North America’s sharpest minds spar for tops in UWindsor debating match

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Quick-thinking and a well-crafted argument is your sharpest weapon in this battle.

More than 150 students from leading universities across Canada and the United States including the likes of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and McGill gathered at the University of Windsor’s Odette School of Business over the weekend to vie for tops at the 2025 North American Debating Championships (NorthAms).

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Racing against the clock, debate teams had just 15 minutes to build an airtight case before presenting back-to-back seven-minutes speeches, all for a shot at advancing to the finals.

“It’s very empowering, but also intimidating,” Natalie George, Odette Debate Club president and key organizer of this year’s tournament, told the Star shortly after the event kicked off Saturday.

“A lot of the topics that we deal with are not only current events, but they’re not problems with simple solutions. Its very fun to try to come up with solutions and argue for a side.

Debate
University of Stanford student Claire Beamer defends her case during the North American Debating Championships held at UWindsor’s Odette School of Business on Saturday, January 18, 2024. Photo by Madeline Mazak /Windsor Star

“But when you’re on that podium, you really feel the pressure of that topic that you’re advocating for. I think that’s the fun part of debate and that’s why so many people are here today.”

Competitors debated over topics ranging from the United States’ attempt to purchase Greenland to the impact of consolidating streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, and Max.

About 54 teams competed in this year’s tournament, including three representing UWindsor.

For the first time ever, the University of Windsor hosted the NorthAms competition, which also made its long-awaited return to in-person debates after five years going virtual.

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“It’s huge for Odette because its the first time hosting a competition of this scale, with so many universities from across North America,” said George, who has participated in debating events since high school.

“It’s like the stars aligned. Windsor is such a perfect location to hold something that brings both Canada and the U.S. together.”

debate
Students filled hallways and classrooms at UWindsor’s Odette School of Business on Saturday, January 18, 2024, racing to craft airtight arguments in just 15 minutes before presenting their case in the North American Debating Championships held over the weekend. Photo by Madeline Mazak /Windsor Star

What sets Windsor apart in the debate circuit is its unique position as the only post-secondary institution competing in both the Canada University Society for Intercollegiate Debate and the American Parliamentary Debate Association.

This allows UWindsor to welcome teams from both countries and tackle topics that resonate across the continent.

“For this tournament in particular spoiler alert — we’re looking forward to issues that are uniquely North American,” explained George.

“So maybe some issues about health care, our border, trade, and economics pertaining just to Canada and the U.S.”

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Teams faced off over the course of Saturday and Sunday until the competition whittled down to just two finalists.

The competitors in the last round hailed from Princeton and The University of Chicago. The closing topic: the romanticization of unrequited love in popular media.

Ale Perri and Roy Tiefer, the brains behind Chicago’s debating team, took first prize.

“There’s definitely clout in terms of physical prizes,” said George. “We have a trophy that’s passed around from team to team every year.”

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