Bickel debate team places top 8 in the world

Senior Aaron Birenbaum and juniors Amber Liu, Christina Tan and Liana Wang placed 8th in the world in New York City on May 1-3 in the International Public Policy Forum (IPPF), a team debate forum otherwise known as just “Bickel” for its sponsor the Bickel and Brewer Foundation (and also New York University [NYU]).

This type of debate involves submitting a paper affirming or negating a certain topic; this year’s topic regarded whether or not the US government’s mass surveillance programs are justified. Out of over 250 submissions worldwide, the top 64 were chosen as “qualifying papers.” These 64 teams then debated elimination style. One side affirmed that the government’s surveillance programs are not justified and should be downsized. The other side negated that there is any need for curtailment. Liu explained the process.

“The sides are designated, and the affirmative team goes first,” Liu said. “You exchange essays back and forth with opponents. You have a week to write the rebuttal paper. Then, three judges evaluate the round and vote either affirmative or negative. Then whoever wins moves on to the next round.”

It was a ton hard work for all of them, Liu said.

“We spent a lot of evenings together working on the papers, researching, writing and editing,” Liu said. “The hours especially ramp up after we made it to top 8; we spent a whole month preparing afterschool, at home and on weekends. Mostly it was making sure that we were organized, addressing arguments while showing the big picture and clarifying why our justifications and arguments should be preferred over those of our opponents rather than just stating them.”

Birenbaum agreed that the hours could get pretty long trying to make a lengthy case while still meeting judges’ expectations of eloquence.

“It got pretty intense the day before a paper was due,” Birenbaum said. “I could expect to go to sleep at best at two a.m. on those days.”

But their hard work did not go unnoticed. Birenbaum, Liu, Tan and Wang made it all the way to the top 8, or the “Elite 8.” These 8 teams were given an all expense paid trip to New York City where they debated orally at the Council of Foreign Relations.

“I felt a lot of pride because it was like all those hours of working on the papers really paid off,” Birenbaum said. “Everyone was really excited to be in New York. We had dinner at the NYU president’s penthouse, which was super cool, and we got super delicious macarons at this French place called Ladurée. And we also made friends from different states like New Jersey and Alabama.”

The Bickel team achieved their success under the guidance of the late debate coach Richard Bean.

“He played a pretty important role,” Birenbaum said. “He edited our paper and would help us think of logical flaws and points to attack in our opponents’ papers. For the oral debates, he would have us debate in front of him so he could give us really helpful critiques.”

Liu revealed what working with Bean was like.

“He’d read over our papers and if we had a really cool sassy line, he’d comment that he loved it because it was super ‘salty’ or something quirky like that,” Liu said. “He was super helpful and always willing to work with us. He also kept us on top of deadlines. One time, we kept making edits to a paper, and yet he still managed to turn it in within three minutes before the deadline.”

Wang reflected back to their time in New York.

“I’m so, so grateful for those three days in NYC and that the last tournament we shared with Bean was one so alive, one so painted with good memories, one dotted with laughter, maple donuts and one that thrummed with the heartbeat of the city and sparkled with its lights.”