PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND — At the first ever East Regional Urban Debate Championships, 38 students from 10 schools took Baltimore style debate to the rest of the region. Walbrook, Southside, Patterson, Northwestern, Mervo, Frederick Douglass, Forest Park, Edmondson, Dunbar, City College and Carver were all represented in Providence. Traveling through 6 states to reach their destination, BUDL students and coaches arrived ready to show some people how to argue.

Just a few of the highlights included honors for Cedric Bradley and Chris Randall of Forest Park as a top novice team and second place varsity team for Regina Summers and Ciara Scruggs of Walbrook. For more information on speaker and team awards see the list below. Individual and team honors are great but even more impressive were the showings for our schools. 35 schools from across the eastern US competed at the tournament. While first place in the sweepstakes race went to a hometown Providence school, Hope High, Baltimore captured both second and third place for most wins in a close race between Walbrook with 7 wins and Forest Park with 6. Congrats to Officer Brooks and Coach Spiliadis and all the team members who worked toward this achievement. Although this was not officially announced at the awards assembly, a quick look at the results sheet will tell you that of all the cities represented, Baltimore had the most wins at 39, more than second and third places combined.

In addition to experiencing some excellent debating, students and teachers were very well hosted by the folks at Brown University who made us feel welcome with great food and events including a poetry slam, workshops, basketball games and a visit to Providence’s famous WaterFire display. Students and teachers got to exercise both their brawn and their brains building a series of human pyramids (check out the pictures). This was a beautiful part of the country that many of us got to experience for the first time. Thanks to everyone who made this weekend possible. I’m looking forward to next year already.

Click here for photos!

East Regional Urban Debate League Championships 2002

Baltimore Awards

Novice Speakers (top 20 recognized)

2nd Cedric Bradley, Forest Park

3rd Laketia Wilson, City College

6th Kendra Nelson, Northwestern

7th Tamera Countess, Edmondson

14th George Hicks, Southside

15th Julius Burris, Southside

16th Quinton Glenn, Carver

20th Iman Brickus, Carver

Varsity Speakers (top 15 recognized)

10th Regina Summers, Walbrook

12th Lawrence Grandpre, City College

Novice Teams (top 15 were recognized)

1st Forest Park Chris Randal and Cedric Bradley

7th Northwestern Loren Simpson and Kendra Nelson

9th Carver Iman Brickus and Quinton Glenn

10th City College Laketia Wilson and Jessica Turral

13th Southside Danae Barnes and Julius Burris

14th Edmondson Aisha Washington and Tamera Countess

Varsity Teams (top 10 were recognized)

2nd Walbrook Ciara Scruggs and Regina Summers

6th Walbrook Chardae Tarver and Robert Kinslow

10th Frederick Douglass Octavia Thompson and Deidra Johnson