Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2004

Contact: Lisa Merkl
713.743.8192 (office)
713.605.1757 (pager)

More than 100 high school students from across the nation have descended upon the University of Houston to study and debate on various topics, including U.S. support of United Nations peacekeeping operations and what role race should play in college admissions.

As part of the Houston Debate Institute (HDI), students are attending workshops on campus through July 30. HDI is a coalition of Houston high school and college debate instructors who focus their efforts for two weeks on preparing high school students for a year of debating around the nation.

Students who participate in the event dedicate themselves for two weeks to a rigorous schedule of lectures, practice debates and a tournament at the end of the workshop. The high schoolers use the preparation and information they receive when they return home to their own high schools.

“This is one of the largest and most successful institutes in the nation,” said Russell Rach, Bellaire High School teacher. “The students learn valuable skills and information that make debating for the rest of the year a success for them. Becoming experts on subjects like the war in Iraq and the genocides of Western Sudan is no easy task. These students know more about these topics at the end of their two weeks than most high school teachers.”

Guest lecturers come from area high schools, the United Nations Association (UNA), the Houston Chapter of Amnesty International and UH to educate the students about the role of the United Nations and how to become more active in their communities on issues of foreign policy. The event is sponsored by the UH Forensics Association and the Honors College at the University of Houston.

“The University of Houston faculty and staff have been very supportive of the endeavor,” said John Lemaster, director of the institute. “My fellow Houston debate coaches and the students really pull together to make this a quality event.”

Events include lectures by Anna Louise Bruner, former President of UNA Houston, who will address peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia, and Aroure Denis of the Houston chapter of Amnesty International, who will discuss Darfurian refugees in Sudan. Both lectures will be held at the University Center in the Pacific Room, starting at 9:30 am., Monday, July 26. Students will perform several exhibition debates in a tournament held at the C.T. Bauer College of Business in Melcher Hall Friday, July 30. Specific room numbers will be posted in the lobby. All events are free and open to the public.

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.