THE Yale Stampedes to Victory at 2014 APDA YALE DEBAT National Championship E ty in a about the commercialization of rap. ASSOCIATION Yale also forward- ed the youngest team to break at nationals, with 11 2013/2014 Newsletter sophomores Tony Nguyen Debaters (DC ’16) and Edwin Zhang Qualified for The YDA by the Yale Caps Thrilling Season with National Title (MC ’16) advancing to Nationals Numbers: quarterfinals after hand- ing defeat to William and After a season Mary by proposing a case that saw a hard fought about net neutrality. race for APDA’s Team of the Year Title, Yale runs The tournament also to finals at the North The cap- demonstrated the continual commitment 1 of Yale’s alumni to the team and circuit. YDA’s U.S. American and United tured its first American Parliamentary Kate Falkenstein (SY ‘12) served on the Ranking States Universities De- Debate Association National Champion- bating Championships, a ship in five years this past may at the Uni- tournament’s tab staff, with Andrew Con- fantastic performance at versity of Pennsylvania, where for the nery (PC ‘13), David Trinh (TD ‘12), Max the World Champion- sixth consecutive year Yale led the league Dovala (SM ‘13), Ben Kornfeld (DC ‘13), ships, and another successful year atop and Diana Li (DC ’15) finishing in 9th and in the number and skill of debaters quali- Robert Colonel (SY ‘13), and Nate Blevins fied for the tournament, falling short only (PC’ 12) judging. 5 the list of the best debate teams in the 10th place with Nick Cugini (CC ‘14) and APDA National to previous Yale records. country, Yale captured its first American Eric Brooks (DC ‘14). Championships Parliamentary Debate Association Na- At the same time, the YDA had an Zach Bakal and Michael Barton 6 tional Championship since 2009. While Years in a Row incredible year on North American and defeated the team of Quinn Maingi and Yale had finaled at the tournament in as top US Team international British Parliamentary cir- Sean Leonard from Rutgers in the final 2011 and 2012, and narrowly lost the cuits, with Sam Ward-Packard (SY ‘14) round, opposing a case about how San chance to do so in 2013, the team of Zach and Sesenu Woldmariam (BK ‘14) reach- Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk should Bakal (CC ‘14) and Michael Barton (BK ing the finals of the North American have been depicted in the eponymous ‘14) defeated teams from across the coun- Championship, while Barton and Ward- 2008 film. “Yale BB” was one of five Yale try to claim victory in a national champi- Packard broke first at Oxford, finaled at teams to reach the tournament’s elimina- onship that saw one of Yale’s most suc- Cambridge, semifinaled at the World tion rounds. In quarterfinals, the pair cessful years yet at the tournament. Championships, and then reached the faced the Yale team of Allison Douglis 11 The early part of the year was finals of the U.S. Championship. (BK ’15) and Joanna Zheng on a case Tournaments 5 dominated by one of the most competi- about tort . Douglis and Zheng had Won Unsurprisingly, the YDA contin- Breaking Teams tive races for APDA’s Team of the Year previously defeated a team from Ameri- ued to prove itself as the best team in the at Nationals (TOTY) award in recent years, with Bar- can University in the octofinal round in a through its continued dom- ton and Bakal locked in a close battle with debate on Saudi Arabian foreign policy. inance of APDA’s College of the Year a pair of debaters from Harvard. While Bakal and Barton also faced the Yale team (COTY) ranking, where Yale accumulated Harvard ultimately gained the upper of Nick Cugini and Diana Li. On a differ- nearly double the points of the second- hand, Yale would go on to dominate the ent side of the elimination bracket, Eric place team. This ranking reflects an ex- TOTY standings regardless, with Barton Brooks and Sam Ward-Packard also cellent class of new novices, and the dedi- 13 and Joanna Zheng (TC ’14) taking third made the octofinal round, losing narrow- cation and involvement of the YDA’s Top position to Bakal and Barton’s second, ly to adversaries from Brandeis Universi- Awards members to every aspect of the team. Yale Continues Reign as Top School on Yale Leads US Charge at Northams APDA

