Newarker Wins Top Debate Prize

Elijah Smith, a junior at Rutgers-Newark's School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA), and Ryan Wash of Emporia State University garnered this year’s national Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) championship title after defeating West Georgia University last month at Idaho State University.

Smith is a graduate of Newark's University High School, where he began his policy debate career. He also is a charter member of the Rutgers-Newark Debate Team, which received an overall number one ranking by CEDA for the Northeast Region for the 2012-2013 season.   He has been on leave from Rutgers-Newark this semester as a visiting student at Emporia State University in Kansas.

“Policy debate is in my blood,” said Smith. “It’s a tremendous honor to add value to multiple debate teams, particularly one I helped to build right here in my hometown of Newark. Winning the national championship title just goes to show that Newark does debate and does it exceedingly well.”

Praise for Smith and his impressive accomplishments abound. “For so many reasons, I am thrilled by Elijah Smith’s stunning victory in becoming a national champion of cross examination, as well as the performance of the entire Rutgers-Newark Debate Team. Elijah has achieved something truly remarkable through what had to have been a lot of grueling hard work, determination, presence of mind and mental agility, and God-given talent,” said U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), an alumnus of Rutgers School of Law—Newark. “It is my hope that New Jerseyans throughout the state celebrate you as the champion you are. You have done Rutgers University, and the State of New Jersey, tremendously proud. Thank you and congratulations!”

The Rutgers-Newark Debate Team, which debuted on the campus as a result of the partnership between the Office of the Chancellor and Jersey Urban Debate League (JUDL), to establish a pipeline program with Newark high schools, has grown considerably in a three-year span. Under the leadership of Kozak and the auspices of SPAA and JUDL, the number of debaters has increased from two to as many as 10, with novice, junior varsity, and varsity teams competing throughout the entire academic year in more than 10 competitions.