Annual Debate
Each spring semester students participate in an Oxford-style public debate. The debate is a venerable institution in Western higher education dating from the medieval universities. While largely an exercise in public oratory, the JAF annual debate is also a time for members of the Gordon community to engage the cumulative work of collaborating students.
Topics, resolutions and debate teams are listed below.
Spring 2013 | THE DEATH PENALTY
Resolved: The death penalty should be abolished.
The Affirmative Case: Libbi Wilson, Jaimie DiBernardo, Sarah McCarron, Lauren Entwistle, Maxwell Halik, Sam Stockwell, Matthew Reese
The Negative Case: Roland Griggs, Ian Isaac, Stephen Mull, Abigail Nash, Jessica Rabe, William Martin, Chelsea Kapes
Watch on YouTube
Spring 2012 | GOD AND THE GOOD
Resolution: One can be good without God.
The Affirmative Case: Dawn Cianci, David Botticello, Hannah Strauss, Jordan Greenlee, Katherine Stephens, Jessica Kane, Trevor Hinshaw
The Negative Case: Emily Boop, Jeanette Christianson, Matt Clemmer, Jorge Rodriguez V, Laura Johnson, Benjamin Wright, Mallory Moench
Watch on YouTube
Spring 2011 | CHRISTIANITY AND CAPITALISM
Resolution: A free market economy provides the greatest hope to alleviate poverty and is compatible with Christian ethics.
The Affirmative Case: Molly Connolly, Laura Farnham, Ian Good, Margaret Ivy, Lazaro Mancilla, Rachel Plourde, Tala Strauss
The Negative Case: Maia Mattson, Katie Nellis, Matthew Nicewinter, Jonathan Ozuna, Abigail Sargent, Kyra Sliwinski, Mark Whitfield
Watch on YouTube
Spring 2010 | BIOTECHNOLOGIES AND GENETIC TESTING
Resolution: The biotechnologies that enable genetic testing and its applications promise more good than harm for humanity.
The Affirmative Case: Amy Holcombe, Zachary Capalbo, Inngee Kim, Sarah Grimes, Joshua Bell, Lindsey Reed
The Negative Case: Elizabeth Baker, Hilary Sherratt, Joanna Gallagher, Korynne Bolt, Holland Stewart, Joel Nolette, Joanna Smith
Watch on YouTube
Spring 2009 | THE EMERGENT/EMERGING CHURCH
Resolution: The movement commonly designated as "emergent church" or "emerging church" bears witness to the positive flourishing of Christianity during our time.
The Affirmative Case: David Denison, Amy Bither, Kirk Vanacore, Izabela Wisniewska, Will Nadeau, Suzanne Loughry, Jenna Breitbarth
The Negative Case: Lauren Nash, Joseph Guidi, Nicole Lucey, Anna Taylor, Lynn Sommerville, Alysa Obert, Nicole Naude
Watch on YouTube
Spring 2008 | PACIFISM AND POLITICS
Resolution: Pacifism is the most faithful political ethic for Christians.
The Affirmative Case: Joanna Epling, Sarah Mattingly, Hannah Baker, Gabe DiMauro, Luke Suttmeier, Allison Kuhns, Carl Nellis
The Negative Case: Lydia Sheldon, Caroline Meditz, Stephen Armandt, Colby Smidt, Paul Miller, David Allen, Patrick Welsh
Spring 2007 | A CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY OF ISLAM
Resolution: As an Abrahamic, monotheistic faith, Islam should be understood as a cousin to Christianity, and not primarily as a false religion.
The Affirmative Case: Militza Richard, Josh Hasler, Michael Whitnah, Joshua DiFrances, Amy Gentile, Bethany Joy Floch, Ryan Stadt
The Negative Case: Angela Yarian, Jenny Harris, Scotland Huber, Michael Tischel, Kirsten Swanson, Isaiah Moore, Kreigh Knerr
Spring 2006 | THE ETHICS OF ARTIFICIAL CONTRACEPTION
Resolution: Artificial contraception is acceptable to Christian sexual ethics and may be employed in good conscience by married couples and recognized as a matter of global stewardship to work against world hunger and overpopulation.
The Affirmative Case: Laura Schweiger, Elizabeth Mannon, Katherine Arnold, Elaine Lawliss, M. Ryan Groff, Angela Ng, Josh Birdsall
The Negative Case: Hannah Miller, Susanna Quaile, Brad Coon, Daniel Bell, Lauren Moreau, Laura Carlson, Matt Allard
Spring 2005 | CHRISTIANITY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
Resolution: Due to its unparalleled power and its faith-imbued history, the United States has a special obligation to spread democracy and human rights across the globe, acting unilaterally if necessary.
The Affirmative Case: Ian Corbin, Kirstin Hasler, Meghan Schrader, Jessie Sorrells, Elias Pearson, Kirstin Heacock
The Negative Case: Gina Zingarelli, Kate Anfuso, Steve Wall, Sarah Baker, Marissa Weaver, Stephen Taylor, Rachel Van Wylen