by Saleema Lee
Prior to and throughout my 2 years as an undergraduate student at the University of West Georgia, the importance of student involvement has been heavily stressed. Getting involved on campus is the best way to establish relationships within the collegiate community. After a few test runs at different organizational events, my heart chose the policy debate team.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of UWG debate, and I couldn’t be more excited than to be a part of such a milestone. Becoming a member of the debate team is probably one of the best decisions I have made thus far in my scholastic career.
Prior to my engagement with the group, I was incredibly intimidated by the thought of policy debate. I was under the impression that because I am not a mass communications, political science, or pre-law major, then I am unqualified and cannot contribute any perspectives of interest to the discourse.
The Southeastern CEDA District 6 Tournament proved me wrong entirely. My wonderful colleague Monique and I made it all the way to finals as the top seed novice team in the tournament. She earned the top speak award and I followed with second. It made me realize how fluid policy debate can actually be and I utilize it as an instrumental creative outlet.
For me, debate is the medium that enables me to have a voice. It is a safe space where I can share personal narratives in the form of poetry as argumentation and bring forth new creative means of addressing the annual resolution.
In addition, my favorite incentive of debate is the opportunity to travel. The university funds our trips to different campuses within the region as well as out of the state for competitions, making it easy and fun to network within the vast debate community. It’s almost empowering when I meet other likeminded individuals who share some of the same political ideologies as I do, but I think the most important aspect of policy debate is the opportunity to address the doctrine of others.
It’s all a learning experience and the debate space is the sanction which shapes intending policymakers and lawyers. We have the capability to break down conventional barriers and establish new, conventional ways of thinking. I definitely encourage my prospective and current wolves to join the pack and become a member of the UWG collegiate policy debate team.
Saleema Lee is an honors student studying pre-nursing.
