HIGH TATRAS, SLOVAKIA — The city of Baltimore is building a strong international reputation in debate. Representatives from the Baltimore Urban Debate League (BUDL) took both first AND second place in the prestigious International Debate Education Association (IDEA) mixed team tournament, held this summer in Slovakia. Shawntia Diggs, a graduate of Forest Park high school, advanced to the final round to face a team coached by the team of Andreas Spiliadis, her former debate coach at Forest Park, and Chris Baron, her future coach at Towson University, where Shawntia plans to debate this fall. "Baltimore can't lose!" Mr. Baron said excitedly before the final round began. Both teams debated successfully in seven previous debates against top debaters from 29 countries.

The tournament was part of a two-week institute hosted by IDEA, the debate organization that sponsors debate programs in more than 35 nations. IDEA members primarily hail from Central and Eastern Europe, the Former Soviet Union, and Central Asia. As the organization has expanded over its eight year history, it has grown to include countries such as: the US, Hati, Indonesia, Whales, and Israel.

The Baltimore team was composed of four graduates of the BUDL: Joseph Smith from Mergenthaler Vocational Technical high school, Robert Kinslow from Walbrook Uniform Services Academy, Charles Ragler from Harbor City Learning Center, and Shawntia Diggs from Forest Park. Three BUDL coaches also took part: Lynn Robinson and Adam Schwartz from Harbor City and Andreas Spiliadis from Forest Park. The team worked hard before they left to prepare for the two topics they would be debating: one about whether the UN should protect cultural rights and the other about the merits of an international criminal court. For the UN topic, the Baltimore team prepared a case on protection of Roma people (gypsies) in Europe. The Baltimore students were quick to note parallels between lack of access to quality education for Roma minorities in countries like Bulgaria and unequal access for young people of color in the US. "Our students were able to use their personal experiences to make the case," Mr. Schwartz said.

Although the debates are in English, which should give an advantage to native speaking US teams, Americans have typically struggled to do well at this event. Other competitors have used their experience with the format of the debate, judging standards, and practice on the topic to their benefit. US teams debate a different topic during the regular season, debate on two rather than three person teams, and have limited opportunities to engage in international competition.

The Baltimore Urban Debate League, a program that is supported by a partnership between the Open Society Institute, the Baltimore City Public School System, and Towson University, sponsored the trip. Towson University is held in high regard in the international debate community. The Towson debate team has more debate recruits from abroad than any other debate program in the US. "Towson's leadership in international debate has allowed us to attract some of the best debaters in the world. They help us compete against the most elite colleges in the US," says Beth Skinner, Towson University's director of debate.

For the four recent graduates of Baltimore city public high schools, this experience was more than just closing out the final round of a challenging tournament. For all four Baltimore students, this was their first trip abroad. The experience of working closely with students from places like Uzbekistan or Estonia to prepare was a life-altering experience. "In the course of this program, we all learn about each other through our involvement together, but we also learn about ourselves in the process, combating stereotypes, prejudice, and simple misunderstandings," remarked Robert Kinslow. Speaking the common language of debate, friendships were forged and ideas were shared. Barbora Onruskova, a Slovakian debater who received a top speaker award at the tournament remarked before the competition, "I got to know a lot of great people. I understand now that winning is fine, but is not the thing that can itself satisfy you after the debate. Doing a 'great job!' is the thing that is important. The feeling that you improved yourself and you did your best!"