UM Debater Jonathan Raof said the tournament promotes critical thinking, reading and other beneficial leisure pursuits.

“We show them a good time and the fun of higher education,” he said.

UM students on the debate team judge the debates, organize the lineups, set up food, and do the clean up.

While UM’s debate team is ranked fourth in the Southeastern United States and recently entered the country’s top 25 college debate teams, several team members said organizing the Urban Debate tournament is their most-rewarding activity.

“My favorite debates and debaters come from the UDL tournaments,” team member Bill Gutek said. “I always participate because these kids always are so motivated to work hard and succeed that it’s contagious.”

In the simple debate structure of the tournament, students’ confidence grows noticeably after defending an argument in front of a crowd, team members said.

Coaching the young debaters is a learning experience for the college students, too.

“The debate team plays an integral part in these kids’ development as students and as informed citizens,” UM debater Rob Weaver said. “It is very, very rewarding to see the kids grow, learn, and become more confident about themselves.”