Throughout the year the YDA tournaments at Brandeis and Harvard three teams, nearly half the number of competes at more than 40 tournaments, itself. While Bakal and Barton suffered total American teams in the break. The across the country and world. Domesti- an early defeat at Harvard, they emerged team of Zach Bakal and Michael Barton cally, many of these tournaments are in victorious from the Brandeis tournament reached the quarterfinal round of the the format of American Parliamentary once again clutching the lead in the TOTY tournament, while the team of Allison 4 debate, sanctioned by the American Par- race. Unfortunately, a string of Harvard Douglis and Joanna Zheng made octofi- 3 Of the Country’s wins at Brown, George Washington, and nals, as did the team of Reed Berry (ES Teams Top 10 Teams Maryland meant that Yale’s remaining ’16) and Nathaniel Rubin (SY ‘15). These Advancing to wins and valiant defeats were unable to achievements were topped only by Mi- Elimination turn the tide. The North American Champion- chael Barton claiming the title of top Rounds ships (“NorthAms”) - held this year at the speaker, Yale’s third time winning the While Yale fought fiercely with of Ottawa—is a unique debate award in four years. for the top spot on the TOTY board, Yale tournament that brings together schools steamrolled the rest of the circuit for The tournament also saw substan- from Canada and the USA in a hybrid of third place, with Barton and Joanna tial success for Yale’s novice teams, with Canadian and APDA styles. Yale has tra- Zheng handily winning a pair of tourna- Evan Lynyak (MC ‘17) and Henry Zhang ditionally been very dominant at North- ments and finishing behind only another (ES ’17) reaching the novice final, unfor- Ams, most recently winning the title in Yale team at Stanford. At the same time, tunately being defeated by a team from the years 2009 and 2011. Despite not Yale rounded out the TOTY board with the ’s Hart House winning outright, even this year the YDA the partnership of Nick Cugini and Diana Debating Society. outperformed the rest of the American Li finishing ninth, and Li repeating her contingent at the tournament, breaking 4 performance with Eric Brooks to capture Of the Country’s 10th TOTY as well. 1 Top 15 Speakers The YDA routed the APDA in the Rank of Yale’s COTY “race.” In typical Yale fashion, the Best Speaker liamentary Debate Association. Through- YDA accumulated over 200 more points out the year the YDA and its members than the combined total of the second compete at tournaments every weekend ranked team, and qualified the plurality in an effort to qualify for Nationals and of debaters for the national tournament. earn points towards APDA’s prestigious APDA also recognizes the perfor- year end awards: Club of the Year, Team mance of individual speakers through its of the Year, Speaker of the Year SOTY awards. In this category too, Yale (“SOTY”) and Novice of the Year shone. Zach Bakal won three tourna- (“NOTY”). ments to finish the year ranked 2nd, This year’s TOTY race was a while Michael Barton secured 9th place. 216 hard fought struggle between Yale and Harvard which featured excellent per- 0 More Points than 2nd Place formances by numerous Yale debaters. The YDA gained the upper hand early Other U.S. schools on as Zach Bakal and Michael Barton de- to break more feated Harvard’s Shomik Ghosh and Josh Zoffer in the semifinals at Johns Hopkins. than 2 teams However, Harvard’s victory at Columbia turned the tables going into a series of What We’ve Been Debating Yale Dominates in British Parliamentary Sesenu Woldemariam On the YDA we debate primarily in two formats: successfully made it to  American Parliamentary the final round, finish-  British Parliamentary ing behind McGill in a

