TCU Debaters engaged in a public debate at Wiley College on January 23, the first time these two teams have met in debate since 1935.  This public exhibition debate, part of Wiley’s Ethical Student Leadership Conference, represents the first in a series of two commemorative debates to mark the 80th anniversary of Wiley’s debate at TCU during their famous 1935 season portrayed in the movie The Great Debaters.

TCU sophomores Donald Griffin and Shelby Whitson debated Wiley debaters Benjamin Earl Turner and Jesus Cardenas on the resolution: violence is a justified response to political oppression. TCU affirmed the resolution, and won the debate.

Wiley will come to TCU on March 18 for a public debate to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the meeting of these two teams in 1935. TCU was the first campus in the nation to invite the Wiley team to debate on a college campus. The debate was the first interracial college debate held on a campus in the U.S.  The public is invited to this commemorative debate at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 18, in the Mary Counts Burnett Library Reading Room.

Please visit TCU 360 coverage of the January event at Wiley:

http://www.tcu360.com/campus/2015/01/33546.forensics-team-defeats-great-debaters-wiley-college-historic-debate