HARVARD DEBATING

The Harvard Debating Council has met many difficulties in arranging intercollegiate debates. Lack of funds has made trips to other colleges practically impossible and meager audiences have discouraged intercollegiate debates when held here. The University Council is no longer an integral part of undergraduate life, a re-direction of Harvard debating will be necessary to make it so.

It is easy to understand why students have not been eager to hear their fellows discuss socialism, protective tariff, and world politics with representatives of other colleges. Debaters have ceased to be the guardians of collegiate honor and their activities have a limited interest for undergraduates. Students who have the opportunity during the day of hearing recognized authorities discuss tariff probems or international relations can hardly be expected to spend their evenings listening to their amateur though conscientious friends glibly talk on the same subjects. The participants in debates undoubtedly gain something from the research done and the public speaking, but the general undergraduate body can derive little profit.

The real service of debating at Harvard lies in another direction. The University Council should turn its attion from debates with outside institutions and instead attempt to stimulate intelligent public discussions within the University. By staging debates between House teams or different societies, a much larger number of men would be interested. This change of emphasis should accompany a change in the nature of the subjects debated from tremendous complex problems to subjects, like the House Plan and the new Harvard educational developments, with which the speakers have some immediate experience.