debate about religious In American Parliamentary debate, the government (or affirmative) team pro- leaders in politics. At poses a topic of their choosing — usually a case they have written in advance. The op- the same time, fresh- 4 position (or negating) team has only the 7 minutes of the first government speaker’s men Adil Hakeem (PC 3 Of the Country’s speech to think of their counterargument. ‘17) and Shirley Kuang Consecutive (TD ‘17) won the nov- Top 10 Teams For example, in the Semifinals of the 2012 APDA National Championships, the Years of Yale ice division and title of government team Yale CF (Nick Cugini and Kate Falkenstien) proposed a hypothet- Top Speakers at best first-year team in ical—asking whether the government should ban a pill that parents could take to as- BP Nationals North America. sure their children would be straight. The opposition team, Yale BK (Nate Blevins & Ben Kornfeld) defended their side in the round by arguing for the justness of the gov- Back home, Yale had a ernment’s use of people as an end. The government team won the debate. A video of number of notable the round can be found at the following address: http://videos.apdaweb.org/?p=552 achievements. At the second annual Brandeis IV, Yale sw the The Yale Debate Association’s suc- team of Reed Berry and Edwin Zhang cess in British Parliamentary Debate ex- make the semifinals with the hybrid team tends across the country and around the of Zach Bakal and Harvard’s Shomik world. Yale’s excellent performance at Ghosh, while the teams of Joanna Zheng Worlds does not tell the full story of our and Allison Douglis and Anirudh Sivaram consistently excellent performance up (CC ’15) and Nathaniel Rubin both made 4 against some of the best teams on the Years in a Row 90 quarterfinals. Total Varsity Breaks planet. in USU Finals The final BP competition Every year, the YDA travels to the of the year, the United States National BP UK to participate in the Oxford and Cam- In British Parliamentary debate, there are 4 teams (2 on each side), all of whom are Championships (“USU”), took place at bridge Intervarsity (IV) tournaments. At given the topic 15 minutes before the start of the debate. The team that wins has to not Purdue University, in West Lafayette, In- the Oxford IV, the team of Michael Bar- only beat the teams arguing the other side, but also provide more compelling material diana. Six Yale debaters went to the Mid- ton and Sam Ward-Packard were ranked than the other team on their own side. west to compete at the tournament. After first after the preliminary rounds of the six preliminary rounds, Michael Barton The 2013 finals of the United States Universities Debating Championship saw tournament and advanced to the semifi- and Sam Ward-Packard emerged atop the Yale face off against teams from Carroll College, Loyola Marymount University, and nals, while being ranked as the tourna- standings. Tied on speaks, Ward-Packard Stanford. The teams were faced with the motion “Whilst recognizing that life begins at ment’s fourth and tenth speakers. A week took his second top speaker award at the conception, this house still supports a woman’s right to abortion.” Yale KW (Ben later, at the Cambridge IV, Barton and tournament, with Barton receiving his Kornfeld and Sam Ward-Packard were in the position of opening opposition. They Ward-Packard exceeded their previous first. The team continued Yale’s tradition decisively beat the other three teams in the round, coming out as champions atop over performance, making the finals of the of reaching USU finals, finishing second 130 teams at the tournament, and capping Yale’s third consecutive year of appearing tournament and finishing narrowly be- to a team from on a motion in the finals of the tournament with a national title. hind a team from St. Andrews in a debate about . Two other Yale teams made it 2 78 about the Syrian Civil War. A video of this debate can be found here: http://vimeo.com/64153358 Total Speaker through the preliminary rounds and into Yale Debaters At the University of Toronto in to the break, with Allison Douglis and Jo- Awards Tied for Top Canada, Yale had an excellent perfor- anna Zheng reaching the semifinal round, mance at the debut edition of the North and Nathaniel Rubin and Anirudh Si- Speaker at BP American Universities Debating Champi- varam reaching the octofinal. Nationals onship - featuring the best British Parlia- mentary teams in the United States and Canada. There, Sam Ward-Packard and Yale Competes in 106th Annual Triangular YDA Tops North American Teams at the with Harvard and Princeton World Championships

