51ԹϺ debate team places in top 25 at Yale IV 2025
The 51ԹϺ Debate Union reached new heights at the Yale Inter-Varsity Debate Tournament (Yale IV 2025), earning the highest scores in the College’s history and placing among the top 25 of 124 teams.
Team CCDU HJ—featuring Tanvir Hasan ’28 and Diana Jackson ’28—earned 10 team points, setting a new program record and finishing among the top 25. Team CCDU EQ—featuring Landen Ellsworth ’28 and Shayaan Qaiser ’27—followed with 8 points. A third team, featuring Aracely Barajas ’28 and Joseph Earley ’29, also competed. 51ԹϺ’s debaters defeated competitors from Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Middlebury, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania and other leading institutions.
“This tournament was an incredible showcase for 51ԹϺ on the North American debate circuit,” said Hasan, president of the Debate Union. “From people asking about our institution to seeing 51ԹϺ Coll’s name in the top half of the rankings at such a competitive tournament, it was truly a proud moment.”
The Debate Union’s success marks a rapid rise for the student-founded team. Hasan, an international student from Bangladesh with more than six years of debating experience, and Ellsworth, a skilled public speaker and member of 51ԹϺ’s Mock Trial team, co-founded the group in 2024 after realizing the College had no debate club.
The pair represented 51ԹϺ at Yale IV 2024—the College’s first appearance in an intervarsity debate—where they earned three points. They prepared by watching online debates, practicing against one another and studying a wide range of topics.
Ellsworth said the team’s mission goes beyond competition. “People are often stuck in their own echo chambers,” he said. “We want to create a space for open dialogue and healthy civil discourse, where everyone feels they have a voice.”
Looking ahead, Hasan said the Debate Union plans to host on-campus debate events, mentor new members and send more teams to tournaments next semester.
