Brooks Quimby Debate Council

Brooks Quimby Debate Council

A convening of the 1921 Council with Brooks Quimby left of the foreground
Named after Brooks Quimby
Formation March 20, 1854
Founded at Lewiston, Maine
Affiliations Bates College
American Parliamentary Debate
World Universities Debating
University of Oxford
Oxford Union
Dartmouth College

The Brooks Quimby Debate Council, commonly referred to as Brooks Quimby, is debating society in the city of Lewiston, Maine, whose membership is drawn primarily from Bates College. The debate society is often contrasted with the University of Oxford's Oxford Union as both have been described as "the playground of the powerful."[1] Oxford's first debate in the United States was against Bates in Lewiston, Maine, in September 1923.[2] The debate society competes in the British and American Parliamentary Styles. It competes in the American Parliamentary Debate Association domestically, and competes in the World Universities Debating Championships, internationally. As of 2013, the debate council was ranked 5th, nationally.[3] In 2012, the debate team was ranked 9th in the world.[4] In 1922, The New York Times called Bates "the power centre of college debating in America."[5] Founded near the start of the college's founding, the debate society is the oldest coeducational collegiate debating society in the United States.

History

The third trophy wall of the debate society in Pettigrew Hall.

Founding and 19th century

The formation of the team predates the establishment of the college itself as the debate society was founded within the Maine State Seminary. It was headed by Bates alumnus and teacher Brooks Quimby and became the first intercollegiate international debate team in the United States. Quimby Debate Society has been noted as "America's most prestigious debating society."[6] During the 1930s, the debate society was subject to 'The Quimby Institute' which pitted each and every debate student against Brooks Quimby himself. This is where he began to engage heated debate with them that stressed "flawless assertions" and resulted in every error made by the student to be carefully scrutinized and teased.[7]

The debate society currently meets in Pettigrew Hall in Lewiston, Maine.

20th century

During the Chase presidency, the college's debate team became intercollegiate and associated with the college's academic reputation.[8][9] The debate society became the first college debate team in the United States to compete internationally.[7] In February 1920, the debate team defeated Harvard College during the national debate tournament held at Lewiston City Hall. After this, Bates was established as a dominant force in collegiate debate. In 1921, the college's debate team participated in the first intercontinental collegiate debate in history against the Oxford Union's debate team at the University of Oxford. In 1922, The New York Times called Bates "the power centre of college debating in America."[5] Oxford's first debate in the United States was against Bates in Lewiston, Maine, in September 1923.[2][7]

21st Century

The Brooks Quimby Debate Council continues its tradition of excellence, competing successfully at regional tournaments of the American Parliamentary Debate Association, and United States University Debating Championships, and World University Debating Championships, annually. The Bates partnership of Taylor Blackburn and Jack Stewart brought back Bates's first national title at the 2014 USUDC at Purdue University.[10]

Traditional opponents

Academic scarf of the Brooks Quimby Council
                                   

Bates at one time had an annual and traditional debate with Oxford, Cambridge and Dartmouth College. When debating at or against Bowdoin College, there was a long-standing tradition of wrapping the winning student's academic scarf around the neck of Bowdoin's statue of a polar bear. There were multiple instances of students dipping the academic scarf in gasoline and igniting it, charring the statue's neck.[7]

Membership and status

It competes in the American Parliamentary Debate Association domestically, and competes in the World Universities Debating Championships, internationally. As of 2013, the debate council was ranked 5th, nationally.[3] In 2012, the debate team was ranked 9th in the world.[4]

Notable speakers

U.S. Senator from Vermont, Porter Dale, spoke to the Council on the topic of free speech and contextualization.

Notable alumni

United States Secretary of State, Edmund Muskie.
Civil rights leader, mentor to Martin Luther King, and 6th President of Morehouse College, Benjamin Mays.

References

  1. ↑ Clark, Charles E. (2005). Bates Through the Years: an Illustrated History. Edmund Muskie Archives: Bates College, Lewiston, Maine. p. 37. Oxford's Union has been historical characterized as the playground of the powerful, but with the mounting power the alumni of Brooks have accumulated it is clear to see the society is the playground of the powerful in the states.
  2. 1 2 "Oxford and Bates to Meet in Debate". Google News Archives. Lewiston Daily Sun. 29 August 1923. p. 14. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Bates debate ranks fifth in nation, including key win at Yale Inter-Varsity Tournament | News | Bates College". www.bates.edu. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  4. 1 2 "Bates debate hits No. 9 in global ranking". www.bates.edu. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  5. 1 2 "Bates debates Harvard at City Hall | 150 Years | Bates College". www.bates.edu. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  6. ↑ Burns, John F. (November 27, 2007). "Oxford Union girds for far-right debate Protesters vow 'anti- fascist' rally". International Herald Tribune.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Clark, Charles E. (2005). Bates Through the Years: an Illustrated History. Edmund Muskie Archives: Bates College, Lewiston, Maine. p. 37.
  8. ↑ "George C. Chase | 150 Years | Bates College". www.bates.edu. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  9. ↑ "Student Clubs and Organizations | Campus Life | Bates College". www.bates.edu. Archived from the original on 2015-11-23. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  10. ↑ "Bates Wins National Championship". Retrieved 2016-09-01.
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