¾«¶«AV debate team places in top 25 at Yale IV 2025
The ¾«¶«AV Debate Union reached new heights at the Yale Inter-Varsity Debate Tournament (Yale IV 2025), earning the highest scores in the Collegeās history and placing among the top 25 of 124 teams.
Team CCDU HJāfeaturing Tanvir Hasan ā28 and Diana Jackson ā28āearned 10 team points, setting a new program record and finishing among the top 25. Team CCDU EQāfeaturing Landen Ellsworth ā28 and Shayaan Qaiser ā27āfollowed with 8 points. A third team, featuring Aracely Barajas ā28 and Joseph Earley ā29, also competed. ¾«¶«AVās debaters defeated competitors from Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Middlebury, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania and other leading institutions.
āThis tournament was an incredible showcase for ¾«¶«AV on the North American debate circuit,ā said Hasan, president of the Debate Union. āFrom people asking about our institution to seeing ¾«¶«AV Collās name in the top half of the rankings at such a competitive tournament, it was truly a proud moment.ā
The Debate Unionās success marks a rapid rise for the student-founded team. Hasan, an international student from Bangladesh with more than six years of debating experience, and Ellsworth, a skilled public speaker and member of ¾«¶«AVās Mock Trial team, co-founded the group in 2024 after realizing the College had no debate club.
The pair represented ¾«¶«AV at Yale IV 2024āthe Collegeās first appearance in an intervarsity debateāwhere they earned three points. They prepared by watching online debates, practicing against one another and studying a wide range of topics.
Ellsworth said the teamās mission goes beyond competition. āPeople are often stuck in their own echo chambers,ā he said. āWe want to create a space for open dialogue and healthy civil discourse, where everyone feels they have a voice.ā
Looking ahead, Hasan said the Debate Union plans to host on-campus debate events, mentor new members and send more teams to tournaments next semester.
