VIDEO: Behind the scenes for the Morehouse-Bates debate on MLK day
Lewiston, ME (01/31/2019) — "Everybody has disagreements," says Morehouse College debater Hatim Mansori. "But what's the best way for all of us to get along? The key thing is to have a conversation."
The annual Rev. Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, Class of 1920, Debate brings debaters from Bates and Morehouse together to honor a towering figure at both colleges, and in the nation.
The debate itself isn't a binary proposition. It's not about winning and losing. It's about giving the audience a sampler of the ideas and viewpoints that populate arguments on either side of important issues, all delivered with the highest spirit of civil discourse.
For the audience member, "sometimes it's important just to sit and listen, to find a viewpoint that most represents you," says Bates debater Abigail Westberry '19 of Readfield, Maine.
That viewpoint might be "something different that you would've never considered. Or it's a viewpoint you've always considered to be true. Either way, it's important to interrogate why you subscribe to those beliefs."
This year's topic was "This House believes that social justice movements should prioritize socioeconomic class over race and gender."
Joining Mansori from Morehouse was fellow junior Zach Manuel. Westberry's fellow Bates debater was Harry Meadow '19 of Princeton Junction, N.J. In the debate, Westberry and Manuel formed one team, Mansori and Meadow the other.
For behind the scences video content please visit https://youtu.be/4gV4C7xtVyw
Media Attachments
Harry Meadows of Bates (standing) speaks with Abigail Westberry also of Bates (right) who teamed up with Zach Manuel of Morehouse (left) for the annual Rev. Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays Debate. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College)
Hatim Mansori of Morehouse teamed up with Harry Meadows of Bates for the annual Rev. Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays Debate. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College)
Hatim Mansori of Morehouse speaks during the annual Rev. Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays Debate. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College)
Bates College
Madge Hall, 207-786-8248, mhall@bates.eduShare this Story
Recent News
- Bates College senior Adilene Sandoval of Mattawa, Wash. wins prestigious Thomas J. Watson Foundation fellowship.
- Bates College student Elizabeth LaCroix '23 named a Thomas J. Watson Foundation fellow
- Bates College student Aaliyah Moore wins 2023 Truman Scholarship
- Aaliyah Moore, Graduate of Central High in Phoenix and Bates College student, wins 2023 Truman Scholarship
- Truman Scholar Essie Martin looks to create sustainable fishing and communities
- Current affairs: Student programmers simplify electricity management
- By hand-making face masks for Bates workers, students feel 'part of something'
- Worms ate my coffee cup! and other Green Innovation Grants for 2019-20
- Spellman reaches 1,000 career points
- Meghan Graff named Maine Co-Player of the Week