The Hillsdale College Debate Team poses for a photo on campus last semester.
Courtesy | Emma Kate Mellors

Freshman Ryan Rodell and sophomore Ben Brown represented Hillsdale College debate at an online tournament hosted by Western Washington University this weekend, finishing with a record of three wins and two losses.

The CARD-style team debated nuclear policy between Ukraine and Russia against the University of Oregon, Arizona State University, Weber State University, and Western Washington University, according to Rodell. 

Two Hillsdale parliamentary-style debate teams also competed against Marshall University, Tulane University, and Kansas Wesleyan University in a separate online parliamentary-style tournament hosted by Bowling Green State University Feb. 24.

CARD stands for Collegiate Advocacy Research Debate, according to Director of Forensics and Debate Kirstin Kiledal. 

“In CARD, you have a lot more time to prepare, and you pretty much have unlimited time for the round,” Rodell said.

While CARD-style competitions allow competitors more time to prepare arguments, parliamentary tournaments require competitors to prepare arguments on the spot and speak extemporaneously, senior Victoria Kelly said. The parliamentary teams debated a new topic each round in the tournament.

Kelly said she and senior Jonah Apel scored zero out of three preliminary rounds.

“It’s not typical for us,” Kelly said. “But that’s OK.” 

Sophomores Malia Thibado and Mark den Hollander scored zero out of two preliminary rounds, according to Kelly.

Kelly and Apel had one bye round, in which they did not compete against any team. Thibado and den Hollander had two bye rounds. 

The Hillsdale debate team will next compete in person at the Pi Kappa Delta national tournament at Glendale Community College in Phoenix from March 7-11, according to Kiledal.

Kelly said she is looking forward to working with Rodell for the first time in the upcoming tournament.

“Ryan has a level of technical experience in debate that I really admire,” Kelly said. “I hope that by working with him I can pick up some of that nuance and really bring crispness to my own arguments.” 

Kiledal said she is proud of how the team members have adjusted to challenges through the year. 

“They have worked extremely hard this year adapting to a new coach, a new debate form, and rebuilding a successful team culture and structure,” Kiledal said. “I am so proud of each of them and of the team as a whole.”