On Sunday afternoon, February 26, Yeshiva University High School for Boys (MTA) hosted the 28th annual Great Debate, which has been a longstanding tradition in MTA. On average, the event hosts the most debaters and some of the most sensational and competitive debates coming from the most experienced debaters in the league and around the country. Instead of the standard two-round system, the Great Debate has three rounds.
The topic debated this year was whether the Electoral College should be abolished. This topic emerged at the top of the list of potential topics for the tournament because the popular vote had a different outcome than the Electoral College in the most recent US presidential election.
After months of preparation, and three heated and exciting rounds of debate, MTA took home several awards. The overall won/loss record for MTA was 9-3. Seniors Yosef Lemel and Ben Tzion Zuckier took second place trophies with a perfect 3-0 record, while sophomores Aharon Goldstein and Noam Mayerfeld also had a perfect 3-0 record. Zuckier also ended up with the first place award for individual speaker. In the extemporaneous speaking competition, Akiva Cooper won a third place trophy for the team.
Many thanks to all the judges, debaters, schedule makers, coaches, timekeepers and, of course, Mrs. Harriet Levitt, MTA’s debate coach and organizer of the tournament.
