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FeedSeawolf Debaters Rank 12th in the World, Tie for 2nd in the U.S.
The World Debating Web site (flynn.debating.net) has just released their 2010 world rankings for university debating programs. UAA’s Seawolf Debate Team has, for the first time, been ranked in the top 20 programs in the world and is tied for second place in the U.S. The team’s strong showing puts them in excellent company, as the top 20 is populated by such major institutions as Oxford, Cambridge, Yale and Harvard.
The rankings, based on the performance of a university’s debating program over the past five years at the World University Debating Championships (WUDC), are the most comprehensive rating system in intercollegiate debating. The WUDC is an international competition that attracts teams from around the world. This year’s tournament, hosted by Koç University in Antalya, Turkey, featured teams from nearly 200 universities from 43 nations. Teams accumulate points at the WUDC by winning debates in pairings against other universities. Over 300 colleges and universities have earned spots in the rankings compiled by the World Debating Web site.
UAA entered four teams in the competition who, as a squad, accumulated more points than any other contingent the Seawolves had ever sent to the WUDC. Their phenomenal showing catapulted them into a 3-way tie for 12th place, sharing a spot with Harvard and St. Andrews of Scotland.
The 2010 rankings also establish the Alaskan debaters as one of the top three teams in the U.S., behind only Yale and tied for second with Harvard.
Rank
University
Nation
Points
1
University of Sydney
Australia
505
2
Oxford University
England
465
3
Yale University
U.S.
422
4
University of Cambridge
England
397
5
University of Queensland
Australia
386
6
University of Toronto
Canada
321
7
Monash University
Australia
312
8
Ateneo de Manila University
Philippines
272
9
University College Dublin
Ireland
271
10
University of Alberta
Canada
262
11
University of Queens
Canada
260
12
University of Alaska Anchorage
U.S.
253
12
Harvard University
U.S.
253
12
St. Andrews University
Scotland
253
15
McGill University
Canada
243
15
University of New South Wales
Australia
243
17
Colgate University
U.S.
240
18
Melbourne University
Australia
239
19
University of La Verne
U.S.
236
20
Princeton University
U.S.
233
Members of the Seawolf Debate program now turn their attention to the Cabin Fever Debates, UAA’s intramural debating tournament. The introductory session for the Cabin Fever Debates is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. in SSB 118. More information about the Cabin Fever Debates may be found at cabinfeverdebates.uaa.alaska.edu. For more information on the Seawolf Debate program, please contact Debate Coach Steve Johnson (786-4391 and afslj1@uaa.alaska.edu) or Assistant Debate Coach Shawn Briscoe (786-4354 and ansfb@uaa.alaska.edu) or visit the team's Web site at www.uaa.alaska.edu/seawolfdebate/.
