Idaho State Debate Squad has solid showing at public debate February 19th

February 20, 2019

POCATELLO - The Idaho State Debate Squad welcomed about 60 students, staff, and faculty -- and many members of the public -- to the Pond Student Union Tuesday, February 19, for a Public Debate. Squad members Kaden Marchetti and Squad V.P. Conner Coutts faced off against Team President Nick Grunig and Jett Smith. The topic was solving Pocatello's homeless issues through implementing "Housing First."

Defined by The National Alliance to end Homelessness, "Housing First [is a federally funded program which] does not require people experiencing homelessness to address all of their problems including behavioral health problems [also including alcoholism, unedployment, or drug addiction], or to graduate through a series of service programs before they can access housing.  The Housing First approach views housing as the foundation for life improvementand enables access to permanent housing without prerequisites or conditions beyond those of a typical renter. Supportive services are offered to support people with housing stability and individual well-being, but participation is not required as services have been found to be more effective when a person chooses to engage" (endhomelessness.org).

Moderator Larry Gebhardt provided a framework for the issue, noting the shocking statistic that nearly 22% of people in any given community fall under the definition of "homeless." Gebhardt also assisted the debaters in fielding questions from the audience during the "Grand Cross Examination," where members of the audience pose questions to the competition panel and each side gets to make a response.

The debate was met with many compliments and the decision was made to re-record the debate for posterity.  It will be available through the James M. and Sharon E. Rupp Debate Society Facebook page, or by clicking here https://www.facebook.com/pg/idahostatedebate/videos/?ref=page_internal

The Rupp Debate Squad presents public debate opportunities each semester as part of their mission to bring the campus and community interesting, well-structured, and poignant topics for consideration.

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