On January 22nd, the Rippowam School auditorium came alive with the energy of debate and empowerment as the AITE Debate Team and the Yale Debate Association (YDA) hosted an evening of collegiate debate featuring women from Yale University’s parliamentary debate team. The free event, held from 7 to 9 PM, aimed to promote greater participation of girls in high school debate activities and competitions.
The highlight of the evening was an exhibition debate by members of Yale’s parliamentary debate team, showcasing their skills and inspiring local students and community members. The event underscored the importance of fostering female representation in competitive debate. According to a recent study published on SSRN, female high school students are 30.34% more likely to quit debate than their male peers—a statistic that resonated with attendees and sparked meaningful conversations.
The evening also featured remarks from prominent leaders. Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons addressed the audience, emphasizing the importance of encouraging young women to develop public speaking and leadership skills. CT State Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox offered insights into how debate can empower young people and highlighted its relevance to government and civic engagement.
The AITE Debate Team and the Yale Debate Association hope to continue inspiring more young women to step into the world of debate, developing skills that will serve them in all areas of life.