Library Debate Club Enlightens on Serious Issues

Members of the slowly filtered in on Wednesday afternoon to partake in this educational and stimulating monthly activity. Approximately 11 participants showed up to actively engage in a lively debate, ranging from issues of gun control and teenage driving to school consolidation.

The group began by opening the floor to suggestions from library patrons. One of the hot topics for the afternoon pertained to the recent shooting in Arizona. Everyone weighed in with their opinion and knowledge, with the subject quickly digressing to gun control problems in the United States.

Alan Silver, an East Meadow resident, brought enlightenment with his to-the-point questions about the club’s discussions.

“How easy is it to obtain an illegal weapon and what are the consequences?” Silver added in response to the aforementioned debate.

The club itself was established with the assistance of the library about eight months ago, but is entirely organized and run by the local patrons.

Growing out of the already well-instituted “,” where residents come and informally discuss topics of interest, the Debate Club was new method for patrons to participate in such activities. Both groups meet only once a month, allowing another mode of current event and issue discussion at the library.

“We have had a rap group here for about twelve years,” said Ken Rose, the facilitator of the rap group. “Basically, we sit in a circle, talk, argue and discuss anything anyone wants to talk about. People wanted this more than once a month, so a man came in and said he wanted to see a debate club.”

A debate club is different from a rap group in that debating requires two sides, some for the argument and some against, and they each say something to persuade the other side. Participants vote on the winner at the end of the presentations, making it significantly more formal than a rap group.

Interestingly, Rose explained that the group has never actually succeeded in having a “proper debate like those at the Oxford Union in England.”

“It is just sort of more of a rap group,” he continued. “During the first four debate groups we tried to decide what we would talk about so that everyone could prepare. We used to spend 20 minutes figuring out what we would debate the next week.”

These days, Rose stated, the group takes proposals and suggestions at the beginning of the meeting and they lead themselves from that point forward. Though much more informal than a traditional debate club, this club is able to keep attendees engaged and always actively participating.

The Debate Club always welcomes new participants who are interested in attending their monthly meetings, which are held on the third Wednesday of every month.