British debaters defeat CU's team -- with humor

Cornell senior Michael Cole, right, argues a point with Christopher Ruane, law student at the University of Glascow, during the annual Cornell-British debate in the Memorial Room of Willard Straight Hall, Nov. 9. Charles Harrington/University Photography

By Sarah Cottet '01

The British came. A conflict ensued. And it was the British who left victorious.

Interestingly enough, it was a question of liberty that was at stake. But this time, the argument was not over "no taxation without representation," but rather, it was a question of drink. Or more specifically, who can and who cannot. or, at least, who should not.

On the evening of Nov. 9, the statement for debate in the Memorial Room of Willard Straight Hall was: "this House believes that we should lower the drinking age to 18." As a part of a program set up by the Committee for International Discussion and Debate, two members of the Cornell Forensics Society debated two members of the British National Team. Cornell took the affirmative stance, but the British begged to differ.

The British debate tradition goes back almost 100 years; each year, a team of two debaters is chosen by the British Committee for International Discussion and Debate to represent Great Britain in a four to five week tour of the United States and more than 40 colleges. Each college hosting a debate chooses the topic, one generally selected for its social, political or cultural importance, but one also with potential for plenty of give-and-take and laughter, both from the audience and the teams. The debate is conducted in the traditional parliamentary style, relying more on humor, rhetoric and "stage presence" than on the logical presentation of evidence -- the latter style being more familiar to American debaters. The Cornell team did, however, pick up on the parliamentary-style tricks of the trade very quickly.

The Cornell team of Michael Cole, a senior in industrial and labor relations, and Elizabeth Krank, a senior communication major, argued the affirmative. They used three different arguments to illustrate that the drinking age should be lowered. First of all, they argued that the current law needs adjusting, especially in light of the difficulties inherent in enforcing it. Secondly, Cole pointed out that alcohol appears more desirable to those within the 18- to 20-year-old age range when it is set just out of their reach. Lastly, Cole and Krank indicated that the government should be more consistent in whom they consider to be an adult.

Simon Milnes, a candidate for the B.A. with honors in modern history from the University of Oxford, and Christopher Ruane, candidate for the LLB from the University of Glasgow, took the opposing view. Countering the points set forth by Cornell's team, they pointed out that most people are not fully biologically or socially developed at age 18. They still require those life experiences that will develop their sense of responsibility, they said.

Logistics aside, the dialogue between the two teams proved to be fast, flowing, and lively, to say the least. Witticisms were gleefully hurled -- especially to drive home certain points.

"I realize that going before you [college students] to ask them not to drink is like going before President Clinton to ask him to join the priesthood," Ruane joked. The audience roared.

The traditional British "division of the House" method was used to determine the winner of the debate. Following the closing remarks, the audience was asked to move to the side of the team whose argument they found most convincing. Having demonstrated exactly how well versed in the parliamentary style of debate they were, the British did not seem surprised to find themselves with a clear majority.

Ruane and Milnes have been touring the states, debating at colleges since September. As a part of the same Committee for International Discussion and Debate program, Melinda Hightower, a Cornell senior in ILR, will tour Great Britain next year as a member of the American National Team. Judging by the tone of Tuesday evening's debate, she will enjoy herself immensely.