For the 105th time, YDA members Princeton traveled to Yale this The World Universities Debating octofinal round about gated communities competed in the continuing tradition year; seniors Eric Brooks, Nick Cugini, Championships (colloquially called in the devel- known as the “Triangular Debates,” a and Sesenu Woldemariam debated the “Worlds”) is the most competitive and oping three-part series of debates between de- Princeton delegation on a case about po- prestigious university debating tourna- world, and 106 baters at Yale, Harvard, and Princeton. litical philosophy. Yale faced Harvard ment in the world. Historically, the YDA similarly 1 While Triangulars is no longer strictly away, with Michael Barton, Zach Bakal, has always done well - Yale was the first were victo- Consecutive Team in Worlds adjudicated, as it was for several decades and Sam Ward-Packard facing Harvard’s American School to win Worlds in 1990, rious in the Semifinals Years of beginning in 1908, it remains an oppor- Josh Zoffer, Ben Sprung-Keyser, and and and in 2006 was the first American octofinal in Triangulars tunity for these debating associations to Nathaniel Donahue on a motion about school to have a team in the finals of the a debate on meet in a smaller setting and debate rele- the financial sector. competition in its modern format. In ad- whether Ja- vant moral or political issues. dition to this, Yale debaters and alumni pan should regularly feature in the elimination shame its rounds of soldiers 6th Annual Great Debate is Great Success the champi- who partici- onship. pated in For the sixth year in a row, the Ward-Packard, Diana Li, and Joanna World War This YDA participated in the NAACP’s “Great Zheng. II. In the year, eight Debate,” a public debate featuring two quarterfinal round about auctioning the The YDA would especially like to members of debates on issues which have particular right to govern bankrupt cities, Bakal and thank the NAACP of Connecticut, its the YDA relevance to the NAACP and its mission. Woldemariam unfortunately did not ad- president Scott X Esdaile, and Wiley Col- travelled to 6 For the first time, the YDA competed vance further. However, Barton and 8,323 Years of the lege’s Melvin B. Tolson Forensics Society. Chennai, against Marshall, Texas’ Wiley College— Ward-Packard repeated Yale’s success at India to Miles to Chennai Great Debate home to the historic debate team depict- the tournament from 2011 by advancing compete ed in the to Semifinals, before narrowly losing a and 2007 film spot in the final to a team from the Uni- in the latest The Great versity of Sydney. In addition, Diana Li iteration of Debaters. had the honor of breaking as a judge, and the champi- helped adjudicate the tournament’s oc- Held onship, one tofinal round. at New of the larg- Haven’s est delega- Schubert tions at the Theater, the tournament. After nine event fea- preliminary rounds, Yale tured a de- successfully put two of bate on civil its three teams through 1000+ rights and to the elimination public policy rounds. Michael Barton 7 Audience at the issues. Yale and Samuel Ward- Consecutive Great Debate was repre- Packard broke 24th, Years Breaking sented in the and Zach Bakal and Multiple Teams debate by Sesenu Woldemariam at Worlds Sesenu broke 30th. Both teams Woldemari- successfully advanced am, Sam from the partial-double- The Yale High School Tournament The Yale Debate Association Class of 2017

The Yale Debate Association hosted ed student-run tournament nationwide. its 20th annual High School Invitational All of this was only possible with last September. With competition in over a the hard work of Tournament Directors Philip Groenwegen dozen speech and debate events ranging Berkeley College Becca Steinberg (BK ’15) and Shikha Garg Hometown: Glenmont, NY from humorous interpretation to policy (SM ‘15), along with assistants Tony Ngu- Major: Economics debate, the tournament takes place as part High School Debate: None yen, Kelly Wu (TD ‘16), Reed Berry and Interests: Languages, hiking, politics of the National Forensic League (“NFL”) 1500+ Aunica Steele (TC ‘15). Diana Li served as for high school students. Over 1,500 high Sachith Gullapalli 7 the board’s tournaments coordinator. The Berkeley College Top Novice Competitors at school students from over one hundred Hometown: Roanoke, VA countless hours of work they put in en- the Yale HST schools came from around the country to Major: Computer Science & Mathematics Team Awards sured that a tournament of this scale could High School Debate: None compete at Yale. Since its inception, the Interests: Running, mountain biking, programming run smoothly. tournament has become one of the most

prestigious high school competitions in the country, and is certainly the most respect- Adil Hakeem Pierson College Yale Proams Hometown: Singapore Major: Computer Science/Ethics, Politics, & Economics

