HAFTR hosts first-time South Shore league debate

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Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway High School hosted the Ann Neill Memorial Debate Tournament that included both private and public schools on Nov. 30.

HAFTR High in Cedarhurst, Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for Boys in Woodmere, Rambam Mesivta High School in Lawrence, Stella K. Abraham Yeshiva High School for Girls, Chaminade High, a Catholic high school for boys in Mineola; The Abraham Joshua Heschel School, a Jewish day school in Manhattan; and Lynbrook, Syosset  and Walt Whitman public high schools took part in the debate as part of the newly formed South Shore Speech & Debate League (SSSDL) and competed under rules of the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA).

The students competed in both Lincoln-Douglas (one-on-one debate) about qualified immunity for police officers and public forum (two-on-two debate) about whether students should be afforded Fourth Amendment probable cause rights in schools during a search.

“We are very excited to bring national debate to yeshiva high schools,” Alex Libkind, coach of the HAFTR debate team said. “Prior to the SSSDL all national debates were held on Shabbos which precluded yeshiva high schools from participating. The SSSDL is committed to diversifying speech and debate and giving yeshiva students access to this NSDA honors society and via weekday tournaments.”

Students with 2-0 records were considered the winners. In Public Forum: Benjamin Austin and Mordechai Grestley (Rambam), Jennifer Rabinowitz and Matt Morse (HAFTR), Ezekiel Bronfman and Clara Citron and Sofia Katz and Sara Serfaty (Heschel), and Brett Dobert & Shane McCabe (Chaminade). 

In Lincoln-Douglas: Ronit Dhulia, Asher Gladstone and Jason Lin (Syosset) and John O'Hare and Grant Allan (Chaminade).