decades of involvement as a Co-Chair of the event.  YWAA board member Dana Sands '83 acts as Senior Chair of the event.

Yale debaters were selected as victors in 2014 and 2015. A team from Brown defeated Harvard and Yale teams in 2013.

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