Detroit Urban Debate League helps students hone their skills

By Debra Talcott Legal News The Detroit Urban Debate League (UDL) is one important way that successful adults in the community can serve as role models and mentors for Detroit youth seeking to grow their communication skills and confidence. One of the oldest debate leagues in the nation, Detroit UDL was established in 1983 as a partnership between the Wayne State University debate team and the Detroit Public Schools gifted and talented program. "It was WSU Director of Debate, George Ziegelmueller (now retired), who saw that with economic decline in the city, debate programs had disappeared throughout Detroit," says Executive Director Holly Reiss. "Dr. Ziegelmueller believed debate brought invaluable benefits to students, so he began the arduous task of finding ways to make debate accessible and affordable for Detroit students." However, even with the support of WSU, the program found itself in jeopardy in recent years as a result of economic and institutional changes that were occurring in Detroit. It was a grant from Allstate Insurance and the establishment of a local board in 2009 that are credited for reviving the program. Since that time, student membership has increased more than 650 percent. A school that desires to participate in the UDL program must commit to paying a teacher to serve as the debate coach and paying the costs of transporting students to debate competitions. The UDL organizes and hosts five major tournaments during the school year which member schools can attend at no cost. "And because about 85 percent of our participants qualify for free and reduced lunch, we also provide meals for everyone at these tournaments," explains Reiss. In addition to the major tournaments, the UDL offers a number of workshops and public debates for the students. With only one full-time employee, the program relies heavily on volunteers. Reiss plans to enroll in a Ph.D. program at WSU next year in hopes of completing her coursework and conducting research on the impacts of urban debate in Detroit. She is proud that this year the program is serving both high schools and middle schools. Currently, about 225 students are involved in the program, with new schools and students being added during the season. Students learn how to conduct research, how to structure an effective argument, how to speak persuasively, and how to work cooperatively with teammates. Much of the debaters' research deals with current events, the law, and public policies, all of which require them to comprehend college-level resources. Prospective volunteers should to to urbandebatedetroit.org or write to hollyreiss@urbandebate.org. Published: Mon, Oct 22, 2012

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