The Yale Debate Association host- ment featured motions spanning topics High School Debate: Parliamentary Interests: Shower singing, computer games ed its first annual APDA ProAm tourna- as diverse as American party politics, ab-

ment this February, with teams from stract philosophy, and the ethics of mili- Delaney Herndon across the country in attendance. De- tary service. Branford College signed as an opportunity to help contrib- The tournament ran very smoothly, Hometown: Durham, NC Major: Undecided ute to the development of debaters on thanks to the hard work of tournament High School Debate: Congress Interests: Game of Thrones, Christiano Ronaldo, Duke 6 100+ APDA, the Proam tournament featured director Michael Barton, as well as assis- basketball, congressional politics Top Novice Competitors at some of the best adjudication on the cir- tant tournament directors Reed Berry Speaker Awards cuit, and gave young debaters an excel- and Edwin Zhang and tab director Zach Proams lent chance both to learn from their older Bakal. In assistance with the whole of Nikki Hwang partners, as well as to practice debating the YDA in judging and handling tourna- Morse College Hometown: Seoul, South Korea motions as are featured at the North ment logistics, they assured the YDA’s Major: Undecided American Championships. The tourna- new tradition got off to an excellent start. High School Debate: Parliamentary (World Schools) Interests: Traveling, yogurt, teaching cooking

The Yale IV Alexander Jacobson Saybrook College As the largest so far, the seventh practice the style needed to compete with Hometown: Greensboro, NC Major: History Yale Intervarsity tournament was an un- the rest of the world, without the cost of High School Debate: Public Forum precedented success, attracting more traveling overseas. In addition, this IV Interests: Soviet history, obscure movies, weird music

than 300 debaters from more than 40 continued the practice of flying experi- universities, with Bates College winning enced in from Europe and around Amen Jalal Timothy Dwight College the final in a field contested amongst the world to let debaters experience the Hometown: Lahore, Pakistan some of the most successful North Amer- truly global judging found at worlds. Major: Ethics, Politics, & Economics 44 Universities High School Debate: Parliamentary (World Schools) 3 ican debaters on record. The 2013 Intervarsity was over- Interests: Writing, traveling, eating , reading Varsity Break- Competing at The Yale IV is one of the most seen by tournament directors Allison ing Teams the Yale IV prestigious British Parliamentary compe- Douglis and Anirudh Sivaram. YDA Michelle Kelrikh titions in the world, and the largest and alumni Ben Kornfeld and Nate Blevins Morse College Hometown: Buffalo Grove, IL most competitive in North America. Held served on the adjudication core for the Major: Political Science/Philosophy in the same style as the World Champi- event, as well as 2014 Worlds Semifinal- High School Debate: Congress onship, it provides an opportunity for ist Sam Ward-Packard. Interests: Politics, social justice, movies, baking many American and Canadian schools to

Shirley Kuang Timothy Dwight College The 2014 Executive Board Hometown: Syosset, NY Major: Undecided High School Debate: Public Forum Interests: Travel, photography, film

Evan Lynyak Morse College Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Major: History High School Debate: Parliamentary & Congress Interests: Languages, traveling, basketball, reading

4 32 Laila Robbins New Board Total Novice Calhoun College Team Awards Hometown: New York, NY Members Major: History High School Debate: Public Forum President: Diana Li. Diana is a senior in Davenport College majoring in Interests: Photography, singing, prison reform Ethics, Politics, and Economics. Originally from Brooklyn, she has been involved in Emma Sapat debate since high school, where she competed in the Lincoln-Douglas format. Before Ezra Stiles College Hometown: Falmouth, ME serving as president, she was the team's tournament coordinator. Beyond debate, she Major: Ethics, Politics, & Economics enjoys photography, biking, writing for the local newspaper, napping, and telling peo- High School Debate: Lincoln Douglas ple she will get her driver's license eventually. Interests: Philosophy, Ceramics, Baking

Isabelle Taft Treasurer: Anirudh Sivaram. Anirudh is a senior in Calhoun College hail- Silliman College ing from Dubai. An Ethics, Politics, and Economics major, he helped launch his high

Hometown: Atlanta, GA school's debating program and today competes in both the British and American Par- Major: History High School Debate: Public Forum, Extemp liamentary styles. In the past, he has served as a convener for the Yale Intervarsity Interests: Running, David Foster Wallace tournament. 39

Director of Development: Nathaniel Rubin. Nathaniel is a senior in Collective Years Amaka Uchegbu 57 Trumbull College Saybrook College. Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, he is a philosophy major who of Debate Hometown: Sheffield, competed in Lincoln-Douglas and British Parliamentary debate in high school. Today, Major: Ethics, Politics, & Economics Experience Total Novice High School Debate: British Parliamentary Nathaniel enjoys debating on both the British and American Parliamentary circuits, Speaker Awards Interests: Shots where he has reached the elimination rounds of multiple domestic and international Megan Wilson Morse College championship tournaments. Before serving as the YDA's development director, Na- Hometown: Seattle, WA thaniel directed the Osterweis high school parliamentary debate tournament. When Major: Economics/Political Science High School Debate: Public Forum not debating, Nathaniel enjoys making bad puns, hiking, skiing, and discovering new Interests: Reading, talking with friends, watching TV types of cheese.

