VICTORIA MARTINEZ
Senior News Editor

Doesn't look like much of a debate, does it?

This weekend, the University of Saskatchewan Debate Society hosts its annual Diefenbaker Cup tournament — a western Canadian debate competition.

Kelci Wilford has been involved in debate for ages — five years at the U of S alone. She forms part of the organizing team for this year’s cup and is currently preparing to attend the World Universities Debating Championships in Botswana over the Christmas break.

She will be attending the worlds as a judge, for what could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The debates will take place over nine days, with about 360 participating teams.

“It’s extremely valuable in terms of training and experience,” said Wilford.

The spectrum of participating teams will lend the debates a huge diversity of styles and perspective.

Back home at the Saskatoon tournament, she will be busy keeping rooms in order and debaters taken care of but is hoping that there will be a bit of time to judge debates herself. She started judging well after becoming a debater and didn’t realize it might be as enjoyable as debate itself.

“It’s nice because it’s not as stressful or intense,” she said. “That intensity is something debaters thrive on. It’s why we do it. But the break can be nice!”

Not all the club members agree. Mike Fulton, who will also be running this home tournament, tends to get frustrated with judging.

“I just start correcting their arguments,” he said.

The debates this weekend will be in British parliamentary style: four teams of two participate in a debate on a subject chosen by the head adjudicator. They are placed by their arguments and if they fulfilled their goal as a specific team. The style is intensely content-focused but the topics are chosen so that a general knowledge base is enough for a team to be successful.

In addition to six or seven U of S debate teams, the debate society will contribute 12 judges. The visiting teams from all over western Canada will contribute a few judges as well.

Considering meets occur every few weeks, the tournaments are also a breeding ground for cross-Canada friendships.

“It’s a good time and a half,” said first year debater Eman Bare.

She’s seen benefits from her month-long debate career already.

“I talk in class all the time now,” she said, despite never having been one to speak up in the past.

Fulton echoed her sentiments, stating that debate helps create “well organized arguments” and allows you to “stand up in front of a crowd.”

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image: Pete Yee