HWS News
9 January 2025 HWS Debate Competes at World Championship in Panama
Hudson Chou '27 and Fairooj Suhita '27 competed at the World Universities Debating Championship in Panama City. Sandeep Tissaaratchy ’26 and Director of Debate Daniel Schonning ’16 served as adjudicators at the tournament.
This year’s World Universities Debating Championship was held in Panama City, where HWS Debate was notably represented by Hudson Chou '27 and Fairooj Suhita '27. Although they did not advance to the elimination rounds, the HWS team had the significant opportunity to compete against some of the best teams in the world, showcasing their skills on an international stage.
This marked Suhita’s second time competing at Worlds and an impressive debut for Chou at collegiate debate’s largest international tournament.
Debate topics ranged from Panama and U.S. involvement to the merits of classical verses progressive educational models. In British Parliamentary style debate, debaters are only told the topic minutes before the round begins.
The motion for the third round, “This House Believes that the student organizers of the July Revolution should not transition into formal political roles (e.g., run for elected office, form their own political party),” struck close to home for Suhita. An international student from Bangladesh, Suhita brought her lived experience to the debate.
“I had the rare opportunity to speak about my own lived experiences in the Bangladeshi revolution on a world stage,” Suhita says. “Round 3 was particularly exciting as I watched my teammate Hudson beautifully humanize abstract economic concepts, reminding me of how artful debate can be. Overall, the tournament had the best company, competition and motions!” Suhita says.
“Debating at Worlds was simultaneously one of the most exhilarating and competitive experiences in my life,” Chou says. “Being surrounded by the best of the best was a learning experience like no other. One moment emblematic of this experience was in Round 5. Hearing my own teammates lived experience of the revolution was incredible, and something I think reflects the value of debate (and why I do it!) in the first place: creating discourse on real issues that affect real people."
WUDC in Panama City
Sandeep Tissaaratchy ’26 and Director of Debate Daniel Schonning ’16 served as adjudicators at the tournament.
Schonning was selected to adjudicate both the Octofinals and the English as a Second Language semifinal.
In parliamentary debate, to "break as a judge" means that a judge is selected to adjudicate elimination (or "break") rounds, such as the quarterfinal, semifinal or final, after the preliminary rounds are completed. They are selected based on their skill and performance at the tournament.