Zachary Young Tournament Coordinator: Edwin Zhang. Edwin Zhang is a junior in Morse Silliman College Hometown: Cincinnati, OH College from Akron, OH planning to double major in Applied Math and Ethics, Poli- Major: History tics, and Economics. In his free time, he enjoys playing pick-up basketball, watching High School Debate: British Parliamentary Suits, and reading science fiction. He has really bad taste in music and will sing top 40 Interests: Politics, coding, pickup basketball 150+ hits to you if given the chance. Prior to serving on board, he was an assistant tourna- Henry Zhang ment director for the Yale Intervarsity tournament. Ezra Stiles College Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Director of Membership: Allison Douglis. Allison is a senior in Berkeley Collective Elimina- Major: Undecided tion Rounds Debated 4 High School Debate: Lincoln Douglas College majoring in Philosophy. She grew up in New Jersey and attended Ridge High Of the Country’s Interests: Food, soccer, house of cards School, where she competed in Lincoln-Douglas debate. Upon joining the YDA, she co-

Top 30 Novices directed the 2013 Yale Intervarsity Tournament and assistant-directed the 2012 Oster- weis Tournament, served as the team's Equal Opportunity Facilitator, and was a nov- ice mentor for the American Parliamentary league. Apart from debate, she enjoys working on the Yale Philosophy Review, binge-watching Netflix, and (very occasional- ly) reading for pleasure. YDA Coaching and Outreach The Social Side of the YDA The Yale Debate Association has a tradi- tion of coaching New Haven school stu- Apart from being a competitively success- dents in debate. Members of the team ful team, the YDA is a tight-knit group of friends. coach at schools affiliated with the Urban While team members spend time together at Debate League on a weekly basis, helping tournaments, the team hosts many social func- both with specific events and general de- tions throughout the year at Yale - ranging from bating skills. The team also has had a re- the annual Christmas party to toasting at Mory's. lationship with Choate Rosemary Hall, More informally, members of the YDA attend 30+ with team-members coaching Choate team dinners, play basketball together, and cook 3 pupils once a week. Recently, members a huge variety of delicious food. The team main- Yearly Social Organizations of the Yale Debate Association have be- tains the tradition of holding ‘office hours’ every Gatherings We Help Coach gun to serve by invitation as Executive Thursday night to discuss case ideas and catch Board Members of the National High School Debate League of China. up. The year culminates with our Senior Banquet at a local restaurant, at which each YDA senior

gives a farewell speech. David Kimel Many members of the team go on to share David Kimel is the head coach of the Yale Debate Association. He is workplaces, graduate schools and even live to- currently pursuing a PhD in History. Before coming to Yale, he pur- gether after college. For a substantial portion of the YDA, the team consists of our sued his undergraduate education at Harvard, where he was a mem- strongest and most lasting friendships, and going to tournaments every weekend is ber of the APDA Team of the Year in 2005. Outside of debate, Kimel just as much a way to spend time with each other as it is a chance to compete at the enjoys sharing his passion for movies and Roman history with mem- highest level. bers of the team.

