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Episode 3 of The Augsburg Podcast: Bob Groven: The Power of Constructive Debate

The Augsburg Podcast features voices of Augsburg University faculty and staff. We hope this is one way you can get to know the people who educate our students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. Subscribe on Itunes.

bob groven
Associate Professor Bob Groven (Co-Chair of the Department of Communication Studies, Film and New Media, and the Director of the Minnesota Urban Debate League) breaks down the power of constructive debate as a force for positive change, understanding, and empathy in our society.

 

Urban Debate League Tackles Real Life Challenges

2014 Mayor's Challenge.
2014 Mayor’s Challenge.

Minnesota Urban Debate League (MNUDL), a program of Augsburg College, is charged with the mission to empower students through competitive academic debate to become engaged learners, critical thinkers, and active citizens who are effective advocates for themselves and their communities.

Under the leadership of Executive Director, Amy Cram Helwich, and with the support of faculty advisor, Robert Groven, MNUDL currently serves more than 750 students at 39 partner schools and has seen sustained growth in student participation and academic growth since its inception in 2004.

This year, Urban Debate League has expanded their programming to include Spanish and Somali debate. May 27, 2015, Urban Debate league will pilot a Somali Debate Initiative with a Community Forum including Representative Keith Ellison and other community leaders. The topic is facilitating remittances from the United States to Somalia. This legislation affects many of our current Somali students—the debaters will engage in a high-level conversation to determine possible solutions for this community challenge.

Several alumni are also involved in the Mayor’s Challenge: The Great Water Debate, Wednesday, May 13, 2015. Registration is at 7:30 a.m., and the program begins at 8 a.m. This year’s national high school policy debate topic is “Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its non-military exploration and/or development of the earth’s oceans.” Students at the breakfast will present an informative debate specific to Minnesota lakes and rivers.

Alumni are invited to attend! If you are interested, please sign up here to attend the May 13 fundraising event for Urban Debate League.

  • The Urban Debate League currently has sites at 39 schools serves 700 students.
  • 100% of debaters graduate on time and 99% have been accepted to college.
  • In the Twin Cities, debaters are 40% more likely to graduate than non-debaters.

To learn more visit the: Minnesota Urban Debate League home page.

 

MNUDL Needs YOU as a Volunteer Middle School Debate Judge

Urban Debate League
Minnesota Urban Debate League, a nonprofit affiliated with Augsburg’s Sabo Center, is looking for volunteers to serve as Middle School Debate Judges for their upcoming December Tournament. No experience in debate is needed! We provide all the training needed to be a great judge. This is a great experience to directly serve Twin Cities youth and support their educational development.

 

We have over 500 Middle School students from the Twin Cities involved in our program. Judges serve as active listeners and educators for the student. As a judge you will listen to debates, determine a winner, and most importantly give student feedback on their speeches, helping them to grow in confidence.

Continue reading “MNUDL Needs YOU as a Volunteer Middle School Debate Judge”

Secretary of State Candidates Debate at Augsburg on Oct. 28

One week before the general election, Augsburg College hosts the fall Sabo Symposium, a debate between the four candidates running for the Minnesota Secretary of State. Bob Helland (Independence), Bob Odden (Libertarian), Dan Severson (Republican), and State Rep. Steve Simon (DFL) will square off at October 28, at 7 p.m. in Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center, on the Augsburg campus. 

The event is co-sponsored by the Minnesota League of Women Voters. Minnesota Public Radio’s The Uptake wrote about “17 Debates that Could Determine Minnesota’s Future” in a recent online article. Read more on The UpTake website.

Video of the forum will be livestreamed on TheUptake.org during the event. After the event, video will be available on the League of Women Voters Minnesota YouTube page.

Forum attendees may submit questions for the candidates by email in advance or in writing at the event.  Emailed questions should be sent to SOSquestions@lwvmn.org by noon on Monday, October 27. All questions will be anonymous and screened by a neutral committee.