R-MA Holds Debate on Carbon Emissions

By Jessica Coleman -- Northern Virginia Daily Staff Writer

FRONT ROYAL — Four Randolph-Macon Academy students squared off Monday night for several rounds of verbal sparring on a weighty issue — how to curb global carbon emissions.

It was the kick-off event for the United Nations Foundation's The People Speak Global Debate Series and featured four R-MA debate team members — dressed neatly in black blazers, white shirts and crisp ties — debating each other on how to reduce carbon emissions.

The director of The People Speak, Victoria Baxter, attended the event, and said she thought the students gave well researched, articulate presentations. Tyler Billman, coordinator of programs for the National Forensic League, also attended and had nothing but good things to say about the students.

"The UN foundation and the NFL have a commonality, and that is we believe that today's teens are tomorrow's leaders," he said.

The People Speak was started in 2003 by the United Nations Foundation. Schools in all 50 states and more than 50 countries will be competing in the debate series this year.

Topics covered this year will be climate change and water. The first debates will take place from Oct. 12-22 and will focus on issues related to the reduction of carbon emissions. The second round of the series will be held from March 14-24 and will focus on whether water should be considered national property.

It is a weighty topic for such young speakers, but one the UN foundation and the debaters said they were passionate about discussing.

"It's something that's been prevalent in our society for decades, but no one's done anything about it," Martha Galewski, 17, of Scottsdale, Ariz., said after the debate.

The teams of two each took a position, pro or con, for using government regulations to reduce emissions.

The pro team, made up of Galewski and K. Carter Mangen, 17, of Los Angeles, said governments were the only entities capable of handling such a large and complex issue. The con team, made up of Brennan Morris, 16, of Janesville, Wis., and Tyler Solley, 17, of Loudoun County, maintained that corporations were the rightful regulators of emissions.

"There is no real purpose served in arguing against global warming and the necessity of reducing carbon emissions," Solley said during the debate. "What is the real issue of this debate is not why we must reduce carbon emissions, but just who will reduce emissions."

As all four scribbled frantically on yellow note pads and whispered conspiratorially to their partners, they went back and forth, from table to table, challenging each other on point after point. Audience members visually followed the exchange as if watching a particularly aggressive tennis match.

Quoting obscure scientific periodicals and cutting edge studies, the students made their points. When it came time to choose a winner, there was no clear choice.

When time was called, the audience of R-MA students, faculty and visitors were given a ballot on which to cast a vote for the most convincing argument. It was a close call, but the argument against government regulations and for corporate measures won, 27-24.

The objective of the night's event, however, was not to announce a winner, but rather to engage youth, and anyone else within earshot, in a meaningful dialogue on important issues.

The students, however, said they are all friends and don't care who wins or loses. It's just good fun and practice for them, they said.

"It's just like scrimmaging," Mangen said. "This is our sport."

Contact Jessica Coleman at jcoleman@nvdaily.com