Alex Worsnip Away from the Podium Alex Worsnip is the chief British Parliamentary coach of the 12 While the YDA is made up of fantastic debaters, we all like to believe that de- Championship5 Yale Debate Association. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Countries from Philosophy, having done his undergraduate schooling at Ox- bate skills come in handy in more than just debate. As Titles Won by ford University. Alex is a former WUDC finalist and in his such, our members take part in all sorts of activities which YDA Our Coaches spare time, follows the Baltimore Orioles. in addition to maintaining a deep commitment to de- Members Come bate. At Yale, we do everything from club sports to Steven Kryger writing for the YDN (it isn’t that rare to see an edito- Steven Kryger currently works at Bridgewater Associates. He grad- rial page half filled by the YDA). Our members are uated from Yale College in 2010; during his time on the team he involved in the Yale College Student Investment was champion of the Oxford IV and reached the elimination rounds Group, the Yale College Democrats, Yale College of multiple national and international tournaments. Council and Yale International Relations Association. In addition, our membership is diverse, with mem- Alex Taubes bers from across the world who continue to take part Alex Taubes is a 3L at Yale Law School. He graduated from Boston in activities with a wide range of campus cultural groups. University in 2011, where he served as President of the Boston Uni- The YDA also attracts students of a wide versity Debate Society. In 2011, Alex was the first debater in over a variety of disciplines. Our members study Archi- decade to win APDA’s Team of the Year, Speaker of the Year, and Na- tecture, English, Economics, Philosophy, Develop- 50+ tional Championship awards in the same year. mental Biology and Political Science. Over their Collective Final 14 Rounds Be- Nick Cugini summers, our members work as management con- Different Majors tween Our Nick Cugini is a member of the Yale College Class of 2014. On the sultants and speechwriters, as teachers and as in- Among the YDA Coaches Yale team, Nick was 2nd TOTY in 2011, a Worlds Semifinalist the vestment bankers, for government and nonprofits, same year, and an APDA Nationals Finalist in 2012. and study abroad around the from to Britain and from Spain to China. Yale Debate Alumni The YDA offers its sincere gratitude to those who have supported the team The Yale Association for De- The Class of 2014 bate Alumni (YADA), founded at John Chester Adams: $1000+ the YDA centennial in 2008, was creat- Zach Bakal is an equity analyst at Spark Investments 300 ed to help debate alumni, old and new, Credit Suisse in New York, NY. Miles Gersh stay connected with one another and Michael Barton is an analyst with stay updated on the team‘s current ac- David Trinh 106 Foros, an investment bank in New York. tivities. If you‘re interested in joining or Stephanie Vardavas Members of City Years of the would simply like more information, Triangulars Level: $500-$999 YADA visit yaledebate.org/alumni or email YDA Eric Brooks is an analyst with Adam Jed [email protected] Additionally, Bracebridge, a hedge fund in Boston. if you have any news you would like Peter Rohrbach David Yergin published in next year’s newsletter let Fil Lekkas is a Fox Fellow at the us know at the same address. Free University of Berlin. Championship Level: $250-$499 Raymond Agran Sam Ward-Packard worked as a Marvin Chatinover campaign manager for Alex Taubes for Adam Chilton State House, in Madison, CT. Jay Cox Sesenu Woldemariam is working Orin Kramer for the Partnership for Inner-City Edu- Jeffrey Kulkarni cation in New York City. Sarah Marberg Krista McGruder Joanna Zheng is working as an an- Frederick Meyer 5 alyst at UBS in New York City. Stephen Neuwirth 5 Steve Umin APDA National Different Championships Professions of General Donor Level the Class of ‘14 Jeff Bandman Peter Oddleifson Paul R. Bardack John and Caroline Rohrbach Anthony Brett Richard Ruback Michael Calhoon Richard Seeborg

Alumni Events Perry Dane Peter H. Seed Eric Fishman Joe Smith The Yale Association for Debate Alum- Austen Furse III Stephen Susman ni (YADA) holds get-togethers every summer Rodger Gabrielson Andrew Towne to offer alumni the opportunity to see old Tamar Gendler Steve Umin friends, meet new members, and generally Edwin Gonzondsky Jerry Vildostegui have an enjoyable time with fellow former and Charles Jefferson Brian Weinstein 6 current members of the YDA. In the summer William Kilborne Stephen Wilson APDA Team of of 2014, get-togethers were held in both New Charles A. Krause Aaron Zelinsky the Year Awards York and Washington D.C., with dozens of people involved. Meir Kryger Samuel Zurier The events took place at bars in both cities, where members of classes present and past Aaron Lemon-Strauss met, shared stories about debate and life, and sung karaoke. Current team members at- Don Leufen tended the events, and an excellent time was had by all. Martin Levin Victoria Lord Kent and Valerie May